What You Should Know about Virtual Power Plant?

• The virtual power plant is power system used to help balance the demand and supply of energy within a given area.
• The virtual power plant include Commercial virtual power plants and Technical virtual power plants.
•  Conductor hardware is one type of power line accessories applied in transmission and distribution to electric power utilities which includes automatic connectors, clamps, dead end clamps, suspension clamps, formed wire, insulator fittings and yoke plates.

A virtual power plant is a network of distributed, medium-scale power generating units as well as flexible power consumers and storage systems.it is used to evaluate and ensure the sustainable and steady supply electricity to the end users.

Conductor hardware is used on the transmission lines to properly connect the conductors in the right places and reduce the loose connections that may lead to electric shocks and provide a safe working environment. Conductor hardware include devices such as formed wire, splice connectors, lug and terminal. They create an electrical connection between parts of an electrical circuit or between different electrical circuits and join them into one lager circuit.

In this article, we will talk about the key components of a virtual power plant, types of virtual power plants and how they work as well as environmental and communal benefits of virtual power plants.

Table of Contents

• Components of a virtual power plant
  • Energy storage systems
  • Distributed energy resources
  • Information communication technologies
• Types of virtual power plants
  • Commercial virtual power plants
  • Technical virtual power plant 
• How a virtual power plant works?
• Environmental benefits and impacts of virtual power plants
• Communal benefits of virtual power plants
• Uses of a virtual power plant
• FAQs

Components of a virtual power plant

Virtual power plant consists of three key components that ensure the smooth flow of energy from one point to another. These components allow systems accessibility, controllability and market influence by combining all the distributed energy resources. These components include energy storage systems, distributed energy resources and information communication technology. These are further discussed below.

Energy storage systems

Virtual storage is defined as the process of using a large load from one time to later time that is mainly done through the use of large batteries to store excess power and deliver that power at a later time. The storage systems play an important role in removing the gap between generation and demand of energy. Conductor hardware is made from materials that allow them to resist the different elements in the environment that cause rust and corrosion. Energy storage systems can be categorized according to the use intended for them such as supplying power or energy. Super capacitors are used for supplying power while compressed energy storage systems are used for energy supply.

Distributed energy resources

These resources include distributed generators that are integrated with the main power grid. The distributed generators in a virtual power plant are categorized according to the generating capacity, the main power source and their operational power. Some distributed generators may use energy from renewable sources and are known as wind-based generators. Conductor hardware should be made from similar material as the conductors in order to prevent abrasion caused by friction between the devices. They are also defined by their duties such as commercial, industrial and residential owners which provide some of the energy in their own facilities. Some of the distributed generators are provided with a large battery storage in order to control the output power.

Information communication technologies

This is the systems that controls the working of other virtual power plants components by using bidirectional communication skills. The whole energy management systems are responsible for gathering data on the status of each component within the virtual power plant, predicting the key sources of renewable energy, monitoring the flow of power between the components, load predicting and management and controlling the working and of storage systems. Conductor hardware is also used to connect the other devices on the transmission lines to ensure there is smooth flow of electricity through the designated lines. All this is done with the aim of reducing power losses or electricity prices.

Types of virtual power plants

A virtual power plant has been said to be a platform that integrates the DERs that promote system prominence and authority of the power management systems and ensure better interactions between the system’s different components. The dead end clamp is made from a material that allows them to withstand the different elements causing rust and corrosion such as dust, water, heat and chemicals. The virtual power plants are of two types which include:

Commercial virtual power plants

This focuses on the power systems economic features to reduce system cost with the highest profits. It considers current load demand in the electricity market and uses suitable methods to determine the future load demand. It is also use to observe the likely risk conditions and disparities in the systems.

Technical virtual power plant 

This one is used to collect the different information from commercial virtual power plant such as DERs supreme capacity and future load demand to take the proper steps for the virtual power plant. It also calculates data of different factors of DERs to observe the systems efficiency. The dead end clamp has a great mechanical and tensile strength that allows them to be applicable in different weather conditions and provide durability.

How a virtual power plant works?

The main function of a virtual power plant is to balance the supply and demand of energy by connecting households and their batteries through networks. This helps to manage energy flow and reduce dependence on the grid in times of higher demand. This energy used in virtual power plants is mostly generated from renewable energy such as solar and wind. The design of the dead end clamp allows the clamp to move freely along the conductor to offer maximum protection from physical damages. These renewables may vary depending on the amount of sun or wind available which may reduce the supply of energy in case of a cloudy day, for example.

For a virtual power plant to work, you need to have solar panels and a solar battery installed. then you need to be connected to a virtual power plant program that allows energy sharing, receive incentives like reduced energy bills and receive compensation for sharing their excess energy. It also allows tracking of energy through apps, devices or web based portals. Dead end clamps also help the conductors to function smoothly without interruptions to ensure the proper supply of energy to the designated areas.

Environmental benefits and impacts of virtual power plants

Virtual power plants lead to the production of clean energy since most of the energy is generated from renewable resources of energy. The energy generated is sent back to the main grid and shared with the whole community. Suspension clamps are used to suspend the conductors which reduce the vibrations caused by the swinging of the conductors caused by strong winds. the main environmental benefits of virtual power plants are as follows:

• The virtual power plants introduce new cost saving methods or resiliency to their electrical collection.
• They lead to less dependence on the use of gas and coal for power which leads to fewer emissions of the greenhouse gases.
• It is sustainable as it also increases the power of renewables by using the most of them.

Communal benefits of virtual power plants

• Most of the energy produced is used back in the community which may lead to more developments of the local areas.
• Communities can create networks using smart technologies from households that have the large storage batteries.
• Participating in virtual power plants programs may lead to the reduced electricity costs for all consumers through reduced wholesale electricity costs.
• More money is earned by supplying the excess energy produced from the community’s solar panels into the main grid.
• The created communal network leads to less disruptions and a balanced power supply during the high peak hours.

Uses of a virtual power plant

The virtual power plant has been said to help balance the demand and supply of energy within a given area. It is also said to promote the introduction and expansion of renewable energy and subsidize to a decarbonized society. Suspension clamps are also used with other fittings such as bolts, nuts, washers and screws to assist in securing a connection on the overhead transmission lines. The uses of the virtual power plant are discussed below.

The negawatt collector business

 It provides service for mediating between electricity utilities and electricity consumers to support the trading and increase the power saving success rate.

Storage battery newsgator business 

Multiple batteries can be grouped together and controlled for multiple purposes and also provides group control technology for multiple storage batteries. Suspension clamps are also used as line construction hardware where they are used to secure and steady the connection of the other devices used on the overhead transmission lines.

Extrapolation technology utilizing AI

 This helps to improve the accuracy of the prediction technology used in electricity demand forecasting, weather forecasting and demand forecasting. It is also important for the predicting the electricity market price.