Virtual Power Plant Integration Into a Vertically Integrated Utility: A Case Study

Large scale penetration of renewable generation in power grids bring new challenges for grid operators in terms of balancing the system in cost efficient manners. The most common ways to deal with distributed variable generation include increased reserve margins, usage of energy storage, demand response resources and renewable generation curtailment, along with improved generation forecasting capabilities. In parallel, the concept of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that entails aggregation and management of distributed energy resources, is becoming increasingly popular in Smart Girds. This paper presents findings from a pilot VPP implementation into a vertically integrated utility system in Dubai, UAE. We demonstrate the effective integration of VPP into the grid with real and simulated assets as VPP coalition members. We showcase the system architecture, operational modes and integration scenarios. The case study covers aggregation of multiple distributed energy sources such as utility-scale batteries and microgrids with a total size of 1.8MW