Optimal Operation Strategy of Virtual Power Plant Considering Real-Time Dispatch Uncertainty of Distributed Energy Resource Aggregation

Virtual power plant (VPP) technologies continue to develop to embrace various types of distributed energy resources (DERs) that have inherent real-time uncertainty. To prevent side effects on the power system owing to the uncertainty, the VPP should manage its internal resources’ uncertainty as a whole. This paper proposes an optimal operation strategy for a VPP participating in day-ahead and real-time energy market so that a distributed energy resource aggregation (DERA) can cope with real-time fluctuation due to uncertainties while achieving its maximum profit. The proposed approach has bidding models of the DERAs including microgrid, electric vehicle aggregation, and demand response aggregation, as well as the VPP. The VPP determines internal prices applied to the DERA by evaluating its real-time responses to the day-ahead schedule and updating proposed pricing function parameters, and the DERA adjusts its energy reserves. By repeating this coordination process, the VPP can establish an optimal operation strategy to manage real-time uncertainty on the DERA’s own. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified by identifying a capability of the DERA to cope with real-time fluctuation through scenario-based simulations. The result shows that the VPP can reduce 1.6% of cost while the internal price applied to the DERA is close to the maximum.