Overview of Economic and Environmental Policy Issues Affecting Thermal Power Systems Operational Planning Under Deregulation

This paper provides a review and general backgrounds of research and developments in the field of thermal power systems operational planning, namely on economic and environmental policy issues. On the one hand, within the energy market, operational planning has evolved from a minimum-cost policy in state-owned monopolistic companies to a profit-based policy under market conditions. On the other hand, as a consequence of growing environmental concern, an unprecedented change points to a scenario where it is necessary to take into account the constraints related to the environment. Consequently, operational planning of thermal power systems needs to be not only considered within the energy market, but also within preserving healthy conditions and self recovery cycles in the environment.