On March 27, the Shandong Provincial Energy Bureau issued a notice on the “Shandong Province to promote the high-quality development of virtual power plants”. The notice pointed out that optimizing the type and positioning of virtual power plants:
1. Clarify the type of resource aggregation. The virtual power plant is divided into distributed power generation aggregation unit, energy storage aggregation unit and load aggregation unit according to the aggregation resource type and the node information, in which the load aggregation unit is divided into the full-charge load aggregation unit and the adjustment load aggregation unit. The same virtual power plant can aggregate multiple aggregation units, and the aggregation resources in a single aggregation unit should be located at the same market clearing node (currently 220 kV and above voltage level bus).
2. Improve the functional positioning of the polymerization unit. Distributed power generation aggregation units can aggregate distributed photovoltaic, distributed wind power and other distributed power (including the construction of energy storage) and electric vehicle charging facilities to participate in the spot market. The energy storage class aggregation unit can aggregate distributed energy storage to participate in the spot market. In the load class aggregation unit, the full power load class aggregation unit aggregates all the electricity of adjustable power users (including user-side energy storage), and autonomously responds to the spot market price signal to reduce (increase) the load.
3. Expand virtual power plant aggregation resources. Establish a regular troubleshooting mechanism for adjustable resources, and gradually establish a sub-domain and hierarchical response resource database according to the resource voltage level, response speed (second level, minute level, hour level, day before) and response type (up and down). Strengthen the adjustable load management of key industrial enterprises, and orderly promote the participation of industrial load in virtual power plants. Continuously improve the ability of public transport, office buildings, comprehensive shopping malls, public institutions, large communities and other aggregation control. Increase the large-scale application of express network interaction (V2G), tap the controllable load of user-side energy storage batteries such as tower base stations, and guide the data center to use firewood resources to integrate the development of virtual power plants.
the original text is as follows:
notice on printing and distributing the “plan for promoting the high-quality development of virtual power plants in Shandong province”
municipal development and reform commissions (energy bureaus) and relevant enterprises:
According to the requirements of the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration’s “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Virtual Power Plants” (Development and Reform Energy [2025] No. 357) and other documents, in order to promote the high-quality development of virtual power plants in our province, We formulated the “Shandong Province Promotion Plan for High-Quality Development of Virtual Power Plants”. It is now printed to you, please follow the implementation carefully.
Shandong Energy Bureau, Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission
Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Office of the Financial Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China
Shandong Provincial Department of Finance, Shandong Provincial Market Supervision Administration
Shandong Regulatory Office of the National Energy Administration
March 26, 2026
development program
Currently, the installed scale of new energy in our province continues to expand, and the pressure of power system regulation has become increasingly prominent. As a new type of business entity, virtual power plant can effectively improve the flexible adjustment capacity of power system, promote the green and low-carbon transformation of energy, and ensure the safe and stable supply of power by aggregating distributed power, adjustable load, energy storage and other decentralized resources. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration “on accelerating the development of virtual power plant guidance” (development and Reform Energy [2025] No. 357) and other document requirements, in order to accelerate the high-quality development of virtual power plant in our province, combined with the actual situation of our province, formulate this plan.
General Ideas for 1.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly implement the new energy security strategy of “Four Revolutions and One Cooperation”, and focus on accelerating the construction of a new power system, Adhere to the principle of “policy guidance, market-oriented, open and inclusive, diversified development, safe, reliable and orderly advancement”, and give full play to the advantages of large power consumption, we will establish and improve a long-term development mechanism, rely on the construction of the spot power market, speed up the cultivation of new subjects in virtual power plants, create new forms of “artificial intelligence” energy, and strive to enhance system support and regulation to ensure the consumption of new energy and the safe operation of electricity. By 2027, the province’s virtual power plant operation management and participation in the market mechanism is basically sound, and the adjustment capacity will reach more than 2 million kilowatts. By 2030, the province’s virtual power plant application scenarios will be more diversified, business models will be innovated and developed, and the adjustment capacity will reach more than 4 million kilowatts.
2. development path
combined with the electricity load characteristics of each city, focus on adjustable resources such as industry and commerce, data center, charging and exchanging facilities, cold storage and heat storage, deeply tap the flexible interactive potential of source network load storage, and create a virtual power plant development pattern of “core leading, global characteristic development, and industrial cluster.
“core pilot lead” means: focusing on the joint development of Jinan and Qingdao metropolitan areas, strengthening the “trillion-city” lead of Jinan, Qingdao and Yantai, relying on modern industrial cultivation, marine economic development, urban renewal and transformation, vehicle network interactive demonstration, etc., to build a number of virtual power plants with different characteristics such as urban facilities, industrial parks, community life and port logistics, build a comprehensive demonstration area of virtual power plant.
“global characteristic development” means to guide Weihai, Rizhao, Dongying, Weifang and other places to give full play to the advantages of marine aquaculture, cold chain storage, port and port electricity, etc. Zibo, Dezhou, Binzhou, Liaocheng, Taian and other places combine the characteristics of manufacturing distribution centers and industrial gathering areas to create characteristic virtual power plants. Strengthen the supporting role of the southwestern Shandong economic corridor in Heze, Jining, Linyi, Zaozhuang and other places, and fully tap the adjustable load potential of industrialization and urbanization.
“industrial clusters” means: relying on advanced technologies such as internet of things, communication and AI, digital twin, block chain, etc., accelerate the cultivation of digital industry with platform economy and algorithm service as the core, expand the emerging manufacturing industry represented by smart grid and intelligent measurement equipment, and form a modern industrial chain driven by “integration of software and hardware.
