Electric vehicles flexibility in B2C Virtual Power Plants : assessing the potential value and comparing with self-consumption

Details

Supervisors

De Jaeger, Emmanuel

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil électromécanicien, à finalité spécialisée: énergie

Abstract

The integration of decentralized renewable energy sources into the grid is a complex challenge that requires careful coordination and management. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) have emerged as a promising solution for managing and optimizing the integration of renewable energy into the grid. By aggregating and organizing distributed energy resources such as wind turbines, solar panels and storage systems, VPPs can provide grid services that are traditionally associated with conventional power plants, such as generation, transmission, and ancillary services. VPPs can also help increase the resilience and reliability of the grid and enable the participation of small and medium-sized producers and consumers in the electricity markets. We study the added value of the flexibility of electric vehicles (EVs) integrated in a VPP as a way to address grid instability. In particular, we assess the potential economic value an EV user could make by entering a VPP which is active in intraday imbalance market. Simulations of the operations of a VPP controller are done considering parameters such as maximum charging power, consumer baseload and different driving profiles. The value stack possibility with self-consumption is also compared to the economic potential of the VPP controller alone. Results indicate that while the economic value provided solely by the VPP may not be substantial, the possibility of value stacking with self-consumption from photovoltaic production is interesting for the users. By entering the VPP and implementing value stacking, a typical high-consumption customer in 2019 could reduce his electricity invoice by 2% and 15%, respectively, while in 2022, the reductions would be 1% and 11%. Factors that may have influenced these outcomes include suboptimal VPP action signals, remuneration procedures, restricted charging options, and the focus on a single asset. Further research is needed to explore bidding in energy markets, providing ancillary services, revising remuneration procedures, expanding charging options, and utilizing multiple assets within VPPs to unlock their full economic potential. Despite the current limitations of this research, VPPs demonstrate their effectiveness in grid balancing and resource provision, contributing to the transition towards a more connected and flexible energy system with significant potential for various value pockets.