Dynamic allocation of peer-to-peer clusters in virtual local electricity markets: A marketplace for EV flexibility

Local Electricity Markets (LEM) and peer-to-peer trading are new mechanisms to encourage the uptake of solar PV and to support the emergence of consumer-centric electricity markets. However, the coordination to trade between consumers and prosumers has different definitions depending on the context and features of the energy system. This paper introduces a new vision: creating virtual LEMs by cooperatively mixing (optimal matching) different load and renewable profiles that complement each other. Since consumer and prosumer profiles change every day (weather conditions or demand behaviors), the dynamic formation of virtual LEMs changes daily. To reward flexibility, Electric Vehicles (EV) are also pooled into forming a virtual LEM. That is, we investigate: What is the value of creating virtual local markets (via clustering)?, and what is the impact of EV flexibility on the creation of virtual LEMs? Through implementing a LEM optimization model with a clustering approach, we analyze the formation of LEMs for a set of end-users in London. Results indicate that a single large LEM (no clustering) is comparatively similar to multiple LEMs (clustering). EV flexibility obtains more revenue in this new marketplace. Findings are encouraging as dynamic virtual LEMs can enable, accelerate and bring scalability for a ubiquitous deployment of LEMs

Impact of local electricity markets and peer-to-peer trading on low-voltage grid operations

Local electricity markets based on peer-to-peer (P2P) trading schemes have emerged as an innovative mechanism to sell electricity from prosumer to consumer, to utilise efficiently and value local flexibility, and to support grid management. In this paper, we analyse a local market applied to a real-life neighbourhood of 52 households in Norway. As prosumers and consumers trade within this community, we analyse the value of P2P trading compared to cases where no local markets are available, along with the impact of PV, batteries and EVs deployment. As these technologies and local trading interactions might create challenges to the physical operations of the grid, we analyse the effect on power flows, voltage variations and system losses. The main findings indicate that there are no significant impacts on the grid operation of the P2P market when only PVs are installed in the system. With decentralised batteries available, the P2P trade induced more voltage fluctuations and 14 % more losses within the neighbourhood than the case with no local market. However, the local market brings overall savings for the end-user and sets the frame to design pricing schemes (e.g. manage losses) that are tailored to support DSO operations