This project is to design and set up a grid-connected distributed PV + lithium-ion storage battery (SB) system. The distribution power network with the installation of the solar PV and battery system will be studied. The Virtual Power Plant concept will be tested based on the distributed PV+SB system. 10 kW Photo Voltaic System and 15 kWh Litium-ion System are provided by Panasonic. The effect of the voltage will be studied based on the comparison between the results obtained before and after the installation of the solar PV and battery system. The frequency will also be examined by performing the dynamic simulation of the solar PV and battery system and Load Frequency Control (LFC).

A virtual power plant (VPP) is a cluster of decentralized generation installations, which are controlled from a central point or a control centre. These installations can be CHP micro-turbines, wind turbines, solar panel arrays, small hydro generators, etc. But it is very well possible to add storage capacity to the set of generation installations of a virtual power plant. These small decentralized generation installations achieve the characteristic of a big power plant through the above VPP arrangement.

The PV and battery system is chosen to be installed in this project. The control can be performed via smart sensing and metering devices linked to a centralized server system. The communication media for control can be Internet, wireless, optical fiber LANs or their combination depending on the level of the security required. To fully harmonize the VPP generation with the district load represented by a composite demand profile, it is important to coordinate energy generation and load in a district via DRM. The penetration of renewable energy in a district can be boosted via appropriate VPP and DRM control mechanism.

Last updated on 23 November 2015