Virtual Power Plant
Published on 10 March 2021
Finland
Etelä-Suomi
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The virtual power plant service includes the integration of the power loads of Lappeenranta city owned buildings into the virtual power plant and Fingrid (TSO) balancing energy markets, as well as the related operational and maintenance costs, such as license fees, reporting tools, data security solutions and other needed services. The service has been in operation since March 2020.
The virtual power plant enhances energy efficiency of building stock, and hence contributes by decreasing the carbon footprint of buildings. Virtual power plant “gathers” small building dedicated demand response options and combines them as a larger “virtual power plant”, which can then be operated cost-efficiently, providing business opportunities for the service providers, and cost savings for the building owners.
Included city buildings and loads: 17 buildings connected (ca. 0.1 MW reserve power), including 7 school buildings, 2 kindergartens, 3 sports halls, 1 library, 4 other public service buildings.
At the moment (December 2020) only variable-frequency drive controlled fans are connected as adjustable loads.
An option for addition of 45 buildings to be implemented later.
The virtual power plant enhances energy efficiency of building stock, and hence contributes by decreasing the carbon footprint of buildings. Virtual power plant “gathers” small building dedicated demand response options and combines them as a larger “virtual power plant”, which can then be operated cost-efficiently, providing business opportunities for the service providers, and cost savings for the building owners.
Included city buildings and loads: 17 buildings connected (ca. 0.1 MW reserve power), including 7 school buildings, 2 kindergartens, 3 sports halls, 1 library, 4 other public service buildings.
At the moment (December 2020) only variable-frequency drive controlled fans are connected as adjustable loads.
An option for addition of 45 buildings to be implemented later.
Resources needed
Connecting public building stock to virtual power plant.
Evidence of success
Lappeenranta experiences:
Advanced building automation system is a pre-requirement for successful VPP implementation.
VPP service has worked well and has not caused problems to the indoor air quality.
Frequency containment is continuous symmetric up and down adjustment of power loads within minutes.
Variable frequency drive controlled fans are well suitable to demand response use.
In a typical municipal service building annual income is ca. 4-500 € at the FCR-N market.
Advanced building automation system is a pre-requirement for successful VPP implementation.
VPP service has worked well and has not caused problems to the indoor air quality.
Frequency containment is continuous symmetric up and down adjustment of power loads within minutes.
Variable frequency drive controlled fans are well suitable to demand response use.
In a typical municipal service building annual income is ca. 4-500 € at the FCR-N market.
Potential for learning or transfer
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) highlight the importance of the ability to interact with connected energy grids.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
City of Lappeenranta
Finland
Etelä-Suomi
Contact
associate professor