Reliability evaluation for hydrothermal generating systems:: Application to the Spanish case

Reliability analysis of hydrothermal generating systems usually includes the calculation of annual reliability indicators. This work describes a methodology to evaluate annual reliability taking into account the maintenance program of thermal units and the allocation of hydroenergy to the different subperiods of the year. The procedure takes advantage of the flexibility of hydro units to level the usual reliability indicators along the period of analysis. As an example, the analysis of the Spanish power system is presented.