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Virtual Power Plant Operational Strategies: Models, Markets, Optimization, Challenges, and Opportunities

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  • Mohammad Mohammadi Roozbehani

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37195-195, Iran)

  • Ehsan Heydarian-Forushani

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37195-195, Iran)

  • Saeed Hasanzadeh

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37195-195, Iran)

  • Seifeddine Ben Elghali

    (Laboratory of Information & Systems (LIS-UMR CNRS 7020), Aix-Marseille University, 13007 Marseille, France)

Abstract

High penetration of distributed generation and renewable energy sources in power systems has created control challenges in the network, which requires the coordinated management of these resources. Using virtual power plants (VPPs) on a large scale has solved these challenges to a significant extent. VPPs can be considered systems consisting of distributed generations, energy storage, controllable loads, electric vehicles (EVs), and other types of resources to provide energy and ancillary services. VPPs face various challenges such as energy management, operation, resource uncertainty, participation in electricity markets, etc. This paper discusses an overview of the basic challenges of VPPs, including control and communication issues, electricity markets, its different models, and energy management issues. The main purpose is to investigate the performance of VPP in different markets, energy management of VPP in different operating conditions and strategies, and compare different planning methods for VPP. Note that the application of blockchain to control and improve VPP performance has been investigated, taking into account the different layers of this technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Mohammadi Roozbehani & Ehsan Heydarian-Forushani & Saeed Hasanzadeh & Seifeddine Ben Elghali, 2022. "Virtual Power Plant Operational Strategies: Models, Markets, Optimization, Challenges, and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12486-:d:930543
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    2. Chang, Weiguang & Yang, Qiang, 2023. "Low carbon oriented collaborative energy management framework for multi-microgrid aggregated virtual power plant considering electricity trading," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).

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