Incorporating thermoelectric power plant water use into multi-objective optimal power flow

Abstract Traditionally, power systems have been operated to minimize cost while maintaining reliability. However, extreme weather and demand events can affect traditional thermoelectric generation operations due their reliance on water for cooling. This paper contributes a novel multi-objective formulation of the optimal flow (OPF) problem where cost, withdrawal, consumption are minimized. Through this formulation, we assign optimization weights withdrawn consumed, which be directly incorporated into existing OPF formulations. We apply with global mapping sensitivity analysis realistic case study first demonstrate its general effectiveness under climatic, hydrologic, operational scenarios. Then, ranking determine most influential generators system performance. scenario framework, analysts gain insights potential system-level component-level vulnerabilities within systems. Such useful informing both short-term as well long-term planning.