Optimization by Stochastic Programming for the Aggregation of a Commercial Virtual Power Plant

Future large penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) leads to explore the potential of technical integration of these dispersed small-size generators into the distribution network. New actors may emerge, devoted to the commercial or technical aggregation, in order to provide ancillary services or to gain global productivity. Aggregating a set of small producers into a commercial Virtual Power Plant could enable its market participation like a conventional power plant. The function of aggregation should be able to reduce imbalance risk in the market, by the means of an existing methodology based on stochastic programming. This methodology is described and extended to new generation characteristics, with a discussion about the necessary improvements and about its application to a real-size case, on a rural alpine area.