Minimum norm approach to optimal long-term operation of multireservoir power systems with specified monthly generation

The aim of this paper is to present a new algorithm to maximize the value of the energy produced from a multireservoir power system, plus the estimated value of water remaining in storage at the end of the 12-month planning period. The systems described here are characterized by having a specified monthly generation, and this generation is equal to a certain percentage of the total generation at the end of the year.The problem is formulated as a minimum norm problem in the framework of analytic optimization. Numerical results are reported for a real system in operation consisting of three rivers; each river has two series reservoirs. The proposed algorithm is efficient in computing time and in calculating the total expected benefits from the system.This work was supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Grant No. A4146. The authors would like to acknowledge data obtained from B.C. Hydro, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.