Improving the Efficiency of Distributed Generation Using the Technologies of Virtual Power Plants

The analysis of the basic trends in the use of small distributed generation revealed that its use on the side of electricity consumers as part of the electrical complex has a number of positive effects and represents a kind of trend, which is by instance attributed to the current regulatory environment. It was established that there is a certain “shortage” of scientifically based approaches (methods, procedures and rules) to determine the physically justified characteristics of DG power units as part of an electrical complex with distributed generation and determine the effective topology of such an ETC. The paper considers the algorithm for optimizing the parameters of the DG at the design stage of a separate electrical complex, as well as combining several ETCs based on the DG into a single electrical network with the provision of the optimal topology of the resulting electrical network. Based on the dependencies characterizing the influence of parameters and structure of electrical complexes with distributed energy sources on the indicators of the operational mode in the distribution network, a target function for optimizing these parameters and structure is proposed. The method of parametric optimization of ETC with DG is suggested, which involves determining physically justified characteristics of power units and comprises three stages: the formation of initial data; determination of limiting capacities for power units; direct selection (optimization). The efficiency of combining several electrical complexes on the basis of small distributed generation into a single electrical network with the provision of the optimal topology for the obtained electrical network is analyzed. Peculiar for this technological integration is an additional “option”, which involves solidarity coverage of the load at the expense of the organization, including additional power lines. The probable integration on the example of pre-independent electrical complex group based on small distributed generation is considered. The ideology of the formation of a “technological integration” of existing ETCs is aimed at improving the efficiency of power supply by maximizing the use of the full potential for distributed generation.