Integrating wind and photovoltaic power with dual hydro-reservoir systems

• Dual hydro-reservoir is introduced in a system with renewable energy sources. Downstream hydropower operates to mitigate runoff disruption from upstream one. A model minimizing both power output variability and river flow alteration built. Capacity integrate wind photovoltaic without disturbing obtained. Two key features determining capacity are water head reservoir storage capacity. Hydropower facilities can be dispatched offset systems. But the abrupt discharges needed cope intermittency causes harmful riverine disruptions significant environmental costs. In systems cascade consisting of two or more reservoirs, created by mitigated dispatching downstream restorative way. The hypothesis this paper that it possible operate cascaded reservoirs way reduces total disruptions. operated such complements variable (from wind), while runs mitigating (i.e., re-regulating). An optimization finds hydro-wind-photovoltaic power’s operational strategy minimizes flow’s alteration. results case study world largest hydro-junction, Three Gorges Dam - Gezhouba Dam, illustrate 1) proposed feasible; 2) for facility’s re-regulation capacity; 3) alone up 1.7 GW -i.e., about 15% hydro-reservoir's 22.5 capacity- altering river's flow, an additional 2.8 photovoltaic, hence dual 9 plus 35% + 4) increasing water-head and/or would increase size they integrate. helpful managers planning operating high penetration energy.