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Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the Global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Virtual Power Plants

For information regarding permission, write: (VPPs) for Smart Energy Frost & Sullivan 331 E. Evelyn Ave., Suite 100 Mountain View, CA 94041 A 4-step approach towards successful VPPs

A Frost & Sullivan white paper with contributions from Bosch Software Innovations 2 3

Table of content Introduction

The energy sector, relatively unperturbed for decades, is in the midst of disruptive innovation, accelerating the pace of change as the “new normal”.

Smart Energy Technology disruption is driving new business models in both Introduction 3 Smart Energy infrastructure overlays supply and demand sides. The need to adapt to disruptions to real-time information on the existing Transformation of Energy Value Chain to an Energy Web 4-5 the status quo is evident in the rise of distributed energy network to make it more self-generation that continues to increase in affordability and flexible, efficient, reliable and resilient. Smart Energy Landscape of the Virtual and Interconnected Energy Web 6 Solar PV, , Virtual Power deployed on a larger scale, mounting pressure on conventional Plants, Micro-Grids, Internet of Things grid-supplied energy. Type of VPP Services 7 (IoT) and Analytics, are some typical building blocks of the Smart Energy New market entrants are also challenging major incumbents Functionalities of VPPs 8 Infrastructure. with smart technologies enabling the consumer to gain better VPP and Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS) 9 control of their demand and supply needs. In addition, (VPP) regulators are grappling with the challenges facing Smart Energy Landscape in Asia Pacific 10-14 A VPP is a platform to virtualize and traditionally protected linear, close-knit supply chain. While balance dispersed power supply democratisation of energy is introducing uncertainties in the Case for VPPs 15 resources, multiple distribution routes, long-term planning and short-term supply of energy, it is also and various demand centres. presenting immense opportunity. Challenges for VPPs 16

4-step approach towards successful VPP projects 17-21 Internet of Things (IoT) IoT in Smart Energy covers intelligent Future of VPP 22-23 energy assets that are connected, virtualized, and imbued with data VPP Use Cases 24-27 measurement capabilities. The IoT facilitates efficient decision-making for an optimised . 4 5

Transformation of the

Energy Value Chain to Generation Grid Consumers/ Micro-Grid Electricity Information Prosumers Flow Flow an Energy Web

Ancient Past: Recent Past: Now: Touching Distance: Disconnected Vertical Energy Bi-directional Interconnected Energy Value Chain Value Chain Energy Value Chain Energy Web

Virtual and Interconnected

Innovations in the field of Smart Energy infrastructure, particularly IoT capabilities within energy resources, are shaping the vision of an interconnected web of energy in the future. The Energy Web is envisioned to lead to near real-time optimised consumption and supply of energy. 6 7

Smart Energy Types of VPP Services Landscape of the Virtual and Interconnected

VPPs can potentially offer a wide Energy Web Resource Aggregation range of services, ranging from full commercial ones like wholesale Using distributed energy trading and arbitrage to reliability resources like RE, ESS, EV, services such as fast frequency CHPs, and load centres, VPPs response and . can create real-time aggregated load centres and offer services Regulators and utilities may Associated Associated to retailers. consider reliability services, Market Smart Energy Services Market which come from virtual Ancillary | Energy Efficiency | Trading assets, as risky. Regulation Services VPPs can work with various small and large resources in providing Power Purchase/Trading Energy Wholesale Market Demand Response services such Smart Energy Infrastructure as load reduction and peak shift. DER | ESS | EV | LCD Generation Licence Weather Forecasting

RE Intermittency Retail Licence Virtual Platform Grid Network Operation VPPs can provide RE VPP Solution Builder | intermittency control services VPP Platform Developer | System Operations by using ESS or aggregating VPP Platform Operator | VPP Users geographically distributed RE power sources.

Network Operations … Services Commercial Communication Infrastructure Smart Meters | AMI | Telecom Non-critical Reserve … VPPs can participate in the non-critical reserve market where response time for providing services like interruptible load, ESS-driven Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) enable the virtualization of infrastruc- brown start, and spinnng reserve is ture and services by providing functionalities such as distributed more than 10 minutes. asset monitoring and control, management, energy storage management, electric vehicle charging asset management, and demand side management. Regulation Services The key enablers for VPPs include: VPPs are also able to participate (1) a strong regulatory framework, in the critical reserve market to (2) associated Smart Energy infrastructure; provide frequency regulation (3) active consumer participation; and and black start. (4) an innovation ecosystem.

