Method for operating a
system (1; 21) consisting of several internal
combustion engines (2, 3; 22, 23), wherein the internal
combustion engines (2, 3; 22, 23) are coupled such that partial drive powers provided by running internal
combustion engines (2, 3; 22, 23) are taken off by at least one common
consumer (4; 24), wherein the internal combustion engines (2, 3; 22, 23) are operated such that the total drive power provided by the running internal combustion engines (2, 3; 22, 23), which corresponds to the sum of the partial drive powers, corresponds at least to the power required for the common
consumer(s) (4; 24), and wherein, with the required power being provided, an individual
operating point is determined for each running
internal combustion engine (2, 3; 22, 23) and the respective
internal combustion engine (2, 3; 22, 23) is operated at this individual
operating point. namely such that for the
system (1;21) while complying with emission limits, minimal operating costs are incurred, for each
internal combustion engine (2, 3; 22, 23) an individual
operating point is determined such that the
system (1; 21) incurs minimal operating costs from operating costs and maintenance costs.;