RETRACTED: Optimizing the planning of distributed generation resources and storages in the virtual power plant, considering load uncertainty

Abstract

In recent years, the usage of new technologies in distributed generation is growing due to the electricity industry movement towards privatization and decentralized production of electric energy as well as competition among the new technologies. Microgrids are practical examples of the concept of decentralized production. Also, the employment of renewable energies is rapidly promoted due to the construction barriers of conventional power plants. Therefore, selecting and applying the appropriate technologies in planning and careful design of the type and capacity of generation and energy storage units are important. This paper proposed a robust model for day-ahead production scheduling of electrical and thermal units in a large-scale virtual power plant comprising a large number of distributed generation units and consumers accompanied by energy storage. To consider real conditions, the uncertainty of electrical demands is modeled by employing scenario-based analysis and probabilistic programming. So, five scenarios are created and modeled. In addition, two operation mode of a microgrid is considered connected and islanded modes. The objective function consists of total profit resulting from the daily operation of all units. The results confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model. Moreover, the total profit of the connected mode of the microgrid is about 20% more than the islanded mode, in all scenarios, and the cumulative profit cash flow of the connected mode is about 31% more than islanded mode.