Published on: December 1, 2024 / Update from: December 1, 2024 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Virtual power plants: decentralized energy, centrally controlled - stable networks through networking - optimizing electricity production and consumption - Image: Xpert.Digital
Virtual power plants: This is how the energy supply of the future will become more intelligent
Future technology: Virtual power plants efficiently network renewable energies
Virtual power plants are innovative systems that consist of a large number of decentralized energy producers and consumers. These units, which can include photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, biogas plants, hydroelectric power plants and battery storage, are networked together using intelligent control technologies. The goal is to coordinate and optimize electricity production and storage to ensure a stable and efficient power supply.
Uses and advantages of virtual power plants
1. Market participation and flexibility
Virtual power plants enable the systems involved to actively participate in the electricity market. They bundle the energy generated and market it together, which also gives smaller producers access to market segments such as wholesale or balancing power. This flexibility is particularly valuable for integrating renewable energies into the power grid.
2. Stabilization of the power grid
Thanks to their decentralized structure, virtual power plants can compensate for local load fluctuations and react quickly to network fluctuations. This helps to stabilize the power grid by compensating for excess supplies or shortages of electrical energy.
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3. Reduction of CO2 emissions
Since virtual power plants are often based on renewable energies, they help reduce CO2 emissions. They offer a sustainable alternative to conventional power plants, which often use fossil fuels.
Reducing electricity costs
Virtual power plants can reduce electricity costs in several ways:
Dynamic electricity tariffs
By using dynamic electricity tariffs, households can benefit from cheaper prices by maximizing electricity consumption during times of low prices. This can result in significant savings.
Optimization of own consumption
Virtual power plants allow households to optimize their own solar power consumption and obtain additional power from the grid when prices are low. This reduces the need for expensive grid power.
Participation in the energy market
Households can earn additional income by participating in the balancing and intraday markets. Virtual power plants provide the infrastructure to use these markets efficiently.
Virtual power plants offer a promising solution to support the energy transition by efficiently integrating renewable energy while reducing electricity costs for consumers.
Controlling a virtual power plant
A virtual power plant is controlled via a central control system, which acts as the technological heart. This system coordinates and monitors the large number of decentralized energy producers, consumers and storage devices that are combined in a virtual power plant. Special algorithms and secured data connections are used to ensure real-time communication between the various components.
Central components of the control:
Guidance system
The central control system collects and processes all relevant data from the connected systems. This includes information about the current performance, the readiness of the systems, available power bands for control energy and other parameters such as gas or heat storage levels.
Data processing
The data is processed at server locations that use redundant systems to ensure reliability. This infrastructure makes it possible to automatically switch to backup systems in the event of disruptions.
Algorithms and forecasts
With the help of optimization algorithms, operating schedules are created for the electricity generators. These algorithms take market data such as electricity prices and weather forecasts into account to enable efficient and profitable marketing of energy.
How a virtual power plant works
Real-time control
The control system enables flexible control of electricity production and use. If necessary, it can react quickly to grid fluctuations by ramping up or shutting down generation systems or using storage.
Integration and marketing
By bundling the output of many small units, virtual power plants can participate in the balancing energy market and market their flexibility profitably. This is particularly important for the integration of renewable energies into the energy market.
Overall, the intelligent control of virtual power plants offers an efficient way to integrate renewable energies into the power grid and at the same time react flexibly to market changes. This contributes to the stabilization of the power grid and supports the energy transition through a sustainable energy supply.
Private individuals can participate in virtual power plants
Private individuals can participate in virtual power plants by integrating their own decentralized energy generation and storage units, such as photovoltaic systems and battery storage, into such a system. Here are the key steps and aspects of how individuals can participate:
1. Install appropriate technology
Individuals need a photovoltaic system or other renewable energy sources and possibly battery storage to store excess electricity and feed it into the grid when needed.
2. Networking with a virtual power plant
The systems must be networked with a virtual power plant. This is done via intelligent control systems that coordinate and optimize the flow of energy. Companies like “sonnen” offer such networks by combining the systems to form a virtual large-scale battery.
3. Participation in the energy market
By participating in the virtual power plant, private individuals can indirectly participate in the energy market. The virtual power plant bundles the energy of several small producers and markets it together, which also brings financial benefits for the participants.
4. Use of smart meters
In order to accurately measure feed-in and consumption, the use of smart meters is necessary. These devices capture energy data in real time and enable efficient management of energy flows.
5. Financial incentives
Participants in virtual power plants can benefit from additional income by selling their excess electricity or helping to stabilize the grid by providing balancing energy.
Participation in virtual power plants enables private individuals to actively contribute to the energy transition while at the same time reaping financial benefits by becoming part of a larger energy network.
Participation in a virtual power plant offers private individuals several advantages
1. Financial benefits
- Income from the energy market: By participating in virtual power plants, private individuals can for the first time participate in the income from electricity auctions. This used to be mainly reserved for large industrial providers.
- Profit sharing: Some providers, such as “sonnen”, offer their customers a profit share in the proceeds from the joint marketing of the electricity generated. This can generate additional income for households.
2. Cost savings
- Cheaper electricity prices: By using electricity at times of low prices, made possible by the flexibility of virtual power plants, households can reduce their energy costs. This also applies to charging electric vehicles at cost-effective times.
- Increased self-consumption: Integration into a virtual power plant can optimize self-consumption of self-generated electricity and thus reduce dependence on more expensive grid electricity.
3. Contribution to grid stability and energy transition
- Grid stabilization: By providing balancing energy, virtual power plants help stabilize the power grid. This is particularly important in times of high renewable energy feed-in, such as strong winds or intense solar radiation.
- Promoting the energy transition: By becoming part of a virtual power plant, private individuals actively support the energy transition by helping to use renewable energy more efficiently and replace fossil energy sources.
4. Technological advantages
Smart meters and intelligent controls: Participants often receive modern technologies such as smart meters that enable precise monitoring and control of energy consumption. These technologies are often available free of charge or at a reduced price as part of participation.
Participation in a virtual power plant not only offers private individuals financial incentives, but also the opportunity to actively contribute to stabilizing the power grid and promoting the energy transition.
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