Integrating Renewable Sources into a Reliable Power Ecosystem

Balancing different sources of power, including renewables represents the most efficient and sustainable approach to meeting the energy needs we have now, and those of the next generation. Efficient control hardware combined with the management and optimization offered by virtual power plants provides an opportunity to meet that challenge today. This article provides a practical overview of how virtual power plants can provide the answer. The evolution of control software and electrical hardware solutions for renewable and distributed power generation are two major drivers for potential improvement in energy efficiency in the power industry. Combined solutions such as Virtual Power Plants move the concept on further again: they can be used to support the transition from traditional energy generation to renewables by offsetting some of the constraints and variability experienced with green power sources