Microgrids and Virtual Power Plants: Integration Possibilities

Electric power systems have undergone several transformations, especially leveraged by the trends of digitalization, decarbonization and decentralization of the electric sector. Following the trends of decarbonization and decentralization, the increased penetration of distributed resources in the electricity grid brings new challenges and opportunities for system management. In terms of digitization, the advent of microgrids and virtual power plants stands out as possibilities for aggregating and managing these resources. Thus, the integration of distributed generation, microgrids and virtual power plants presents not only new market opportunities, but also new regulatory and technological challenges for the electric system, since they change the way such entities interact with each other and with the generation, transmission, distribution and commercialization systems of electric energy, directly or indirectly impacting these sectors. In order to contribute to the discussion of topics relevant to these challenges, the present work aims to investigate possibilities for the integration of microgrids and virtual power plants. With this objective, a bibliographic mapping was carried out in order to elucidate concepts relevant to microgrids, virtual power plants and the possibilities of their integration. These themes are presented throughout the work, as well as regulatory aspects and suggestions for future research.