Cost and reliability evaluation for power systems with multiple energy-limited hydroelectric units

Abstract A forward-looking procedure is devised to incorporate multiple energy-limited hydroelectric units into probabilistic simulation methods for calculating the cost and reliability performance of power systems. The thermal units are loaded to generation in single or multiple blocks, with or without partial outages. The hydro units are loaded to generation separately or jointly, backtracking to previous units if necessary, to meet a deterministic prespecified energy availability. Thus no hydro energy is wasted and maximum fuel savings result.