6. Automation

Hydraulic power stations are operated fully automatically. Run-of-river power plants are controlled by the incoming flow, hydropeaking power plants follow a predefined program that can be modified remotely, and peak power plants are remotely controlled from centralized stations capable of operating several complexes.

When several power plants are in a chain on a river, as for example power plants using the head of navigation dams, it is essential to have coordinated management of the diversion bays by a centralized station to avoid amplifying disturbances along the chain.