Optimal planning of cogeneration production with provision of ancillary services

Optimal planning of a cogeneration plant operation for a day-ahead horizon with emphasis on provision of ancillary services is presented in this paper. A first-principle mathematical model is used to formulate an optimization problem in the form of a mixed integer and linear program (MILP). The resulting decision support tool recommends the plant's operator the best strategy how to trade electricity, provide contracted ancillary services and operate the plant in each hour in order to maximize profit. Thanks to the cooperation with the company Taures, a.s., this tool has been in operation at two large cogeneration plants for more than two years.