Network Reliability Services 8 9

VPP and Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS)

The pervasive transformation of the energy infrastructure is giving rise to several competing and complementing concepts. Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS) is one such concept. DERMS is a software solution that serves to balance the requirements of the utilities with the energy generated by distributed energy resources (DERs) at the distribution end. As shown in the table below, VPPs and DERMs have several Functionalities of VPPs competing aspects on how they manage DERs. One key difference is that VPPs focus on the consumer whereas DERMS target network utility.

Distributed Asset Monitoring Centralised monitoring of the distributed demand, power generation, energy storage, and measurement assets. Distributed Energy Asset Analytics Monitoring and data analytics (condition monitoring and Virtual Power Plant Resource Management predictive maintenance, e.g., in the building energy management, are possible) [Frost recommends removing this Distribution Substation Management from VPP as such functionalities are typically a part of Enterprise Asset Management systems.] Distribution Network Management

Distributed Asset Control Simple remote management of the distributed demand, power Management generation, energy storage, and measurement assets. End-Consumer Market Interface Renewable Energy Management Provision of additional functions such as intermittency control, forecasting, and dispatch to handle and promote Renewable Distributed Asset Management Energy Sources (RES) integration to the wider grid. Virtualize Distributed Assets Energy Storage Management Integration of storage assets through direct or indirect controls. T&D Utility Interface Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Management of EV charging assets to allow optimised energy Asset Management consumption.

Demand Response/Demand Assets’ participation of ancillary services through the Side Management management of consumption and/or generation Full Capability Partial Potential for No Capability Capability Future Developments 10 11

2020 The solar PV market is forecast to grow by 50% Smart Energy driven by increasing requirements for power from China and India. Landscape $104B in the Asia-Pacific Energy Growth of Smart Energy solutions 2016 Storage are key enablers for VPPs

The Asia-Pacific region is estimated to have more than 500 million installed Smart $66B Meters. Decreasing investments indicate greater spending on replacement. China, Japan, and Australia lead the installed base of smart meters.

2016 Demand 2020 AMI Micro-Grids Response The solar PV market is The solar PV market is $11B forecast to grow by 50% Demand Response forecast to grow by 50%

$8B driven by increasing services in Australia, driven by increasing requirements for power New Zealand, and Japan requirements for power from China and India. are expected to from China and India. stimulate the adoption of Demand Side 2020 2020 Management

2016 2016 2020 TBC TBC 2016 $1.2B $1.2B $1.1B $0.8B 12 13

VPP-Ready Countries

Full Partially Pilot/Proof No Trends Commercial Developed of Concept Service Commercial Service Australia New Zealand Japan China

Retail Competition

Retail competition is required for an innovation ecosystem to flourish in the electricity sector. Introduced in Australia (33 ) and New Zealand (28 ) over the past decade, retail competition is believed to be successful in driving better services and prices to customers. Japan and China have opened Smart Meters their markets to competition in the past two years, resulting in a surge of retail participants (more than Smart meters support the information layer of the 300 , ) entering the market. Smart Energy infrastructure. China leads in the overall smart meters deployment with more than 300 million installed units and growing, followed by Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Time of Usage (ToU) Tariff

The ToU tariff structure enables the customer to utilise electricity price signals to determine their consumption. Retailers in Australia, New Zealand, and China offer a ToU tariff structure to consumers that have had smart meters installed (in China it is RE Penetration only available to commercial and industrial users). 6.8% 5.0% 4.4% 4.1% Japan has yet to introduce the ToU tariff. (2015) (2015) (2015) (2015) The contribution of wind and solar PV in overall TBC% TBC% TBC% TBC% is highest in Australia, with (2020) (2020) (2020) (2020) the country offering the largest deployment of rooftop solar PV units especially in the household sector. Demand Response Program

Australia and New Zealand have commercially successful DR programs that incentivise consumers to manage their power demand. Japan is conducting trials using ESS to participate in DR services. Similarly, China recently laid out its policy on Energy Efficiency and pilot projects to be Energy Storage organised. Energy Storage is a vital component of the VPP as it provides the potential to commoditise electricity to be used for traditional back-up services or market arbitrage opportunities. Currently, ESS offering VPP services are mostly in the pilot stage, primarily in Australia and Japan.

