Scheduling Toolchains in Hydro-Dominated Systems : evolution, Current Status and Future Challenges for Norway and Brazil

Abstract

This report elaborates on the toolchains applied for generation scheduling in the two countries Norway and Brazil. Both countries have vast hydropower resources, with numerous geographically widespread and complex reservoir systems. Although the underlying objective of the scheduling is essentially the same, the systems are operated in different market contexts, where the different stakeholders' objectives clearly differ. This in turn leads to different uses of the scheduling models and information flow between the models. We review the main operational scheduling models and their overarching toolchains developed and maintained by the two research institutions SINTEF Energy Research and the Brazilian Electric Energy Research Centre (CEPEL). We identify the similarities and differences and try to shed light on the original ideas that motivated the creation of the models and toolchains. We also discuss the current state of these models and how they are being developed through R&D. With the great changes both two systems are expected to see in the future, we discuss the need to improve and extend the current toolchains