Real-time hydro coordination and economic hydro optimization

This paper addresses the real-time aspects of the hydro-thermal coordination problem. It describes the real-time modeling and monitoring of hydro resources, and the use of the resulting real-time hydraulic data in the online economic dispatch algorithm. A variable head, hydro loss model is incorporated that allows for online changes to the hydro topology. The method presented provides the operator with a current view of the available water resources, enables the validation of the real-time hydro data received from the field, and enables real-time optimization of the hydro-thermal unit commitment plan. The implementation of this approach on the Iberdrola system in Spain is described.