Applications of Virtual Power Plants approaches

Abstract

The paper highlights the main characteristics of Virtual Power Plants (VPP). A Virtual Power Plant is a cluster of distributed generation units (such as photovoltaic power plants, wind turbines or small hydro) and any other sources of power that can cooperate together in the local area, and are controlled by a central control entity. An analysis of a VPP that is used to cover the load is performed for the whole day. The distributed generators from the VPP have different merit orders and outputs. Another analysis is performed for a power system in which a VPP is added. The analysis compares the power flow for the situations with and without the VPP.

A conceptual review on transformation of micro‐grid to virtual power plant: Issues, modeling, solutions, and future prospects

“…The cloud‐based centralized control center makes use of ICT and IoT for control and visualization of DERs and DG units as a single effective centrally accessible power plant. The main objective of a VPP‐based power system is to properly balance out the unpredictability and fluctuations on the grid by combining the DERs 11 and scheduling the power flow from each source and compensating for the intermittent and uncertain nature of some DERs like wind and solar. Proper scheduling of these DERs facilitates improved and lower power generation costs and reduction in emission of greenhouse gases, thereby maximizing profits and sustainability.…”

“…The VPP concept reduces conventional fossil energy consumption and, in turn, reduces pollution and protects the environment 3 The applications of the VPP concept in smart microgrid applications can be broadly segregated as follows: Monitoring and data management of power portfolios can be visualized and analyzed from individual plants to the entire portfolio integrated with many resources 11 The direct market of various DERs, conventional sources, storage systems, and flexible loads at the spot, intraday, and balancing power markets with the remote‐control strategy in the power distribution sector. Demand‐side management (DSM) methods and solutions with flexible electricity consumers for active load management 12,13 …”

A Genetic Algorithm-Based Demand Side Management Program for Implementation of Virtual Power Plant Integrating Distributed Energy Resources

“…The present power system scenario has seen a transition from centralized generation and distribution to the setting up of a smaller-scale interconnected microgrid (MG) system [1,2]. Individual MGs allow for localized setup of power generation and supply systems based upon the load requirement and usage patterns.…”