PyLESA
PyLESA, or Python for Local Energy Systems Analysis, has been used in the project to model West Whins. It is a python package developed as part of a PhD. (Lyden, 2020).  This is an open-source tool which aims to model and help the design of local energy systems. PyLESA has been developed with a focus on sizing heat pumps and thermal storage tanks prior to installation. The tool also considers renewable energy integration, time-of-use electricity tariffs, electrical storage, and predictive controls. 
PyLESA can be downloaded in the download section.
The choice of PyLESA to model the West Whins case study has been made due to several reasons. First, PyLESA is open source, which means the new features can be added and all code is accessible. Andrew Lyden also used West Whins as a reference during the design of PyLESA. As a consequence, PyLESA is particularly adequate to model West Whins and the main features can be modelled. Another advantage of PyLESA is that this tool has a section dedicated to controls, which means it is possible to test different set-up of controls, which is significant to the project. Finally, PyLESA has been developed by a PhD student at Strathclyde, meaning its applicability to our project came recommended.
Find out more about how the West Whins were modelled on PyLESA:
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PyLESA is accessible and easy-to-use. Minimal knowledge of Python is required to run a simulation. After the package is installed, the inputs excel sheet has to be filled with the data of the local grid studied. Then, a command line interface such as Anaconda prompt can be used to run the simulation. To help run PyLESA and fill all the inputs in the excel sheet, Andrew Lyden has made a video to explain how to fill each one of the inputs, which can be found in the resources section.