Load_kw_is_net... True or false #697
Description
I’m using REopt API and I have a P1 (smart meter) time series with grid import (energy taken from the grid) and grid export (energy fed back to the grid). Because I have PV, the P1 data only shows what passes through the meter; behind-the-meter PV self-consumption is not directly measured.
My PV system is 8 panels × 400 Wp = 3.2 kWp, and I want to model this as existing PV in the optimization.
I have a few questions about the correct setup and the expected outputs:
If I use my P1 grid import time series as ElectricLoad.loads_kw, should I set loads_kw_is_net = true because this profile is “net of PV” (i.e., after behind-the-meter PV has already reduced grid import)?
If I set loads_kw_is_net = true and also model existing PV via PV.existing_kw = 3.2, how does REopt avoid double counting PV (since the load profile is already net)?
I also tried setting loads_kw_is_net = false while still using my P1 import based load profile. Conceptually, this would treat my P1 import as if it were gross behind-the-meter load, which seems incorrect. What does REopt do internally in this case, does it interpret PV generation as reducing that load and potentially creating export/curtailment, or does it lead to inconsistent accounting?
Related to this: when I run with loads_kw_is_net = false, my API response only includes electric_to_load_series_kw and I do not receive data on electric_to_grid_series_kw or electric_curtailed_series_kw.
Hope someone can help me forward on this. Thnks!