Profit Models of Virtual Power Plants in Aggregating Distributed Energy Resources

Relying on the energy computing power platform, virtual power plants (VPPs) integrate decentralized resources such as charging piles, energy storage systems, distributed photovoltaic systems, air conditioners, communication base stations and commercial buildings, and act as agents to participate in the operation of the power market and provide fair power trading. By aggregating these resources, VPPs participate in electricity markets as intermediaries, providing equitable trading mechanisms. The core concept is centralized management and optimized dispatch of distributed generation, flexible loads, and energy storage to achieve power supply-demand balance, enhance grid efficiency and reliability, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This article analyzes the profitability of different VPP resource aggregation models based on operational data from a VPP project in Qingdao to advance VPP commercialization and development.