A genetic algorithm solution to the optimal short-term hydrothermal scheduling

This paper presents an algorithm for solving the hydrothermal scheduling through the application of genetic algorithm (GA). The hydro subproblem is solved using GA and the thermal subproblem is solved using lambda iteration technique. Hydro and thermal subproblems are solved alternatively. GA based optimal power flow (OPF) including line losses and line flow constraints are applied for the best hydrothermal schedule obtained from GA. A 9-bus system with four thermal plants and three hydro plants and a 66-bus system with 12 thermal plants and 11 hydro plants are taken for investigation. This proposed GA reduces the complexity, computation time and also gives near global optimum solution. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.