Optimizing Generating Unit Scheduling for Emission Reduction ‎in Thermal Power Stations with Integrated Solar Energy ‎Systems

  • Authors

    • Mihirkumar C. Rathod Research Scholar, Engineering & Technology, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gujarat, India
    • Sanjay R. Vyas Department of Electrical Engineering, LDRP Institute of Technology & Research, Gujarat, India
    https://doi.org/10.14419/e2fxpg15

    Received date: May 15, 2025

    Accepted date: May 31, 2025

    Published date: July 8, 2025

  • Emission Reduction; Solar Energy Integration; Optimization Scheduling; Evolutionary Programming

  • Abstract

    Air pollution control from thermal power stations (TPS) is achieved by minimizing flue gases emission. There are many optimization ‎techniques which can be used towards effective emission reduction, but these techniques may often require additional arrangement or ‎devices. This study presents an alternative approach to emissions minimization by scheduling generating units in a strategic manner without ‎the need to add extra equipment. Increasingly expensive fossil fuels and the improving technology for renewable energy can be picked up ‎by solar energy systems to reduce emissions. In this paper, the question of generating unit schedule for a TPS with integrated solar energy ‎‎(SE) systems in order to reduce emissions is addressed. Thus, load dispatch scheduling associated with solar energy can decrease overall ‎emissions with the same power output. The schedule is optimized to account for uncertainties to manage the challenge of predicting real ‎power consumption to improve emission reduction under changing conditions. In the study, reduction of NOx, SO2, and CO2 emissions is ‎evaluated using evolutionary programming. Results show that by adding solar energy systems into the mix, better emission reductions can ‎be achieved compared to the conventional TPS systems alone. In particular, there are major reductions in NOx, SO2, and CO2 emissions ‎when solar energy is combined with marginal adjustments in the generation schedule. Furthermore, the approach enables the understanding ‎of cost consequences from generating unit scheduling. All in all, the proposed method makes TPS operations more efficient by improving ‎environmental benefits‎.

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  • How to Cite

    Rathod, M. C. ., & Vyas, S. R. . (2025). Optimizing Generating Unit Scheduling for Emission Reduction ‎in Thermal Power Stations with Integrated Solar Energy ‎Systems. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(SI-1), 211-219. https://doi.org/10.14419/e2fxpg15