June 13, the 17th (2024) International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy (Shanghai) Conference and Exhibition (SNEC) grandly opened once again! Gathering the world's top new energy enterprises, experts, scholars and industry leaders, it served as a stage to jointly explore and showcase the latest solar technologies, products and solutions. This time, under the theme 'The Future of Energy, Scenarios First', StarCharge presented its innovative achievements in microgrids and virtual power plants.As a provider of integrated source-grid-load-storage solutions, StarCharge appeared at this exhibition under its StarCharge Microgrid and StarCharge Virtual Power Plant brands, presenting showcases of five major energy scenarios, including residential energy storage microgrids, commercial-and-industrial energy storage microgrids, grid-forming utility-scale storage microgrids, mobile energy storage microgrids, and virtual power plants — precisely the key implementation pathways for power-sector emission reduction.
01
Algorithms - Racing Against Time, Dispatch - Delivering Better Returns
StarCharge's microgrid and virtual power plant technologies stand out in the industry for their unique advantages. Rather than merely manufacturing individual devices or participating in only one link of the 'source-grid-load-storage' chain, StarCharge is committed to building a virtual power plant ecosystem. On the downstream side of the virtual power plant platform, it works hand in hand with partners to build various 'source-grid-load-storage' scenarios, and the aggregated loads can then interact with the main power grid. On the upstream side of the platform, it partners with others to jointly build power and electricity price forecasting systems as well as power purchase and sales services.
By participating in the construction of the new-type power system through virtual power plants, StarCharge helps support stable grid operation, peak shaving and valley filling, green electricity consumption, and lower electricity costs for users. Its core advantages are as follows: as one of the earliest companies in China to build a virtual power plant platform, it possesses the largest distributed adjustable load network with 'source-grid-load-storage' flexibility on the downstream side of the platform, with 20 million power users, while on the upstream side it has superior power and electricity price forecasting capabilities and holds electricity sales licenses in more than ten provinces. Within this grand ecosystem, all customers can take part and jointly build a new virtual power plant ecosystem.Wanbang StarCharge has consistently advanced the integrated upgrading of three networks — the charging network, the microgrid, and the virtual power plant operations network. Through platform-based connection and aggregation on a greater scale, it forms ecological alliances, thereby building the world's largest mobile & distributed energy ecosystem.
On this platform, the algorithm is like a wise commander: it can quickly analyze and understand the needs of the power grid as well as the status of various energy resources (such as wind, solar, and energy storage equipment). Taking into account weather, policies, demand, and many other factors, the algorithm calculates the optimal energy scenario plan, ensuring a power supply that is both efficient and economical. Dispatch, in turn, is like the commander's capable assistant: in accordance with the plan provided by the algorithm, it adjusts and controls the operating status of the various energy resources in real time. Its task is to ensure the stability and reliability of the power supply while optimizing costs and improving energy utilization efficiency.
The StarCharge Virtual Power Plant can be imagined as a highly intelligent power management platform. It does not own any physical power generation equipment; instead, through advanced information and communication technologies, it aggregates distributed energy resources and storage equipment into a virtual, controllable power supply network.
In the electricity market, demand and prices are constantly changing. The StarCharge Virtual Power Plant must respond rapidly to these changes, adjusting the operation of its energy resources in real time through the coordinated work of algorithms and dispatch in order to adapt to market fluctuations. To deliver better returns, the StarCharge Virtual Power Plant improves energy utilization efficiency and reduces operating costs through optimized energy allocation and operating strategies, while providing the grid with greater flexibility and more services. This not only brings a more stable power supply to the power system, but also creates greater economic returns for customers.
All in all,through the intelligent management of algorithms and dispatch, the StarCharge Virtual Power Plant is like a runner racing against time, constantly searching for the best energy usage solutions to achieve greater economic and social benefits. This innovative power management model is becoming an important force in driving the energy transition and achieving sustainable development.
02
Carbon Reduction - Starting from Profit, Zero Carbon - Speaking with Facts
By integrating renewable energy, energy storage systems, and intelligent management technologies, the StarCharge Microgrid not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels, but also brings significant economic benefits to enterprises and communities. Here, carbon reduction is no longer a cost, but a source of profit.
Particularly noteworthy is that StarCharge's virtual power plant segment has been infused with new vitality, achieving a dynamic balance between regulation and consumption through both equipment and operations. As a new type of power system management tool, the virtual power plant effectively resolves the contradiction between power supply and demand, improves the utilization rate of new energy, and promotes the green and low-carbon transformation of the power system.
Today, the StarCharge Virtual Power Plant has aggregated more than 4700MW of adjustable capacity nationwide. Demonstration pilots have been built across a wide range of application scenarios, including integrated PV-storage-charging-discharging, zero-carbon parks, virtual power plants, green electricity, and green power certificate trading. It is currently participating in virtual power plant trading in more than 17 provinces, demonstrating its value in virtual power plant management for governments, industrial parks, and power grids, while providing users with services such as power trading custody, virtual power plant operations, and carbon trading — cutting costs, improving efficiency, and achieving green, zero-carbon electricity.
03
Leading the Energy Industry
In addition, a themed launch event was held at the exhibition, unveiling a series of cutting-edge technologies and market analyses, including the StarCharge Microgrid free carbon inventory system, the StarCharge Microgrid energy-carbon SaaS platform, and the StarCharge Virtual Power Plant 3.0 energy operation strategies, bringing the latest research findings to the industry. As the builder of the 'StarCharge Virtual Power Plant,' the company keeps expanding the types of aggregated resources: from charging stations to commercial and industrial customers, and from energy storage stations to electricity sales companies, park investment platforms, asset holders, and more, it has achieved curve-shaped growth and expansion from the B-side to the channel side. It is also continuously adding new transaction types, covering medium- and long-term trading, spot trading, and new energy, energy storage, distributed, cross-province and cross-region, transformer-district, and microgrid trading, with off-site resources accounting for more than 80% — leading the energy industry.
Whether it is 'Carbon Reduction - Starting from Profit, Zero Carbon - Speaking with Facts' or 'Algorithms - Racing Against Time, Dispatch - Delivering Better Returns,' both embody the company's firm commitment to a green, low-carbon future and its relentless pursuit of technological innovation.
StarCharge Microgrid and Virtual Power Plant look forward to joining hands with more ecosystem partners to jointly embrace a green, low-carbon, and brighter future.
