Benefits of coordination in the operation of hydroelectric power systems: Brazilian case

This paper is concerned to estimate the benefits of coordination in the operation of hydroelectric power system. Optimization model representing the detail operating characteristics of hydro plants, including the consideration of the influence of forebay and tailrace elevation on hydro conversion efficiency were considered. The benefits of coordination have been estimated through the application of the optimization model in two different approaches. The first approach corresponds to the coordinated operation (CO) where the system is optimized as a whole. The second approach corresponds to the non-coordinated (NCO) operation where each plant optimizes its own operation without caring about the other downstream plants. The benefits were estimated on the calculation of duration curves for hydro generation and the identification of firm energy, as well as average and standard deviation values of energy availability, total cost operation and average productivity. Eighty-one hydro plants from the Brazilian system were used in the numerical tests