A virtual power plant (VPP) is an aggregation of distributed energy resource (DER) systems that can provide grid services like a traditional power plant. The DER systems may include rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles & chargers, some smart appliances, and commercial and industrial loads that can balance electricity demand and supply. The virtual power plant (VPP) defined in the P2030.14 guide is an electric power plant capable of supplying electrical power to the electric grid and local loads. This document provides guidance for the development of a functional specification for the VPP control system. It controls local energy management and grid interaction functions. The VPP may incorporate local dispatchable power generation (combined heat and power units and microreactors), local renewable energy resources (solar PV and wind generation), and electric and thermal storage systems. One of the functions is islanded operation as a microgrid for feeding local loads, enhancing energy supply security and resilience.
Active Committees/Task Forces of Interest
- P2030.14, Guide for Virtual Power Plant Functional Specification for Alternate and Multi-Source Generation, sponsored by the IEEE PES T&D AdCom
- Main contact: James Reilly, Secretary,
- Upcoming meetings: 26 August 2024 (remote), 18-19 September 2024 (in-person, Washington, DC)
- URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.14/11318/
Technical Reports & Applicable Papers or Presentations
- IEEE 2030 series, Evolving IEEE Standards Foster a More Sustainable Power Grid; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/beyond-standards/ieee-2030-standards/
- IEEE 2030.7™-2017 – Standard for the Specification of Microgrid Controllers; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.7/5941/
- IEEE 2030.8™-2018 – Standard for the Testing of Microgrid Controllers; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.8/6169/
- IEEE 2030.11™-2021 – Guide for Distributed Energy Resources Management Systems (DERMS) Functional Specification; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.11/7259/
- IEEE 2030.4™-2023 – Guide for Control and Automation Installations Applied to the Electric Power Infrastructure; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.4/7060/
- IEEE 2030.13™-2024 – Guide for Electric Transportation Fast Charging Station Management System Functional Specification; URL: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2030.13/10407/
Publications
- Gough et al, Operation of a Technical Virtual Power Plant Considering Diverse Distributed Energy resources, IEEE Trans Industry Applications, Vol. 58, No. 2, March/April 2022
Other Available Material
- IEEE PES Resource Center, Virtual Power Plant Empowerment, in Powering Data Centers, Electrification, Vol 11, Issue 3; URL: https://resourcecenter.ieee-pes.org/tags/virtual-power-plant-empowerment
- IEEE Smart Grid, Key Technical Challenges Facing Wide-Scale Deployment of Distributed Generation and Renewables, webinar, October 2022; URL: https://smartgrid.ieee.org/bulletins/october-2022/key-technical-challenges-facing-wide-scale-deployment-of-distributed-generation-and-renewables-is-derms-the-answer-or-it-is-a-solution-that-needs-another-solution
- IEEE PES Resource Center, Toward Extreme Fast Charging: Challenges and Opportunities in Directly Connecting to MV Line, webinar, 2020; URL: https://resourcecenter.ieee-pes.org/education/webinars/pes_ed_web_mvline_043020#