Abstract
Power system regulators and operators are creating conditions for encouraging the participation of the demand-side into reserve markets. The electric vehicle (EV), when aggregated by a market agent, holds sufficient flexibility for offering reserve bids. Nevertheless, due to the stochastic nature of the drivers' behavior and market variables, forecasting and optimization algorithms are necessary for supporting an EV aggregator participating in the electricity market. This paper describes a new day-ahead optimization model between energy and secondary reserve bids and an operational management algorithm that coordinates EV charging in order to minimize differences between contracted and realized values. The use of forecasts for EV and market prices is included, as well as a market settlement scheme that includes a penalty term for reserve shortage. The optimization framework is evaluated in a test case constructed with synthetic time series for EV and market data from the Iberian electricity market.

Abstract
Combining conventional and unconventional generations with hard forecasting properties and consumption variability has made the task of fitting large amounts of wind generation into unit commitment procedures very challenging. In this context, massive integration of electric vehicles in the electric systems, is expected. This paper aims at evaluating the adequacy of a generating system taking into account the electric vehicles and high wind power integration level in its energy mix. This study was conducted on the European project MERGE framework, and the results have shown that the generating system evaluated is reliable. Nevertheless, the simulations carried out for scenarios with adverse weather conditions (dry years) have revealed specific circumstances that might jeopardize the system adequacy.

Abstract
Combining conventional and unconventional generations with hard forecasting properties and consumption variability has made the task of fitting large amounts of wind generation into unit commitment procedures very challenging. In this context, massive integration of electric vehicles in the electric systems, is expected. This paper aims at evaluating the adequacy of a generating system taking into account the electric vehicles and high wind power integration level in its energy mix. This study was conducted on the European project MERGE framework, and the results have shown that the generating system evaluated is reliable. Nevertheless, the simulations carried out for scenarios with adverse weather conditions (dry years) have revealed specific circumstances that might jeopardize the system adequacy. © 2014 IEEE.

Abstract
The increasing wind power penetration in power systems represents a techno-economic challenge for power producers and system operators. Because of the variability and uncertainty of wind power, system operators require new solutions to increase the controllability of wind farm output. On the other hand, producers that include wind farms in their portfolio need to find new ways to boost their profits in electricity markets. This can be done by optimizing the combination of wind farms and storage so as to make larger profits when selling power (trading) and reduce penalties from imbalances in the operation. The present work describes a new integrated approach for analysing wind-storage solutions that make use of probabilistic forecasts and optimization techniques to aid decision making on operating such systems. The approach includes a set of three complementary functions suitable for use in current systems. A real-life system is studied, comprising two wind farms and a large hydro station with pumping capacity. Economic profits and better operational features can be obtained from the proposed cooperation between the wind farms and storage. The revenues are function of the type of hydro storage used and the market characteristics, and several options are compared in this study. The results show that the use of a storage device can lead to a significant increase in revenue, up to 11% (2010 data, Iberian market). Also, the coordinated action improves the operational features of the integrated system. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract
This paper describes the application of Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization, EPSO, to the optimization of the short term operation of hydro stations in market environment. The maximization of the revenues of hydro stations, namely pumping stations, is gaining increasing attention by generation companies. However, this is typically a complex problem given the non linear relation between the power, the flow and the head, the temporal coupling between stations in cascade and the increasing number of pumping stations. The EPSO based algorithm displayed a very good performance in terms of the quality of the final operation plan as well as regarding the speed of convergence and the robustness of the algorithm.

Abstract
With the advent of restructuring, generation companies have to plan the operation of their stations in order to maximize their profits. This is very relevant for companies having a large share of hydro stations, and even more if these stations have pumping capacity. This paper describes a model to plan the operation of a set of hydro stations eventually installed in cascade and admitting that some of them are pumping stations. Once a first set of operation orders is obtained using a Genetic Algorithm, their generation/load values are included in the expected market selling/buying curves and the hourly prices are updated. These prices are then used to refine the operation orders originating an iterative process so that hydro stations are price makers. The paper includes results for a hydro system in order to illustrate the application of the developed approach. © 2014 IEEE.