The objective of Monalisa is to calculate the firm energy of any set of hydropower plants. The firm energy is defined as the maximum energy that can be produced continuously in the occurrence of the worst hydrological inflow sequence. The model results may be used to evaluate the cost/benefit relationship of new hydro projects, reliability analysis of energy production etc. The hydro system is represented in detail, considering the following operational aspects:

	Operational details (water balance, limits on storage and turbined outflow, spillage, irrigation, evaporation, filtration, etc);
	Complex hydro topologies;
	A hydro production function which uses the following curves: forebay level x storage and tailwater level x discharge, as well as the hydraulic losses;
	Interchange capacity limits between regions;
	Minimum water discharges, irrigation and evaporation;
	Constraint of total amount of imported-exported energy to neighboring systems.