What is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP)?

A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a network of power generating units that are operating as one power plant.

Generating units such roof-top solar installations can be in a VPP. Wind farms, solar farms, business with solar panels and batteries are all part of the mix.

All of the generators in a VPP are interconnected through a privately-operated wireless communications network. Electricity produced by all of the generators is dispatched through the central control room of the Virtual Power Plant to customers, or exported to the national energy market.

And each generator remains independent in their operation and ownership.

One objective of a Virtual Power Plant is to relieve the load and peaks of demand or supply that is on the grid by smartly distributing the electricity that is generated by the individual units during periods of peak load.

The combined power generation and power consumption of all networked generator units is traded locally to consumers, and surplus output is sold to the electricity grid.

The participants of the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) are connected to the VPP’s central control system via a private wireless communications system. This way, all the connected generators are monitored, coordinated and controlled by the VPP; control commands and data is transmitted through a private communication system fully shielded from other traffic through encryption.

Bidirectional data is exchanged between all components in the VPP in a real-time.

Geni.Energy aims to become the first wide-area VPP in rural Australia, initially operating across the Narrabri Shire area in northwest New South Wales.

Geni.Energy is establishing a VPP to create long-term jobs and sustainable opportunities for regional communities through access to cheap and abundant energy.

The Geni.Energy VPP aims to underpin the creation of hundreds of new jobs, the first of them beginning in 2020 and then persisting for decades thereafter. Permanently-demanded new skills; the establishment of many new and profitable businesses, the introduction of new industries and a host of sustainable new opportunities will underpin our revitalised communities.

The Geni.Energy VPP will combine many renewable generators across the north west NSW region.