Dynamic Planning of Water Resource and Electric Power Systems under Uncertainty

Abstract

Hydropower plays an important role in electric power systems. It not only interacts with many non-hydropower generation activities but also competes with other water users (industrial, commercial, residential, and agricultural) for limited water resources. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate an optimized water allocation scheme within a water resource and electric power management system through developing an inexact water resource and electric power systems planning model (WPEM). WPEM is based on the interval-parameter programming and mixed-integer programming techniques; thus, it can deal with dynamics of capacity expansion and uncertainties associated with system management. The developed method is then applied to a power system with water shortage issues in the future. The results of scenario analysis indicate that WPEM could help get insights into the tradeoff between system benefit and water utilization as well as that between system benefit and environmental concern. Thus, the modeling solutions could be used by water managers for supporting the effective allocation of water among power production, industrial process, agricultural irrigation, commercial activity, and residential use in case of water shortage.