Successful trade in the newly deregulated European electricity market requires that energy companies simultaneously maximize their net profits while maintaining an optimal portfolio of energy sales and purchase contracts. In the EHTO-project we are developing a PC-based energy modelling and optimization system which allows the user to configure and parametrize the model graphically using object-oriented model components for multi-tariff contracts, thermal and hydro power plants, cogeneration facilities and the spot market. Optimization of energy acquisition, tariff components of contracts and unit commitment result in various large optimization problems (about 1.000.000 variables) which are solved efficiently using special decomposition techniques.
The research is funded, in part, by the Technology Development Centre Finland, and it is conducted in cooperation with Helsinki University of Technology and Process Vision Ltd. Among end users are the energy companies Jyväskylän Energia Ltd, Keski-Suomen Valo Ltd, Savon Voima Ltd, Forssan Energia Ltd and the Kymppivoima Ltd power pool.
The project is developing multicriteria group decision support methods and software for real-life public decision processes in environmental problems. Stochastic Multiobjective Acceptability Analysis (SMAA) is a new inverse method based on stochastic simulation for exploring the preferences resulting in a given decision. The research is funded, in part, by the Academy of Finland and the Technology Development Centre of Finland, and it is conducted in cooperation with Helsinki University of Technology and Paavo Ristola Consulting Engineers Ltd.
Among the applications have been solid waste management systems (SWMSs) for Uusimaa, Jämsä, Joutsa, Kokkola, the Kalajoki Valley, Oulu and Savonlinna, the development of Helsinki General Cargo Harbour, general plans of the municipalities of Nastola and Kirkkonummi, and restriction of the use of chemicals in the European Union. The SMWS applications handle about 80% of all the solid waste in Finland.