Virtual Power Plant with Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Storage Systems for Sustainable Power Grid-Formation, Control Techniques and Demand Response

Abstract

As the climate crisis worsens, power grids are gradually transforming into a more sustainable state through renewable energy sources (RESs), energy storage systems (ESSs), and smart loads. Virtual power plants (VPP) are an emerging concept that can flexibly integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), managing manage the power output of each DER unit, as well as the power consumption of loads, to balance electricity supply and demand in real time. VPPs can participate in energy markets, enable self-scheduling of RESs, facilitate energy trading and sharing, and provide demand-side frequency control ancillary services (D-FCAS) to enhance the stability of the system frequency. As a result, studies considering VPPs have become the focus of recent energy research, with the purpose of reducing the uncertainty resulting from RESs distributed in the power grid and improving technology related to energy management system (EMS). However, comprehensive reviews of VPPs considering their formation, control techniques, and D-FCAS are still lacking in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a thorough overview of state-of-the-art VPP technologies for building sustainable power grids in the future. The review mainly considers the development of VPPs, the information transmission and control methods among DERs and loads in VPPs, as well as the relevant technologies for providing D-FCAS from VPPs. This review paper describes the significant economic, social, and environmental benefits of VPPs, as well as the technological advancements, challenges, and possible future research directions in VPP research.

A Stochastic Decision-Making Tool Suite for Distributed Energy Resources Integration in Energy Markets

“…In [33][34][35] optimization approaches are proposed through VPP, allowing participation in the energy and ancillary services markets, alleviating local grid constraints, and providing reactive power support. Likewise, the authors in [36,37] presented VPPbased architectures for demand-side management, allowing prosumers to independently provide flexible power profiles and optimize asset scheduling considering such aspects as carbon markets and control techniques. Moreover, [38][39][40] present blockchain-based energy management platforms for different VPP modalities, which enable energy transactions between residential users with DERs, providing a deeper managing perspective.…”

Electricity Pricing and Its Role in Modern Smart Energy System Design: A Review

“…To motivate the prosumers to participate in the DSAS, the grid operator establishes incentive schemes that reward the entities that can provide DSAD. This involves an advanced pricing scheme for incentivization [73][74][75].…”

Integration of LiFi, BPL, and Fiber Optic Technologies in Smart Grid Backbone Networks: A Proposal for Exploiting the LiFi LED Street Lighting Networks of Power Utilities and Smart Cities

“…The smart grid is the modernized version of the vintage electric power grid that exploits fiber optics and other communications technologies to enable the real-time monitoring and control of power generation, transmission, distribution and consumption [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Through the adoption of the smart grid, the reliability, efficiency, security and sustainability of the electric power system can significantly improve by integrating renewable energy sources, demand response programs, distributed generation and energy storage systems [9][10][11]. Also, smart grid can enhance customer participation and satisfaction by offering more information and choices regarding customers' energy usage and cost issues [12,13].…”