Modelling of a virtual power plant with a demand-side management approach to avoid generation and load peaks within renewable energy communities

Abstract

Due to various events such as the climate crisis, there are political and social incentives to move away from fossil resources such as coal, oil and gas. Renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics can be used to achieve this transition. The disadvantage of photovoltaics and other renewable technologies such as windpower is that they tend to increase fluctuations in the electricity grid, leading to physical, economic and social effects.This thesis deals with a modelling approach for a virtual power plant within a renewable energy community. It uses battery storage systems to avoid generation and load peaks within a renewable energy community. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential reduction of charging and discharging capacity and energy of battery systems through the application of demand side management.The results show that demand-side management can be used to reduce the necessary storage capacity and energy in order to avoid generation and load peaks.