Optimal Scheduling Strategy of Virtual Power Plant With Power-to-Gas in Dual Energy Markets

The virtual power plant (VPP) is a cloud-based aggregator that combines heterogeneous distributed energy resources to give a reliable and friendly power supply. In this article, a VPP that consists of natural gas network, power to gas (P2G) equipment, flexible load, and other resources is introduced in the electricity market and natural gas market considering the uncertainties of renewable energy outputs and demand responses. Moreover, the optimal scheduling strategy of VPP includes power and gas dispatch considering bidirectional flows of power and gas, and the optimization model considering dual-energy markets is investigated by developing different scenarios to maximize the VPP's profit. Case studies have been carried out to analyze the economy and scheduling strategy of the VPP. Simulation results show that the VPP studied in this article can effectively reduce the proportion of renewable curtailment by selling electricity or P2G equipment. Besides, it is beneficial to maintain pressure stability and security operation of the natural gas network, and the VPP could decrease unbalanced penalty cost and reduce the impact from uncertainties in dual-energy markets.