Multi-Stage Hydro Optimisation for Power Systems

Hydro-electric and thermal generation power systems require a coordinated approach for optimal storage management.

The goal of a hydro-thermal planning tool is to reduce the expected thermal costs across the simulation period by dispatching hydro during high-value periods as much as possible.

The issue generally requires stochastic analysis to deal with inflow uncertainty, which increases the mathematical size of the problem and is quite difficult to solve.

This white paper reviews the stochastic analysis algorithm in power simulation software PLEXOS, as applied to different hydro-dominated power systems.