Optimal Scheduling of Virtual Power Plants Considering Natural Gas Pressure Energy Power Generation

To address the characteristic and schedule issues of the natural gas pressure energy (NGPE) generation, a new type of distributed energy, a new virtual power plant (VPP) solution incorporating NGPE generation is proposed. Firstly, the NGPE generation technology is analyzed, and a joint model of the NGPE combined cycle power generation scheme is developed based on both pressure exergy and temperature exergy. Secondly, it is further modeled together with other distributed energy resources on the source side of VPP, including a hydrogen-containing energy storage system and a demand-side load model. On this basis, considering the deterministic constraints in the VPP and the uncertainties on both the generation and load sides, a two-stage robust optimal scheduling model is established for the NGPE-generation-integrated VPP, which operates at minimum daily cost under the worst-case scenario. The column and constraint generation algorithm is used to solve the model. The results from a practical test case show that the minimum daily operating cost is reduced by 47.99% due to the integration of direct expansion NGPE generation. Further adoption of combined-cycle power generation lowers the minimum daily operating cost by 56.37%. The results demonstrate strong economic performance and confirm the feasibility of the model.