Modelling and analysis of virtual power plants interactive operational characteristics in distribution systems

Abstract

This study provides an overview of virtual power plants as aggregated flexibility service providers in distribution systems. The integration of photovoltaic energy sources increases uncertainty regarding the operation of distribution grids, impacting power quality. Innovative ideas are therefore needed to support the migration of traditional systems toward a smart grid. A virtual power plant could make use of the flexibility of emerging technologies to address these power quality and grid operation issues. To this end, this study introduces a new concept describing a location‐specific interactive flexibility market framework in the context of a virtual power plant setting. In this proposed setting, flexibility providers (i.e. prosumers) can support location‐based services in distribution systems. These services would reasonably alleviate the need to upgrade or substitute power capacity cost‐effectively and facilitate the reliable and safe operation of the distribution grid. A direct control algorithm is designed and developed for the market studied, which was implemented to verify its efficacy experimentally. The efficiency of the proposed mathematical model and method is confirmed by the results of a case study using the UK‐16 busbar generic distribution system, and finally some specific conclusions are drawn regarding the application of the proposed method.