What is virtual power plant?
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A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is an advanced system that optimizes and coordinates various distributed energy resources like power generation units, energy storage, controllable loads, and electric vehicles . It plays a crucial role in integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, enhancing energy supply coordination, and supporting carbon neutrality policies . VPPs utilize innovative control technologies and software systems to aggregate and manage distributed devices efficiently, participating in electricity market operations and grid management . These systems enhance grid stability, reduce dependency on external power sources, and improve economic efficiency by maximizing overall profit and enhancing renewable energy consumption. VPPs are essential for addressing the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, optimizing energy supply, and achieving sustainable energy management in modern power systems .
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| Papers (5) | Insight |
|---|---|
21 Dec 2022 | A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) aggregates distributed energy resources to enhance power system flexibility, reduce the need for new plants, and decentralize the grid into smaller, smarter units. |
14 Jun 2023 | A virtual power plant (VPP) is a smart grid system offering energy flexibility, economic benefits, and sustainability. It faces challenges in entering energy markets, requiring a comprehensive multi-aspect framework for advancement. |
| A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a smart energy system that balances generation and consumption, forecasts energy demand, and optimizes costs through advanced control and market participation. | |
01 Apr 2023 | A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) integrates diverse energy resources like small-scale thermal power units and energy storage to optimize dispatch, enhance grid stability, and promote renewable energy consumption. |
01 Jun 2023 | A virtual power plant aggregates and optimizes distributed energy resources like power, storage, and loads. It aids in grid management, especially with the integration of new energy sources. |
Related Questions
Utilities influence on the Virtual power plants?8 answersUtilities play a pivotal role in the operation and management of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), influencing their efficiency, reliability, and integration into the broader energy market. VPPs aggregate various types of distributed energy resources (DERs) to optimize resource utilization and provide services like peak shaving, frequency regulation, and emergency power support, thereby enhancing the power grid's reliability and safety, which can be compromised by the uncertainty of energy output from DERs. Utilities, by adopting strategies to manage excessive wind and solar energy generation, ensure reliable operations of the power grid, highlighting their significant influence on VPP operations.
The concept of VPPs represents a shift from traditional energy systems, requiring complex infrastructure and advanced ICT components for efficient operation. Utilities, through the control and management of supply, whether transmitted or stored, and making power decisions, act as a bridge between the energy needs of consumers and the capabilities of VPPs. This system allows utilities to oversee how energy is delivered to consumers, effectively managing the interface between consumers and energy providers.
Moreover, utilities' influence extends to the integration of VPPs into the electricity market. By aggregating the load of consumers with flexible demand and the output of renewable generators, VPPs can bid into the wholesale market, disrupting traditional utility business models and creating a win-win-win outcome for all stakeholders involved. This innovative approach to energy management showcases the utility's role in facilitating the transition towards more distributed and renewable energy systems, ensuring that VPPs contribute effectively to the energy market's demands.
In summary, utilities significantly influence the operational efficiency, market integration, and overall success of VPPs by managing the balance between supply and demand, integrating advanced technologies, and navigating the complexities of the energy market.
How are virtual power plants being utilized in the United States to enhance the efficiency of energy distribution?5 answersVirtual power plants (VPPs) are being utilized in the United States to enhance the efficiency of energy distribution. VPPs combine advanced communication technology, software systems, and energy storage systems to aggregate and optimize distributed devices, including distributed power generation units. They play a crucial role in coordinating and optimizing energy supply, achieving carbon neutrality, and integrating renewable energy resources into the grid. By leveraging the advantages of energy storage, VPPs significantly improve the economic efficiency of operation, enhance the level of renewable energy consumption, and regulate the peaks and valleys of the power grid. Additionally, VPPs reduce the system's dependence on external power grids, improving stability and autonomy while reducing the difficulty of load regulation. The collaborative operation of VPPs with active distribution networks further improves the system's operational economy and load profile shaping.
How can a dynamic model of a virtual power plant be used to improve the efficiency of the system?5 answersA dynamic model of a virtual power plant can improve the efficiency of the system by considering the optimal operation of distributed resources and addressing the challenges posed by their dispersion, variability, and random fluctuation. The model quantifies the matching relationship between distributed resources and uses robust intervals to describe the stochastic output of renewable energy, transforming the complex robust model into a mixed-integer linear programming model. By considering the objectives of maximizing aggregate energy and minimizing cost, as well as tracking scheduling instructions and physical feasibility constraints, the model establishes a dynamic aggregation of a virtual power plant. Additionally, the model can promote the consumption of renewable energy, improve the emission reduction benefits, and enhance the total consumption and distribution of wind energy utilization through the carbon trading mechanism, electricity consumption behavior, and appropriate electricity price mechanism. The use of blockchain technology in virtual power plants can further improve the safety, reliability, and operation efficiency of the system.
How can frequency and voltage magnitude be controlled in a virtual power plant?5 answersFrequency and voltage magnitude can be controlled in a virtual power plant through various methods. One approach is to coordinate the parameter settings of grid-forming inverters in the virtual power plant, which provides inertia support and helps maintain system stability. Another strategy involves using an alternative injection strategy, where the virtual power plant acts like a typical power plant and injects only the required power to regulate the terminal voltage. Additionally, a virtual power plant can utilize a virtual synchrotrons generator (VSG) accompanied by a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system to emulate virtual inertia and improve frequency and voltage response. By considering the dynamics of traditional synchronous generators and using control mechanisms such as PI-controllers and voltage control, the VSG with SMES can support the power system with inertia during unpredictable events.
How can the cyber security of virtual power plants be improved?5 answersTo improve the cyber security of virtual power plants, a comprehensive edge-based security architecture can be implemented to reduce risks and ensure privacy and data protection. It is important to determine the degree to which cyber resilience can be improved using cost-effective resilience enhancement methods. Quantitatively comparing and discussing recently proposed cyber-attack detection and identification methods can help in identifying the most effective solutions. The implementation of teleinformatic systems, such as Virtual Power Plants (VPP), can support the development of resource management and customization of the system to user's needs. Understanding and mitigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities in power systems is imperative, and proper mitigation techniques should be implemented. Efforts should be made to detect and prevent false data injection (FDI) attacks, which have a high impact on different operations in smart grids. Future research directions should focus on addressing the current challenges and improving the cyber security of virtual power plants.
How can the security of virtual power plants be improved?2 answersThe security of virtual power plants can be improved through the implementation of edge-based security architecture, continuous monitoring and scaling of network conditions, and the utilization of virtual power plants for fault indication and isolation. The edge-based security architecture aims to reduce risks and secure physical systems, ensuring privacy and data protection. Continuous monitoring and scaling of network conditions provide valuable information about production, consumption, and network availability, leading to more efficient vector development for virtual power plants. Virtual power plants can also be utilized to improve reliability by enhancing visibility to faults and aiding in the resolution of energy and ancillary issues. Additionally, the establishment of a resilient, fully decentralized virtual power plant can contribute to the security and resilience of the power grid.