Optimal dispatch strategy of virtual power plants using potential game theory

Due to the characteristics of large number, scattered location and difficulty in coordination and optimization of Distributed Generations (DGs), the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is an effect form of aggregation of multiple DGs and simplify the complexity of power scheduling. However, it is also difficult to coordinate power dispatching and benefit balance among multiple VPPs. Hence, a Potential Game (PG) theory based optimal dispatch strategy for the VPPs is proposed to obtain higher economic income under the condition of multi-agent income equilibrium. Firstly, it uses the limited improvement characteristics of the PG to balance the global income and individual income, and reflects the revenue function to the potential function of the PG. Then, it makes use of the convergence of Nash equilibrium to coordinate and optimize the scheduling of power among multiple VPPs. Furthermore, a variable step size iteration is used to shorten the iteration time and ensure that the outputs of the VPPs meet the requirements of the stable operation of the power grid. Finally, simulation results show that the PG can make the VPPs operate in an optimized power generation state, that improving the energy utilization rate and increasing the economic profit.