1 Australian Energy Market Commission 5 Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 2016, Enerdata 2 Electricity Authority 6 http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/ener- 3 The Japan Times gy/energy-data-modelling/statistics/electricity Ministry of Business, 4 Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Government 7 Wind and solar power generation 14 15

Countries with an Emerging Smart Energy Market (TBC) The Case for VPPs

Australia Japan 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0

Energy Market Signals Energy Trilemma Rank out of 130, Sustainability highest = 1 Singapore Singapore has introduced retail competition for non-residential Security customers with at least 2MWh monthly electricity consumption. In Equity

2018, the retail competition will be extended to all consumers. In

0

addition, a market-driven DR pilot program is currently underway 0 20

with market participants. 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100 120

Philippines The Philippines is completing the National Wholesale Power 120 Market as part of its efforts to generate competition. Currently, participants in the Philippines struggle to extend the power network across the vast number of islands in New Zealand China the country cost-effectively, leading to the widespread adoption of diesel genset-based power supply infrastructure. Using micro-grids with a hybrid of RE and storage, a VPP set-up can be Source: World Energy Council considered as a viable solution to increase the electrification ratio in the country.

South Korea To be updated Challenges for Market Participants

Intermittency Seamless Integration of Real-time of RE Distributed Energy Assets Decision-making

Energy sustainability while managing energy 1. RE is known to have intermittency issues demand and import requirements are critical and subject to inclement weather conditions. Indonesia With a vast number of islands, The Philippines electricity market participants struggle to extend the power network in a cost challenges facing many energy-intensive efficient manner. This leads to a widespread adoption of diesel economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Distrib- 2. A vast number of distributed assets can genset based power supply infrastructure. Using Micro-grids with uted energy assets with high RE penetration lead to challenges in managing multiple and a hybrid of RE and storage a VPP setup can be considered a could be considered a panacea for the complex sets of interfacing standards. solution to increase the electrification ratio. Asia-Pacific’s energy issues. 3. With the number of assets, potentially Despite the benefits of distributed energy reaching millions, the sheer volume of assets in solving the overall energy problems, information available in real-time can be they do present several hurdles for market overwhelming in terms of decision-making in participants. the power markets. 16 17

Challenges for VPPs The identified challenges for market participants make a strong case for Virtual Power Plants 4-Step Approach to Successful VPP Projects

Impact over time < 2020 < 2020 1 Business Objectives Need for regulatory support HIGH MEDIUM VPP services are in the early development stages in the region. The offerings rely heavily on the energy policies and market operations. 2 Prototype

Current RE penetration level does not justify RoI HIGH MEDIUM VPP players identify the current level of RE penetration as being insufficient in managing the RE intermittency issues without 3 Validation using storage.

High cost of ESS HIGH LOW The cost-to-efficiency ratio of BESS needs to develop to the 4 Scaling Up extent that the lifetime benefit is adequate to offset the Life Cycle Cost of the systems in operation.

Lack of EV charging standards MEDIUM LOW Lack of standardisation for EVs chargers from OEMs or charging station manufacturers could limit attaining economies of scale. Issues such as different designs, composition, and battery location make compatibility with all charging stations a challenge.

Resistance from incumbent utilities MEDIUM LOW Relatively low interest to participate among utilities, as they fear VPPs becoming a source of revenue erosion amid concerns about grid safety and stability. 18 19

