Load forecasting and dispatch optimisation for decentralised co-generation plant with dual energy storage

•Open software components for load prediction and rolling horizon CHP plant optimisation are described.•Results indicated that solver overheads increased 380-fold during low heat load periods.•Solving times <1s were regained by considering differing dispatch and unit commitment horizons.•32% cost reductions were observed through balancing market interaction when load prediction inaccuracies were present.•Results indicated costs were significantly more sensitive to prediction accuracy than plant model accuracy.