This 1-credit course provides and overview of virtual power plants and the role engineers play in their cost-effective implementation.  Virtual power plants (VPPs) are a form of distributed power generation that are gaining popularity in many areas.  VPPs take advantage of localized renewable energy sources and localized battery energy storage systems to stabilize the electrical grid and reduce the need for new centralized power generating stations.  The course explores potential benefits of VPPs for utilities and their customers.  Technical and nontechnical issues associated with VPPS are discussed along with potential solutions to these issues.l 

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

1.      Discuss some of the utility challenges that are contributing to grid instability

2.      Explain why virtual power plants offer a solution for power grid stability that provides a win for the customer, a win for the utility, a win for the engineer and a win for the planet

3.      Describe the how virtual power plants operate, including design, components and communications between user and utility systems

4.      Recognize how security and redundancy issues must be considered

5.      Discuss how electric vehicles can become part of the solution for grid stability

6.      List the non-technical issues that must be overcome before large-scale adoption of VPPs can occur