The next step involves formulating a plan to Vendor or Partner Support 01 Business Objectives execute a trial POC project. The VPP is set up • A solar/ plant must be Identifying the needs and pain points by integrating distributed energy resources in built in case the selected zone does not have of market participants a community comprising residences, commer- one. Vendors and system integrators have to cial buildings, and small industrial plants. A be engaged. VPP Platform interconnects these diverse Today’s distribution grid network is increasingly populated with RE generation assets as shown in Figure 5.1. • Collaborate with the ESS vendor for sources, energy storage systems, and demand response services. What are the its installation. The VPP platform must have a key business needs for the utility, power retailer, RE operator, DR aggregator Key assets connected are solar PV plants, clear understanding of the economics of and Smart City managers? wind turbines, demand response resources, charging and discharging of the ESS to decide ESS, and EV charging infrastructures, along its proper management. What are critical metrics for the VPP Manager to meet to ensure reliable and with sensors and smart meters. efficient operations for market participants? • It is crucial for the VPP platform to Assets embedded with sensors receive and interact effectively with the sensors Several business needs of stakeholders are as Several pain points stakeholders face include: send signals to the VPP. Every second, the (connected to all assets) and smart meters to follows: - Connecting and optimising energy resources in data collected from these sensors are read the data and take the necessary steps for - Utilities may want to defer investments in real-time, and balancing supply and demand analysed and key decisions are taken by the smooth operation. network assets - Enabling energy trading by the proper platform, to balance the power generation - Power retailers may want to enable smaller management of assets outputs of solar and wind farms, ESS and grid • Work in partnership with a DRMS prosumers to gain better value in the energy - Ensuring customers’ energy service needs, supply, against the load demands from offices, provider for its installation at customer sites. market while simultaneously minimising the cost and risk industrial plants, and residences. The excess Engage with the customer for load scheduling - DR aggregators may want better control over associated with investments energy can be traded in the wholesale and DR dispatch operations. their customers’ energy usage electricity market, based on the electricity - Smart City managers may want aggregated spot prices, or stored in ESS for later usage. • Interact with EV charging monitoring of energy assets infrastructure vendors to determine the V2H charging functionalities to ensure proper operation during peak hours.

02 Develop a Prototype Formulating a trial Proof of Concept (POC) project Virtual Power Plant Ecosystem

VPP platform helps in deciding generation bids, ancillary service bids for VPP Energy Trading VPP Platform Key Platform Electricity Assets Stakeholders Functionalities Wholesale Market Solar PV generation Power Utilities Asset Monitoring

Wind Turbine Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Industrial Plant Offices Operators Management (with Wind Generation (with EV Chargers, Demand Energy Storage Systems and ESS) Response, and ESS) Demand Response Energy Storage EV Charging Operators Management Infrastructure Energy Retailers Demand Response Demand Response Management VPP operator Residential Community Smart Meters EV Charging (with Solar PV, ESS, Demand Building Managers Infrastructure Response, and EV Chargers) Management

Information Flow Energy Flow

Figure 5.1: Trial POC Project Utilising the VPP Platform 20 21

03 Validate the Proof of Concept 04 Scale Up Implementation Analysing data from the trial project Replication and expansion

During this phase, data collected from situation compared to the benchmark. the operation of the VPP platform in In reference to the main challenges the POC project is studied in detail. identified during the trial run, several Key benefits are examined, while key benefits and suggested metrics are critical shortfalls are listed requiring shown in the table below. further validation. Further examination of these validation points is necessary before the Scaling Before and after comparisons Up phase to facilitate the proper Using the baseline defined in the energy management of all the assets. Business Objectives phase, teams can Additional steps can be finalised based then conduct a thorough analysis of the on the findings. The test-bed is run new status and again with the new energy manage- ment protocols.

