A virtual energy storage system to compensate for the uncertainty in distributed renewable generation

This study presents a management algorithm designed for a Virtual Energy Storage System (VESS), as a result of the EU Horizon 2020 project 'VPP4ISLANDS'. The VESS is an aggregation of distributed flexibility resources in an electricity distribution network, and in the case of this study, it consists of a flexible load, a battery energy storage unit and a diesel generator. The algorithm was designed to control the VESS components in a coordinated manner to effectively act similar to a large capacity battery and compensate for the error in the forecasting of distributed renewable generation. Consequently, the VESS algorithm will be deployed in what the project has named VPP4IBox, assembled by Schneider Electric, to support the integration of more renewable generation in the Turkish energy system. The renewable generation considered in this study consists of a PV system and two wind turbines. Simulation results show that the forecasting error of renewable generation was fully mitigated.