Emission, reserve and economic load dispatch problem with non-smooth and non-convex cost functions using the hybrid bacterial foraging-Nelder-Mead algorithm

► A new generation, reserve and emission dispatch is solved by BF-NM method. ► Valve-point, prohibited zones, frequency and practical constraints are considered. ► Emission limits for specific plants and total system are considered in proposed problem. ► Frequency constraints effectively increase the social welfare for consumers and GENCOs. ► BF-NM has better performance in comparison PSO, GA, DE, BF and classic methods.