This master project will be a joint cooperation between the Water resources group (at IV faculty) and the Dept. of Electric Power Engineering (IE faculty). The aim of the project is to model and assess the effect of a diverse set of environmental constraints, such as minimum flow (constant and dynamic) in various sections in a regulated basin, restrictions on reservoir filling, water releases for paddling and flood control, and the effect on the power production and the provision of flexibility. The project will most likely be carried out in the regulated Bergsdalsvassdraget on the Western cost of Norway.
The thesis will make use of a medium-term hydropower scheduling model for up to two reservoirs, developed at the Dept. of Electric Power Engineering (IE faculty). Current set up of the model optimise operation of hydropower plants and reservoir storage over one year for weekly decision stages towards a power price (price taker assumption). The model takes the perspective of the power producer with an objective to maximise profit within the restrictions of the system (physical and regulatory restrictions). Each weekly stage can be solved for wanted time step resolution within the week. The model is based on stochastic dynamic Programming (SDP). Uncertainty in price and inflow is included with weekly resolution. The model allows for modelling of constraints that depend on reservoir level and/or inflow. The current version includes the following environmental/ recreational constraints:
- Reservoir level and inflow-dependent discharge restrictions (restrictions meant to fill up reservoir in summer to ensure easy access to the reservoir for wild-life and recreational use).
- Minimum discharge restrictions
Additional linear restrictions can be included in the weekly-decision problem if wanted.
Supervisors: Linn Emilie Schaffer and Tor Haakon Bakken