The first step towards energy self-sufficiency in smart cities: The present and future of virtual power plant technology

Abstract

Distributed renewable energy sources offer solutions to the global energy crisis, but their limitations in volatility and efficiency necessitate virtual power plants for optimal management. In this study, the BERTopic algorithm was used to objectively and systematically review research trends related to virtual power plants based on data. A total of 336 papers were classified using natural language processing, resulting in the identification of four research topics: Technology integration in the energy sector (82.6 %), Short-term demand prediction (6.4 %), Storage of renewable energy (6.0 %), and Vehicle-to-grid (5.4 %). From 2011 to 2023, the number of studies increased approximately 14-fold compared to 1997 to 2010, when the concept of VPP first emerged. Based on this, a quantitative review was conducted to identify the current barriers to the implementation of commercial and technical virtual power plants. Furthermore, future research directions were suggested to overcome these barriers and implement virtual power plants in urban areas. Proposed strategies include improving energy harvesting to predict energy generation more accurately, optimizing energy storage systems, and validating economic, environmental, and social feasibility, along with technical issues for multiple virtual power plants. This research offers insights into overcoming virtual power plant implementation barriers, contributing to energy self-reliance in smart cities.