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Spatial resolution (geographical detail)

Models can represent different geographical areas.

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National level

Models the entire country as a single point or “node.”

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Sub-national or nodal level

Divides the country or region into multiple interconnected zones or “nodes” (e.g., states, islands, or distinct grid areas), enabling the modelling of electricity flows between them.
Scenario Builder currently lets you select from predefined regions or countries, with the level of spatial detail clearly described for each.

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Temporal resolution (time detail)

The models consider how energy supply and demand change over time.

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Modelling horizon

Typically spans from a base year (e.g., 2023 or 2024) to a future year (e.g., 2050 or 2060).

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Time slices

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What Are Timeslices?

In energy systems modelling, a timeslice is a representative block of time used to break down a full year. Instead of modelling all 8,760 hours individually - which is computationally very intensive - timeslices group these hours into a smaller, more manageable set of ‘representative’ periods.These periods typically represent a combination of seasons, days of the week, and times of the day. Example: A simple model might divide the year into 12 timeslices:
  • 4 Seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn)
  • 3 Daily Periods (Peak, Off-Peak, Base)

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Why Are They Used?

Timeslices are essential for capturing the variability of both energy demand and supply, which a simple annual average would miss.
  • Demand: Energy consumption is not constant - it varies by time of day and season. Demand for heating is high on a winter night, while demand for air conditioning is high on a summer afternoon (a “peak” period).
  • Supply: The output from renewable sources like solar and wind is not constant - it varies intermittently based on the weather. Solar panels only generate power during the day (a “day” slice), and wind can be stronger in one season than another.
By defining timeslices, you can model these crucial variations, ensuring your system has enough capacity to meet peak demand, realistically model the contribution of variable renewables, without the need for computationally intractable models.

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Hourly detail

For Unit Dispatch models focusing on a single year’s operation, full hourly (or even sub-hourly) resolution is often used to capture variability more accurately.
Scenario Builder currently allows you to choose between low (1 time slice) and medium (32 time slices) temporal resolution, depending on your analysis needs.