Course content

The course provides a broad introduction to both planning philosophy, different computational methods and their areas of application, and the use of the different methods in operational planning. The strengths and weaknesses of the methods, as well as experiences from their practical use will be presented and discussed. The course will also place great emphasis on modeling aspects and describe with examples the importance of modeling and the quality of input data to the different models. Planning in hydropower-based systems must be carried out for long time horizons (up to 5 years) and it is common to use different models for different time horizons. Results from long-term strategy models are therefore used as a framework for models with a greater degree of detail and shorter time horizon. Consistency between models and knowledge of limitations is important for understanding the analysis results.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the participant should have knowledge of methods for planning hydropower-based systems, models and model assumptions for different time horizons and how framework conditions from one level are used in the next level in the planning hierarchy.

Skills:

After completing the course, the participant should be able to understand the theoretical basis for models that have been developed, and actively use this in their work to provide framework conditions for the models to ensure consistency in planning and interpretation of results.

General competence:

After completing the course, the participant should have a good overview of models used for planning systems that are connected in topology (within each time interval) and connected over time through uncertain resource access and energy storage. This includes the use of models based on: Linear programming, Integer, Dynamic programming as well as models to represent uncertainty.

Learning methods and activities

The course is organized as 3 sessions each of 3 days. There are approximately 45 lecture hours and 20 hours of calculation exercises.

The number of participants is limited to ensure group discussions. A minimum of 20 participants is required for the course to be completed.

Compulsory assignments

• Obligatorisk deltakelse på samlinger

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Relevant practice within production planning. The course will draw heavily on examples from current software from SINTEF Energy Research, and knowledge of this software is an advantage for benefiting from the course.

Required previous knowledge

Minimum is 3 years of engineering education but with a requirement for relevant practice. Civil engineering/5-year master's degree in technical subjects. Other education may be approved if relevant practice can be documented.

Course materials

A separate compendium has been prepared for the course

1. Compendium: Production planning in hydropower-based systems.

2. Selected articles.

3. Software developed at SINTEF Energy Research is used to illustrate concepts and results.