Work

Optimization of Electricity–Carbon Coordinated Scheduling Process for Virtual Power Plants Based on an Improved Snow Ablation Optimizer Algorithm

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Given the strong coupling between electricity flow and carbon flow, promoting the low-carbon transformation of the energy sector is a crucial measure to actively responding to climate challenges. As a pivotal hub linking the electricity market with the carbon market, promoting electricity–carbon coordinated scheduling of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) is of great significance in expediting the energy transition process. Based on the introduction of carbon potential, this manuscript constructs a VPP electricity–carbon coordinated scheduling model that incorporates various typical elements, including renewable energy units and demand response. Furthermore, this paper utilizes Brain Storm Optimization (BSO) to improve the Snow Ablation Optimizer (SAO) algorithm and applies the improved algorithm to solve the model developed in this manuscript. Finally, an analysis was conducted using a small-scale VPP project in eastern China, and the results are the following: Firstly, the SAO improved by BSO demonstrates a significant enhancement in solution efficiency. In particular, for the cases presented in this manuscript, the algorithm’s convergence speed increased by 42.85%. Secondly, under the multi-market conditions and with real-time carbon potential, VPPs will possess greater flexibility in scheduling optimization and stronger incentives to fully explore their emission reduction potential through collaborative electricity–carbon scheduling, thereby improving both economic and environmental performance. However, constrained by factors such as the currently low carbon price level, the extent of improvement in VPPs’ performance under real-time carbon potential, compared to fixed carbon potential, remains relatively limited, with a 1.07% increase in economic benefits and a 2.63% reduction in carbon emissions. Thirdly, an increase in carbon prices can incentivize VPPs to continuously tap into their emission reduction potential, but beyond a certain threshold (120 CNY/t in this case study), the marginal contribution of further carbon price increases to emission reductions will progressively decline. Specifically, for every 20-yuan increase in the carbon price, the carbon emission reduction rate of VPPs drops below 1%.

Source: Processes

DOI: 10.3390/pr13093027

Authors: Haiji Wang, Ming Zeng, Xueying Lu, Zhijian Chen, Jiankun Hu

Institutions: China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. (China), North China Electric Power University

Language: English

Topic: Electric Power System Optimization

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896