Virtual Power Plant: Key Technology in Energy Transformation and Prospects for the Future

With the increasing integration of distributed energy sources into the grid, VPP has garnered widespread attention as a distributed energy management technology due to their flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability. This attention stems from the need to address the growing scarcity of fossil fuels and the array of threats posed by global climate change. Furthermore, the pursuit of a "dual-carbon" goal has led to a rising proportion of renewable energy sources, such as wind power and photovoltaic energy, being connected to the power grid. The unpredictable and uncontrollable characteristics of renewable energy power generation, combined with its dispersed access points, have intensified the difficulty of maintaining the secure and reliable operation of the power system. The emergence of virtual power plant (VPP) offers a promising resolution to these challenges. This paper delivers an extensive examination of VPP, covering their fundamental principles, structures and classifications. Furthermore, it systematically reviews the present research status of VPP. Finally, it delineates the future development prospects of VPP, while also acknowledging the potential challenges that may emerge in the coming years.