Operating a hydropower cascade to optimize energy management

CNR operates a cascade of 18 run-of-river hydropower plants in France. To optimize energy management, the company has implemented an innovative and integrated organization, a Centre for the Optimization and Remote Control of Intermittent Renewable Energy, with associated IT tools developed in-house for production forecasting, supervision of the hydropower assets and the optimization of electricity sales on the European wholesale electricity markets. The Centre maximizes and hedges the revenues of CNR electricity output under strict safety constraints, thus facilitating the integration of intermittent renewable energy into the European electricity markets and reducing its balancing cost.