Implementing agent-based emissions trading for controlling Virtual Power Plant emissions

• A multi-agent system was designed for aggregated micro-generator emissions control.
• Simulations of system operation were validated experimentally.
• VPP emissions have been controlled with a good accuracy.
• VPP controllability increased when the number of micro-generators was increased.

A methodology was developed and tested for controlling the emissions from a group of micro-generators aggregated in a Virtual Power Plant. The methodology is based on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. A multi-agent system was designed and simulations were performed. The operation of the system was demonstrated experimentally using micro-generation sources installed in two laboratories. Two days of experiments were performed. Results show that system emissions have been controlled with a good accuracy, since only small deviations between desired and actual emissions output were observed. It was found that Virtual Power Plant controllability increases significantly by increasing the number of participating micro-generators.