Methods of aggregation and disaggregation - Project results

The focus of the project "Methods of aggregation and disaggregation" are improved mathematical methods and computer tools for aggregation and disaggregation of hydro power systems in optimization models. These techniques are necessary for calculating the optimal utilisation of hydropower production in the Nordic power system. Existing methods have been applied for decades and the project re-visited and upgraded these to establish a new model adapted to the analysis of the future electricity market. The project targets the aggregation techniques of aggregating complex water courses in one or a few equivalent hydro power modules. Moreover, new methods for calculating the best operation strategy for the aggregated hydropower description are tested. However, the tested aggregation and calculation methods did not show their superiority. For the disaggregation, the project implemented a formal optimisation of the detailed hydropower dispatch, substituting the existing draw down heuristics. This formal optimisation approach provides the opportunity to better assess short-term variability and flexibility in hydro-thermal power systems.