Year-Round Coupled Optimization
To take into account year-round coupled constraints, a special algorithm for year-round coupled optimization is executed if
The algorithm for year-round coupled optimization can take a longer computing time.
In the Simulation ribbon in the Status group, a colored and high-contrast symbol indicates the 
Year-round coupled optimization as soon as it is activated for a component within the active Simulation node. Otherwise, the symbol is grayed out.
The algorithm for Optimization with year-round coupled constraints replaces the time series compression algorithm if both structural optimization and optimization with year-round coupled constraints are activated in the simulation node.
Multi-objective optimization (e.g., multi-criteria structural optimization) is currently not possible in combination with year-round coupling.
Settings
Make the settings for the Main stage and the Pre-stage in the Simulation ribbon. The settings available in the Simulation form are for modeling experts only. The settings for the downsampling rate and the type of constraint are set automatically, and you should not change them.
When year-round coupled optimization is enabled and the No time series compression setting is selected, the Look-ahead and Result time frame settings for Operational optimization are not needed and are therefore grayed out in the ribbon. In this case, the Look-ahead and the Result time frame each are automatically set to the entire simulation period.
Process
It consists of two solution stages: a simplified preliminary stage (Pre-stage) and the Main stage.
Simplified Pre-Stage
The simplified Pre-stage is performed only if a compression level other than No compression/exactly is set. With a year-round coupled optimization (also in combination with structural optimization) a downsampling (and not relaxation) is performed as compression method in the year-round coupled Pre-stage. The reduced sampling points (data points) are then also optimized in the pre-stage. The simplification refers only to the reduction in the number of points in time (downsampling). The degree of simplification is calculated based on a heuristic value depending on the compression level set.
Main Stage
For the calculations in the Main stage, certain constraints are integrated based on the results to date (including those achieved in the pre-stage), and the Look-ahead and Result time frame are adjusted using heuristically determined values, taking into account the settings in the ribbon. The settings used are displayed as the Utilized look-ahead (resulting preview time frame) and Utilized result time frame (resulting result time frame) on the simulation form Metrics → Optimization main stage.
Results
You find the results of the Optimization of the main stage and the simplified pre-stage in the Simulation form.
