Demonstrator Virtual Power Plant Neckar-Alb

Within the project, the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Neckar-Alb is constructed and operated on the campus of Reutlingen University. For this purpose, distributed energy resources are installed and, together with existing power installations, connected to a control system to be operated according to market requirements. The project's planning phase started at the end of 2015. Middle of 2016, the construction of the demonstration plant will start firstly with the installation of the control system, of new energy systems and with the connection to the facilities of the university. Until the end of 2018, the VPP will expand by connecting additional energy systems of associated participants. The Reutlingen Energy Center REZ of the university will deploy the VPP Neckar- Alb as a teaching and research facility and, in addition to the master's degree program "Distributed Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency", will educate specialists in the field of modern energy supply. By using the VPP Neckar-Alb, information of various energy systems will be collected and scientific research will be conducted from the Universities of Reutlingen and Tübingen. Participants joining the VPP offer insight in their energy systems and will gain knowledge about their benefit in a commercial VPP.