With increasing penetration of intermittent resources such as wind and solar, power system operations are facing much more challenges in cost effective provision of energy balancing and frequency regulation services. Enabled by advances in sensing, control and communication, the concept of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is proposed as one possible solution which aggregates and firms up spatially distributed resources' net power injection to the system. This thesis proposes a coordinated control and bidding strategy for VPPs to provide energy balancing and grid frequency regulation services in electricity market environment. In this thesis, the VPP consists of two energy conversion assets: a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG)-based wind farm and a co-located Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS). The coordination of the VPP is implemented through power electronics-based controllers. A five-bus system test case demonstrates the technical feasibility of VPPs to respond to grid frequency deviation as well as to follow energy dispatch signals. To enable the participation of VPPs in electricity market, this thesis also proposes an optimization based bidding strategy for VPPs in both energy balancing and frequency regulation service markets. The potential economic benefits of this bidding strategy are demonstrated under Denmark wholesale electricity market structure. Four case studies show the economic benefit of coordinating VPPs.

Scheduling and Operation of Virtual Power Plants: Technical Challenges and Electricity Markets provides a multidisciplinary perspective on recent advances in VPPs, ranging from required infrastructures and planning to operation and control. The work details the required components in a virtual power plant, including smartness of power system, instrument and information and communication technologies (ICTs), measurement units, and distributed energy sources. Contributors assess the proposed benefits of virtual power plant in solving problems of distributed energy sources in integrating the small, distributed and intermittent output of these units. In addition, they investigate the likely technical challenges regarding control and interaction with other entities. Finally, the work considers the role of VPPs in electricity markets, showing how distributed energy resources and demand response providers can integrate their resources through virtual power plant concepts to effectively participate in electricity markets to solve the issues of small capacity and intermittency. The work is suitable for experienced engineers, researchers, managers and policymakers interested in using VPPs in future smart grids. Explores key enabling technologies and infrastructures for virtual power plants in future smart energy systems Reviews technical challenges and introduces solutions to the operation and control of VPPs, particularly focusing on control and interaction with other power system entities Introduces the key integrating role of VPPs in enabling DER powered participative electricity markets

This book focuses on the business operation of virtual power plants. Both of the business models and reliable operation of virtual power plants have been addressed with engineering practices. This is achieved by providing an in-depth study on several major topics such as load forecasting for distributed energy resources, business model and practice of virtual power plants, the business operation of virtual power plants participating in demand response, and auxiliary service market. The dynamic pricing strategy of virtual power plants and reliable operation of power systems with virtual power plants are provided as well. The comprehensive and systematic treatment in business operation of virtual power plants is one of the major features of the book, which is particularly suited for readers who are interested to learn operation mechanisms of virtual power plants. The book benefits researchers, engineers, and graduate students in the fields of energy internet, electrical engineering, and business administration, etc.

Control and Optimization Methods for Electric Smart Grids brings together leading experts in power, control and communication systems, and consolidates some of the most promising recent research in smart grid modeling, control and optimization in hopes of laying the foundation for future advances in this critical field of study. The contents comprise eighteen essays addressing wide varieties of control-theoretic problems for tomorrow’s power grid. Topics covered include control architectures for power system networks with large-scale penetration of renewable energy and plug-in vehicles, optimal demand response, new modeling methods for electricity markets, cyber-security,data analysis and wide-area control using synchronized phasor measurements.

This volume consists of selected essays by participants of the workshop Control at Large Scales: Energy Markets and Responsive Grids held at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. from May 9-13, 2016. The workshop brought together a diverse group of experts to discuss current and future challenges in energy markets and controls, along with potential solutions. The volume includes chapters on significant challenges in the design of markets and incentives, integration of renewable energy and energy storage, risk management and resilience, and distributed and multi-scale optimization and control. Contributors include leading experts from academia and industry in power systems and markets as well as control science and engineering. This volume will be of use to experts and newcomers interested in all aspects of the challenges facing the creation of a more sustainable electricity infrastructure, in areas such as distributed and stochastic optimization and control, stability theory, economics, policy, and financial mathematics, as well as in all aspects of power system operation.

This text is an introduction to the use of control in distributed power generation. It shows the reader how reliable control can be achieved so as to realize the potential of small networks of diverse energy sources, either singly or in coordination, for meeting concerns of energy cost, energy security and environmental protection. The book demonstrates how such microgrids, interconnecting groups of generating units and loads within a local area, can be an effective means of balancing electrical supply and demand. It takes advantage of the ability to connect and disconnect microgrids from the main body of the power grid to give flexibility in response to special events, planned or unplanned. In order to capture the main opportunities for expanding the power grid and to present the plethora of associated open problems in control theory Control and Optimization of Distributed Generation Systems is organized to treat three key themes, namely: system architecture and integration; modelling and analysis; and communications and control. Each chapter makes use of examples and simulations and appropriate problems to help the reader study. Tools helpful to the reader in accessing the mathematical analysis presented within the main body of the book are given in an appendix. Control and Optimization of Distributed Generation Systems will enable readers new to the field of distributed power generation and networked control, whether experienced academic migrating from another field or graduate student beginning a research career, to familiarize themselves with the important points of the control and regulation of microgrids. It will also be useful for practising power engineers wishing to keep abreast of changes in power grids necessitated by the diversification of generating methods.

Modelling and Control Dynamics in Microgrid Systems with Renewable Energy Resources looks at complete microgrid systems integrated with renewable energy resources (RERs) such as solar, wind, biomass or fuel cells that facilitate remote applications and allow access to pollution-free energy. Designed and dedicated to providing a complete package on microgrid systems modelling and control dynamics, this book elaborates several aspects of control systems from classical approach to advanced techniques based on artificial intelligence. It captures the typical modes of operation of microgrid systems with distributed energy storage applications like battery, flywheel, electrical vehicles infrastructures that are integrated within microgrids with desired targets. More importantly, the techno-economics of these microgrid systems are well addressed to accelerate the process of achieving the SDG7 i.e., affordable and clean energy for all (E4ALL). This reference presents the latest developments including step by step modelling processes, data security and standards protocol for commissioning of microgrid projects, making this a useful tool for researchers, engineers and industrialists wanting a comprehensive reference on energy systems models. Includes simulations with case studies and real-world applications of energy system models Detailed systematic modeling with mathematical analysis is covered Features possible operating scenarios with solutions to the encountered issues