Crash course 1: What is a cVPP?

Novel technologies like batteries and energy management systems enable prosumers to become smart prosumers who manage electricity demand and supply within the household. This can also be done collectively by means of a community-based Virtual Power Plant (cVPP), which enables energy communities to manage energy demand and supply within their community and to trade energy and flexibility.

This crash course explains the concept of a cVPP, it discusses the building blocks of a VPP, what makes a cVPP community-based, and it elaborates on the relevance of cVPPs.

The crash course is the first module of a series of crash courses created by the cVPP project. The other available modules are:

• Crash course 2: History of our energy system
• Crash course 3: EU Energy Policy
• Crash course 4: Energy Flexibility
• Crash course 5: Energy market roles
• Crash course 6: Community engagement in practice
• Crash course 7: Community participation in the European electricity markets
• Crash course 8: Energy Management Systems for energy communities