Modern Methods of Optimization in Models of Hydrothermal Coordination and Emission of Contaminating Particles in Power-Generating Plants

The problem of hydrothermal coordination is a classic example of nonlinear and large-scale dynamic mathematical optimization that involves the problem of the economic dispatch plus other constraints associated with the coordination of a pair of systems integrated into a network (i.e., the production of energy from thermoelectric and hydroelectric plants). A large number of methods and models that represent this problem, from classical methods of optimization to modern methods based on metaheuristics, exist. In this chapter, the classic structure of the problem is analyzed and new constraints are proposed, including those based on the level of customer service. Some recent modern formulations of the model are shown, and the existing literature is reviewed showing the modern methods of optimization based on heuristics. The authors illustrate it by optimizing an instance consisting of three thermo plants and three hydro plants through random search and genetic algorithm.