Optimal operation of virtual power plants with shared energy storage

The emergence of the shared energy storage mode provides a solution for promoting renewable energy utilization. However, how establishing a multi-agent optimal operation model in dealing with benefit distribution under the shared energy storage is still a challenge. Considering the multi-agent integrated virtual power plant (VPP) taking part in the electricity market, an energy trading model based on the sharing mechanism is proposed to explore the effect of the shared energy storage on multiple virtual power plants (MVPPs). To analyse the relationship among MVPPs in the shared energy storage system (SESS), a game-theoretic method is introduced to simulate the bidding behaviour of VPP. Furthermore, the benefit distribution problem of the virtual power plant operator (VPPO) is formulated based on the Nash bargaining theory. In the case study, the proposed method is conducted in four VPPs with different resource endowments in terms of techno-economic and operation efficiency. Results verify that the multiple virtual power plants with a shared energy storage system interconnection system based on the sharing mechanism not only can achieve a win-win situation between the VPPO and the SESS on an operation cost but also obtain the optimal allocation scheme and improves the operation efficiency of the VPPs.