Identifying optimal border of virtual power plants considering uncertainties and demand response

Abstract

The virtual power plant (VPP) has the ability to control and manage the electrical energy flow between the aggregated units to obtain better operation of the system. This operation is aiming to minimize the cost of produced energy and therefore enhance the economical operation. To satisfy that, in the planning stage, it is important to select the optimal number of VPP buses, optimal location of distributed generations and optimal value and location of dispatchable load. In this paper, a novel methodology is introduced to identify the optimal border of VPP (location and number of VPP buses), identify the optimal number and location of distributed generations within VPP. In addition to identifying the optimal value and location of dispatchable load. Uncertainties related to VPP components are considered which include uncertain load demand, renewable energy resources and market prices. The simulation results are carried out on IEEE 57-bus test system and IEEE 39-bus system (new England-real system). Various capacities of distributed generations, different loading conditions and various maximum limits of VPP buses are investigated to assure the capability of the proposed methodology. Also, the performance of optimal VPP border under daily load is investigated. Added to all that, the capability of the proposed methodology is investigated under inflexibility of the network. Significant technical and economical benefits are achieved with the optimal VPPs bordering.