Economic dispatch from cogeneration : an evolutionary computation approach

[Truncated] Cogeneration is the conversion of one energy source into two or more different of forms of useful energy. Today it commonly refers to the generation of electricity and "process" steam from a single generation unit. The preferred technology is natural-gas-fired gas turbine generator and heat recovery steam generator packages. Conventional, (steam expansion turbines) cogeneration options have been in use since the late nineteenth century and are viable options for some industries. Industrial sites and large residential complexes that generate electricity to meet their own demands, rather than importing power from utilities, are known as independent power producers. When these producers also have large thermal energy demands cogeneration can be an attractive option. Deregulation and privatisation of state owned, integrated utilities since the 1980s has allowed IPP to expand into retailing their excess power capacity through host-utilities joint ventures, competitive pools / markets, or direct to the public through electricity supply brokers. This recent development of deregulation and open market policy for electricity supply has focused attention on the economic dispatch problem for independent power producers operating cogeneration systems.