BENEFITS VALIDATION REQUIRED The last step of the process focuses on scaling up that the data is easily available to authorised results achieved during the POC project for personnel while being insulated from intruders. Demand Peak load reduction, reduced operation Examine the demand response profile of broader implementation across several local VPPs, Response of peaker plants, and low carbon the individual DR ; analyse the duration controlled by a Master VPP. Ability to sense the “big picture” emissions and frequency of events. The access to data collected from a large set of Once the system works for the pilot set of assets enables the VPP operator to understand Reductions in electricity prices, Identify faulting participants and sensors and assets, the next phase involves the customer demand profile, RE generation benefitting all customers recognise instances of not responding. extending the set-up to cover more assets and pattern, demand response dispatch frequency, larger geographical areas. While ensuring the and EV charging needs. This information is crucial Financial compensation for DR participants capability to handle increased complexity, it is to facilitate predictive generation, optimal energy also important that the interlinked assets and management, and maximise financial gains. sensors are compatible with the VPP software Energy Storage Financial benefits of utilising off-peak Study the economics of charging and platform. Process improvement Systems energy stored and used during peak storing energy against The consolidation of several small VPPs under a periods discharge and losses. First, the VPP software platform needs to have a Master VPP; implementation of protocols or trusted partner, such as a DR aggregator, VPP directions by a local VPP for efficient operation Enabling smooth RE power output for Operator, ESS OEM or System Integrator. The can also be easily analysed, shared, and imple- submitting generation bids partner should work with VPP stakeholders to mented into other local VPPs. Similarly, implement the POC across a large set of assets in problem-solving measures to overcome issues can stages. The initial POC project may work well with also be shared and implemented. EV Charging Peak shaving using energy stored in fully Analyse efficiency and economics dozens of connected assets; however, will this be Asset charged EVs involved in charging and discharging operations. sustainable if the implementation expands to Improve business outcomes by working with a Financial benefits for EV users to feed include hundreds or thousands of sensors and partner energy to the grid Identify technological challenges assets? The types of data collected may also The VPP platform is a single consolidated system involved in V2H of V2G charging. evolve from basic meter readings and energy flow that will connect various assets, collate data and to sophisticated data such as location, light, wind send control signals for energy management in a Study the charging of speed, and energy usage patterns. VPP. An experienced channel partner installs the installed EV chargers in the project, VPP platform to implement a VPP. Key channel Explore the economics of using the grid Data and security partners include: power, against RE generation or stored As the number of assets increase, the data • VPP Operators ESS energy. collected from sensors and meters will grow • ESS OEMs exponentially, signalling the need for cloud • Demand Response Aggregators RE Generation Grid independence Examine weather patterns and deployments to interconnect VPPs covering a • Smart District Managers Energy trading for both peak power and renewable power generation in the VPP. larger geographical area. • Renewable Energy Operators generation The increase in data in centrally located servers Study the trends for proper energy calls for more stringent security measures to trading – e.g., compete for peak safeguard and protect data, a critical asset for any generation or with base load. company. Data security will need to ensure

Table 5.1: Benefits and Points to be Validated upon POC Project Completion 22 23

Future of VPP

Personalized Self Learning Single Platform for & Intelligent entire power value chain

Modular Scalable

Real time - Integrate Predictive - events Weather data and of the future market prices

The future of VPP functionalities ranges Developments in smart appliances that VPPs in the future need to understand With such an extensive range of from a super VPP encompassing the optimise energy consumption based on and incorporate customer behaviour to customers and millions of assets, an entire value chain to many small VPPs weather and market prices, could also provide personalised smart energy agile plug-and-play model is essential at different hierarchy levels. lead to real-time VPP functionalities services. to adapt to the evolving open and services. standards to allow customers to add The advancements in Artificial Intelli- Eventually, the overall VPP architecture new assets and devices to the network. gence Self Learning are projected to will need to scale up to millions of stimulate the evolution of an Intelligent devices, processing trillions of data and Predictive platform. points. 24 25 VPP Use Cases Use Case 1: Energy Storage management Use Case 2: Demand Response Management

Offers ancillary services to T&D company VPP Platform VPP Platform Offers ancillary Sends generation bids services to T&D company Input Signals VPP Operator or ESS Aggregator to wholesale electricity market Input Signals VPP Operator or Demand to VPP to VPP Response Aggregator Platform VPP Platform Processes Output Platform VPP Platform Processes Output

ESS current status Energy Supply-Demand Planning Provide ancillary services to T&D Demand Response Energy Supply-Demand Planning Provide ancillary services to T&D – Charged, No (supply-demand balancing through company load schedule of (supply-demand balancing through company Charge, Currently battery charges and discharges) Submit generation bids to wholesale each participating battery charges and discharges) Manage DR and channelise payouts Charging Energy Storage Management – electricity market customer – Demand Response Program – DR to participants Charging statistics batteries, heat pumps, Enable VPP Dispatch Load, Capacity Management, DR Execution Enable CO2 reduction – Voltage, Amper- air-conditioners Allow energy optimisation Time, and Duration Demand Forecast (short-term & Aid basic reduction of electricity age, Temperature Demand Forecast (short-term & Support CO2 reduction Energy data – long-term) prices during peak hours Energy data – long-term) Aid basic reduction of electricity Smart Meter and Demand Control (peak cut, peak Smart Meter and Demand Control (peak cut, peak prices during peak hours power data shift) power data shift) Sensor data – Energy Usage Optimisation Sensor Data – Energy Usage Optimisation Temperature, Temperature, ESS Aggregation Plan: Humidity, IL Humidity, IL - Battery usage control luminance luminance - Charging of battery during off-peak Equipment data – Grid power data hours or from renewable sources of status data Generation values power Grid power data - Optimisation of battery charging Generation values and discharging

