Operator training tools for the competitive market

The power industry is being changed following the deregulation of the electricity generation and power system markets. Competition between numerous utilities leads to the necessity to optimize the operation of power plants and networks, i.e., to decrease the operation costs and to increase the reliability of the equipment. A new generation of simulation and training software workshops is necessary to keep abreast of this evolution. CORYS T.E.S.S. and Tractebel Energy Engineering responded to these new challenges by developing the ALICES software workshop. This article shows that modeling and simulation can contribute to providing the answers to the industry's new challenges. The article begins with an economical justification for simulation and training, focuses on the new generation of simulation software tools, and ends with several case studies to show how the tools are being used in the field.