Dynamic Programming in Hydropower Scheduling

Abstract

A dynamic programming optimization technique has been applied to three case studies involving hydropower scheduling. Each involved the analysis of an operating strategy for a different time perspective, i.e., instantaneous, hourly, and monthly time frames. The case studies included: (1) The optimal instantaneous scheduling of hydropower units, with different generating characteristics to maximize overall plant efficiency; (2) the optimal hourly scheduling of hydropower generation between two hydrologically linked power plants to maximize overall daily/weekly system efficiency; (3) the optimal monthly scheduling of hydropower generation to minimize the purchase cost of imported power supply subject to a time‐of‐day rate structure. The case studies have shown that optimization techniques can be successfully implemented to gain insight into complex operating strategies.