Virtual power plant operation using an improved meta-heuristic optimization algorithm considering uncertainties

In this paper, virtual power plant (VPP) planning is done using distributed generation sources to create a safe platform for electricity exchange and to increase the profitability and sustainability of electricity. In the proposed model, the effect of micro-grid interaction with the electricity market in the presence of distributed generation resources and storage is investigated. To solve this problem, an improved artificial bee colony algorithm using the accept-reject method (AR-ABC) is used. The AR method is employed to limit the initial search space as well as for the scenario reduction process. Also, uncertainties related to loads and renewable sources are formulated in a sample micro-grid including micro-turbine (MT), fuel cell (FC), wind turbine (WT), photovoltaic cells (PV) and batteries for storage; the results are compared with those of other methods, which shows this method works better than others. The software simulations of this research are done in the MATLAB software environment.