The concept of virtual power plants (VPPs) was firstly introduced in 1997 by Dr. Shimon Awerbuch with the term “virtual utility”
[1], proposing the creation of small systems capable of taking advantage of the benefits of DERs. Since then, several studies have contributed to the maturity of this initial definition. In
[2], VPPs are defined as a combination of storage devices and small renewable and thermal generating plants that serve to participate in the electricity market as a more robust and efficient power plant. Ref.
[3] emphasizes the definition as a group of decentralized and grid-connected units installed in single and multi-family homes, small businesses and public buildings to provide heating, cooling and electricity production services, where a set of units can be controlled and managed as a single DER plant and with great flexibility in terms of fuel choice. In
[4], the characteristics of the generator and controllable load parameters that can be aggregated and used to characterize VPPs are outlined, including frequency response characteristics, voltage regulating capability, active and reactive power loading capability schedule and profile of load, among others. In the European FENIX Project, a mechanism is proposed to manage DERs and make better use of its participation. It adds several small- and medium-capacity generation units to form a single virtual unit that behaves in a similar way to a large power station, and therefore with the ability to integrate DERs in the electricity market and provide technical services to the grid
[5]. In the work developed in
[6], VPPs are approached as a set of generating plants and controllable loads. The capacity of the generators is around dozens of MW, and they can produce electrical and thermal energy at the same time. Service supply is carried out through a smart management system. VPPs are part of the concept of DERs and medium/low-voltage distribution networks. VPPs are a fundamental element to participate in the active management of the system as a smart grid
[7]. Although in this paper, the level of low voltage operation is limited, most authors do not restrict this characteristic. In
[8], a VPP is defined as the set of DERs located in an electrical system, not limited in voltage level and grouped for cooperative operation as a single element that aims to obtain technical and economic benefits for all system participants. The flexibility of the management of DERs with VPPs to offer ancillary services to the system is analyzed in
[9]. The DeMoTec laboratory was used for the control of active and reactive power through a VPP. In order to seek the proper interaction of DERs in the EPS, in
[10], the participation of VPP as an “integrating agent” is proposed for small DERs to be power suppliers from distribution networks. The VPP operator would be in permanent communication with the system operator and in permanent interaction with small generating plants. As more studies have been developed in this area, the authors provided broader concepts of VPPs, allowing them to incorporate new elements and new operating strategies in the network. In
[11], a VPP is a set of DERs, storage systems, electric vehicles and controllable loads, which are controlled, optimized and coordinated so that their operation is equivalent to an hourly dispatched unit and with participation in the electricity market. This VPP is a supplier of energy, capacity and ancillary services to the grid operations. The electric vehicle is also proposed as a fundamental part of VPPs. For example, in
[12], various approaches are introduced to facilitate the integration of electric mobility through VPPs. Ref.
[13] describes the implementation of a VPP as a means of coordinating the use of distributed resources by TSO and DSO operators for different control objectives. In
[14], the concept of VPP is proposed to improve electrical systems and to integrate DERs in the electricity market as a single plant, basing its management on the concept of the “virtual cloud” and adding small-scale DERs. Another study proposes the concept of fog as a VPP (FaaVPP) to integrate DERs as services for community energy management
[15]. In this work, generating units are integrated in a power distribution hub, which is managed and controlled with fog-based service to form a VPP. This service provides a virtual trading system for prosumers. In the POSYTYF project, the concept of a dynamic virtual power plant (DVPP) is proposed
[16]. The DVPP aims to facilitate the integration of dispatchable and non-dispatchable renewable energy sources into the electrical network by offering their combined flexibility. It is a new concept that considers the large-scale integration of only RES. The DVPP not only has economic advantages, but it also has the capacity to offer ancillary services to the system
[17].
Finally, bringing together the concepts formulated by multiple authors, an integral definition of VPP is proposed. This definition encompasses the different operating approaches and the services that can be offered to the EPS.