Virtual Power Plants

Against the backdrop of energy transition and the "dual carbon" goals, on the one hand, with the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics into the power grid, intermittency and volatility pose challenges to the stable operation of the power system. On the other hand, the demand for electricity is constantly increasing, while the expansion of traditional power grids faces problems such as high costs and long construction periods.

Virtual power plants can integrate various distributed energy sources, energy storage systems, and flexible loads, achieve peak shaving and valley filling, reduce investment demand for grid infrastructure, and achieve coordinated optimization and control of these resources, thereby enhancing the power system's ability to absorb renewable energy. With the development of intelligent technology, it has also provided technical support for virtual power plants, including big data analysis, artificial intelligence, communication technology, etc., making it possible to accurately monitor and efficiently control distributed resources. At the policy level, efforts are also being made to encourage the development of virtual power plants to enhance the flexibility and reliability of the power system, and promote efficient energy utilization.

Chongqing, as one of the important cities in the Southwest Economic Belt and the only province and city in the Southwest region with net energy input, is a key area for national power supply guarantee. Every year during the peak summer season, it shoulders the mission of ensuring the safety of the power grid, protecting residential electricity, and protecting the electricity consumption of key enterprises. This puts higher requirements on the operation and scheduling of electricity during peak summer season. In this context, since March 2024, Chongqing has continuously issued documents such as the "Implementation Rules for the Construction and Management of Chongqing Virtual Power Plants", "Technical Specifications for the Operation of Chongqing Virtual Power Plants", and "Implementation Plan for the 2024 Chongqing Electricity Demand Response" to accelerate the construction and management of virtual power plants and further improve the safe and stable operation level of the Chongqing power grid.

On July 25, 2024, the "Chongqing Virtual Power Plant Launch Ceremony" hosted by the Chongqing Economic and Information Commission was officially held. Mingde Energy Storage, as one of the first virtual power plant operators in Chongqing, was invited to participate in this press conference.

Mingde Energy Storage, with its own virtual power plant brand "Mingde Green Energy Cloud", made a grand appearance: "Mingde Green Energy Cloud is a new generation of smart operation platform for virtual power plants that can cover multiple resource types, multiple time scales, and multiple market categories, created by Mingde Energy Storage's core technology. By integrating new generation intelligent control technology and interactive business models, the platform can effectively improve the safety and reliability of power system operation and create maximum benefits for users.”

The Chongqing Virtual Power Plant project was launched on May 14th, and now the Chongqing Mingde Green Energy Cloud Virtual Power Plant has achieved a total resource access of over 28MW, covering various adjustable resources such as charging stations, user side energy storage, commercial air conditioning, factories, etc. According to the planning of the business unit, the aggregated capacity of Chongqing Mingde Green Energy Cloud can exceed 100MW by the end of 2024.

The development of virtual power plants has had a positive and profound impact on all levels of society, helping to build a more efficient, clean, reliable, and sustainable energy future. Mingde never forgets its original intention, forging ahead with continuous innovation and upgrading, creating greater value for customers, partners, and society.