In this model, the VPP platform acts as The platform analyses the data and In a VPP operating as a Demand The next step is DR calculation. All DR an Energy Storage Aggregator maintains power demand-supply Response Aggregator, the platform participants are pre-notified and based performing the essential functionality balance. The platform also assists the procures data on supply, demand, and on their response, the DR is scheduled of control and management of energy VPP operator to participate in the generation. The demand forecast is and executed. Upon completion of the storage systems such as battery power market using customer energy formulated and based on the stipulated DR schedule, DR bids can be submitted storage, or air conditioners. storage resources, and contribute to demand and supply plan. for ancillary services such as reserve reducing power costs through market margin. Other functionalities of the platform mechanisms include monitoring of assets such as ESS, analysing data from smart meters, and uniting all resources.

Services Offered Services Offered by VPP Platform Customers Description by VPP Platform Customers Description

Energy Storage ESS Service Providers Minimising the costs related to Energy Management Consumers, RE Resource Providers Minimising the costs related to Management battery charging and discharging. battery charging and discharging. Balancing of supply and demand. Balancing of supply and demand.

Ancillary Services T&D Company Providing reserve capacity, voltage Ancillary Services T&D Company Providing reserve capacity, voltage support through reactive power support through reactive power control. control.

Energy Trading Wholesale Electricity Market Facilitating power generation bids. 26 27

Use Case 3: Renewable Energy management Use Case 4: Asset Remote Control

Controls signals to ESS, VPP Platform Sends generation bids VPP Platform EV Chargers, RE sources, to wholesale electricity market Input Signals VPP Operator Input Signals VPP Operator or and Demand Response to VPP to VPP RE Resource Aggregator Platform VPP Platform Processes Output Platform VPP Platform Processes Output

Grid power data Energy Supply-Demand Planning Submit generation bids to wholesale Grid power data Energy Supply-Demand Planning Control signals to ESS to initiate Distributed (supply-demand balancing through electricity market Distributed energy (supply-demand balancing through discharge or charge energy resource battery charges and discharges) Provide ancillary services to T&D resource genera- battery charges and discharges) Control signals to RE resources for generation data Resource Aggregation Plan company tion data Generation Resource Management – energy management Consumer energy Energy Management (management Can consider serving GENCOs. Consumer energy ESS, RE sources, EV Chargers, Pre-notify DR resources and dispatch data – Smart of energy usage inside the VPP) Enable CO2 reduction data – Smart Demand Response operation signals Meter and power Demand Forecast (short-term & Aid basic reduction of and power Energy Management (management Control EV Charger and manage data long-term) prices during peak hours data of energy usage inside the VPP) signals Sensor data – Demand Control (peak cut, peak Sensor data – Demand Forecast (short-term & Aid Demand Control (peak cut, peak Temperature, shift) Temperature, long-term) shift) Humidity, IL Energy Usage Optimisation Humidity, IL Energy Usage Optimisation luminance luminance Equipment data – Energy storage status data resource data Generation values EV Charging Infrastructure data

The distributed energy resources in a The platform ensures supply-demand community or region can be conve- balance in the region, reduces grid niently aggregated using a VPP power dependence, and utilises excess platform, to operate as a single large power for generation bid submissions Control Signals source of power. in the electricity market or as ancillary Offered by VPP services. Platform Customers Description

Renewable Energy RE Resource Providers Balancing of RE power supply against Management demand. Services Offered by VPP Platform Customers Description Energy Management Consumers, RE Resource Providers Minimising the costs related to battery charging and discharging. Renewable Energy RE Resource Providers Balancing of RE power against Balancing of supply and demand. Aggregation demands. Energy Storage Energy Storage Service Providers/- Minimising the costs related to Energy Management Consumers, RE Resource Providers Minimising the costs related to Management Consumers battery charging and discharging. battery charging and discharging. Balancing of supply and demand.

Ancillary Services T&D Company Balancing of supply and demand. Demand Response DR Participants Enabling demand response dispatch Providing reserve capacity, voltage Management signals to scheduled load. support through reactive power control. Demand Control Consumers Sending signals to consumers to optimise energy usage, engage ESS Energy Trading Wholesale Electricity Market Facilitating power generation bids. charging/discharge as required.