A residential community-level virtual power plant to balance variable renewable power generation in Sweden

Power systems with large shares of variable renewable electricity generation, i.e., wind and solar power, require high flexibility in both power generation demand. Heat pumps combined heat units within district heating systems, thermal storages have previously been studied for their potential to increase the energy system. When using these technologies balancing, they must be operated a non-standard way switched merit-order. This study hypothesizes that residential area could form local entity, virtual plant, provides power-balancing services national The hypothesis is tested case-study Sweden where unit, pumps, distribution system, storage constitute entity. A simulation balances optimization size, was performed. results show all surpluses system are consumed by pumps. 43% annual 21% peak load covered unit. It concluded an inter-seasonal crucial system's flexibility. Also, surpluses, if converted stored, limit ability plant utilize unit balancing at later stage. Despite this, can provide increased offering