VIRTUAL POWER PLANT SOLUTION FOR KENYA RURAL ENERGY NEEDS

Year 2022, Volume: 7 Issue: 1-2, 14 - 26, 27.12.2022

Obed Nelson Onsomu , Bülent Yeşilata

https://doi.org/10.55088/ijesg.1103920

Abstract

A Virtual Power Plant system is an advanced power distributing and trading platform, that acts as a smart grid system unlike the existing conventional methodology of power allocation. The system is known to facilitate the connection of renewable energy sources to the national grid from a specific region, it is made up of Energy Storage System, Distributable Energy Resources, and Control System. Energy sources are classified as Distributable Energy Resources and various assets can be linked to the platform such as small-scale microgrids or community-based power platforms with demand-side management portfolios. A Virtual Power Plant platform has the power-distributing capability and an evolutionary trading platform (Peer to Peer trading). It has also proven to cut down carbon emissions as more renewables find their way to the grid. Additionally, data analytics and forecasting tools on the Virtual Power Plant are used to give information to the end-users on their storage, demand, and expected future generation, the user can interact with the system through a Human Machine Interface that has easy to use dashboard. Currently, the VPP systems have been implemented as pilot programs in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the USA. The potential application of the system can be extended as a case study and futuristic smart grid system for Kenya, as the National grid is substantially fed from renewable energy sources, and the vast majority of rural areas can benefit from cheap and affordable energy. Finally, Virtual Power Plants are proven to be reliable systems, and power outages and delays can be minimized.

Keywords

Virtual Power Plant, Distributed Energy Sources, Rooftop photovoltaic, Renewable Energy Sources, Energy Storage Systems

References

• http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/30/c_138270418.htm
• S. Duby and T. Engelmeier, "Kenya: The World’s Microgrid Lab," TFE Consulting, München , 2017.
• Kakigano H., Nomura M., Ise T., “Loss Evaluation of DC Distribution for Residential Houses Compared with AC System”, IEEE, International Power Electronics Conference, Sapporo (JP), 2124, Jun 2010.
• Y. Wang, X. Ai, Z. Tan, L. Yan, and S. Liu, "Interactive dispatch modes and bidding strategy of multiple virtual power plants based on demand response and game theory," IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 7, pp. 510-519, 201
• Kakigano H., Nomura M., Ise T., “Loss Evaluation of DC Distribution for Residential Houses Compared with AC System”, IEEE, International Power Electronics Conference, Sapporo (JP), 2124, Jun 2010.
• International Electrical Engineering Journal (IEEJ) Vol. 6 (2015) No.9, pp. 2010-2024 ISSN 2078-2365 http://www.ieejournal.com/
• http://www.versoley.com/en/pv-systems/monitoringcontrol, access date: Jan. 21, 2018.
• D. Riley and J. Johnson, “Photovoltaic prognostics and heath management using learning algorithms” 38th IEEE PVSC, Austin, TX, 5 June, 2012.
• F. Kateraei, M. Iravani, and P. Lehn, Micro-grid Autonomous Operation During And Subsequent To Islanding Process IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 20 (2005) 248–257.
• K. Dielmann, Alwin and van der Velden, Virtual power plant (VPP) a new perspective for energy generation? Proceedings of 9th IEEE international scientific and practical conference of students, post-graduates and Young scientists, (2003) 18 – 20.
• K. Okuyama , T. Kato, K. Wu, Y.Yokomizu, T. Okamoto & Y. Suzuoki: Improvement of Reliability of Power Distribution System by Information Exchange Between Dispersed Generators ; IEEE PES Winter Power Meeting 2001.
• Decentralized Energy Systems (Brussels, European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, 2010).
• “The implications of an increasingly decentralized energy system” by P. Wolfe, in Energy Policy (2008), vol. 36, pp. 4509–4513.
• “Distributed generation: Definition, benefits and issues” by G. Pepermans and others, in Energy Policy (2005), vol. 33, pp. 787-798.
• O. N. Onsomu and B. Yeşilata, "Virtual Power Plant Application for Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems," 2019 3rd International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Studies and Innovative Technologies (ISMSIT), Ankara, Turkey, 2019, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ISMSIT.2019.8932895.
• Yun, L., Huanhai, X., Zhen, W., & Deqiang, G. (2015). Control of virtual power plant in microgrids: a coordinated approach based on photovoltaic systems and controllable loads. Gener Transm Distrib, IET 2015; 9: 921–8.
• Mashhour, E., & Moghaddas-Tafreshi, S. M. (2010). Bidding strategy of virtual power plant for participating in energy and spinning reserve markets—Part I: Problem formulation. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 26(2), 949-956.