3. key tasks
(I) optimize the virtual power plant type and positioning
1. Clear resource aggregation type. The virtual power plant is divided into distributed power generation aggregation unit, energy storage aggregation unit and load aggregation unit according to the aggregation resource type and the node information, in which the load aggregation unit is divided into the full-charge load aggregation unit and the adjustment load aggregation unit. The same virtual power plant can aggregate multiple aggregation units, and the aggregation resources in a single aggregation unit should be located at the same market clearing node (currently 220 kV and above voltage level bus).
2. Improve the functional positioning of the polymerization unit. Distributed power generation aggregation units can aggregate distributed photovoltaic, distributed wind power and other distributed power (including the construction of energy storage) and electric vehicle charging facilities to participate in the spot market. The energy storage class aggregation unit can aggregate distributed energy storage to participate in the spot market. In the load class aggregation unit, the full power load class aggregation unit aggregates all the electricity of adjustable power users (including user-side energy storage), and autonomously responds to the spot market price signal to reduce (increase) the load.
3. Expand virtual power plant aggregation resources. Establish a regular troubleshooting mechanism for adjustable resources, and gradually establish a sub-domain and hierarchical response resource database according to the resource voltage level, response speed (second level, minute level, hour level, day before) and response type (up and down). Strengthen the adjustable load management of key industrial enterprises, and orderly promote the participation of industrial load in virtual power plants. Continuously improve the ability of public transport, office buildings, comprehensive shopping malls, public institutions, large communities and other aggregation control. Increase the large-scale application of express network interaction (V2G), tap the controllable load of user-side energy storage batteries such as tower base stations, and guide the data center to use firewood resources to integrate the development of virtual power plants.
(II) and improve the mechanism for participating in market transactions
4. Improve the mechanism for virtual power plants to participate in the electricity market. Promote virtual power plants to participate in the spot market by quoting volume quotations in units of aggregation units, and optimize the clearing in accordance with the rules of Shandong electric power market. Among them, the aggregate units of the regulation load class shall declare the volume price curve within the upper and lower limits of the ability test, and the declaration direction shall be consistent with the test direction. The virtual power plant operator shall submit a performance guarantee to the power trading institution in accordance with the relevant provisions, and if the performance guarantee and insurance are not paid in full and on time, and the power trading institution refuses to pay in full after a written reminder, the suspension shall be suspended in accordance with the regulations.
5. Strengthen the spot market price transmission of virtual power plants. Virtual power plant operators should actively respond to spot market price signals, provide aggregate users with different types of flexible adjustment retail packages (including at least one price linkage category), and reasonably agree on the distribution of income. Guide users to choose and implement the retail package price capping mechanism, effectively prevent retail market risks, and effectively promote the effective transmission of wholesale market price signals to the retail market.
6. Improve the mechanism of regulating costs of virtual power plants. According to the principle of “who generates, who is responsible, who benefits, who bears”, the source of revenue for the full power load class aggregation unit is the reduced cost of purchasing electricity in response to price signals. The regulation load type virtual power plant is regarded as a “power plant” resource management. The peak-cutting period adjustment cost is shared by the user-side main body of the aggregation unit according to the proportion of electricity consumption during the peak-cutting adjustment period, and an assessment and evaluation standard responding to the implementation of market clearing results is established to promote the reduction of market node electricity price. The source of valley filling adjustment cost is the electricity purchase cost reduced in response to price signals.
7. Promote the participation of virtual power plants in ancillary services. Promote responsive virtual power plant aggregation units to participate in the market for ancillary services such as FM and climbing, and enjoy the same benefits as other business entities.
(III) strengthen policy guidance and support
8. Broaden corporate financing channels. We will actively implement the “two new” policies and give financial support to qualified virtual power plant projects. Support qualified virtual power plant enterprises to issue green bonds, and promote government financing guarantee institutions to provide guarantees for virtual power plant projects. Encourage banking institutions to provide credit support for virtual power plant enterprises.
9. Encourage business model innovation. Support virtual power plant operators to carry out business innovation, relying on self-built technical support system to provide users with energy saving, carbon trading and other related services. Guide system platform, intelligent measurement and other service providers for virtual power plant to provide aggregation platform construction, collection device installation and other services, to promote the formation of “basic service fee value-added sharing” operation mode.
10. Support the creation of industrial ecology. Accelerate the cultivation of virtual power plant systems, technology, equipment, communications and other industrial chain entities, and recommend innovative enterprises that master core independent intellectual property rights to participate in the identification of “specialized, special and new” enterprises and the declaration of scientific and technological projects, so as to form a benign interactive pattern between the development of virtual power plants and the cultivation of industrial ecology.
11. Accelerate technology development and application. Relying on artificial intelligence technology, it gradually realizes accurate load analysis and prediction of virtual power plants, rapid adjustment and response of resources, and intelligent optimization of trading strategies. Support technological innovations such as intelligent terminals, technical support systems and artificial intelligence cluster control, encourage virtual power plants to install or replace intelligent resource control terminals and realize remote direct control, and include relevant achievements in the provincial energy field’s first (set) technology and equipment catalog, and recommend participating in the national energy field’s first (set) review.
12. Support the construction of scientific research platform. Relying on the Shandong Virtual Power Plant Service Center to build a supply and demand interactive innovation laboratory, build a virtual power plant transaction simulation and interactive simulation platform to achieve simulation operation, auxiliary decision-making and adjustment effect verification. Cities are encouraged to build municipal virtual power plant experimental practice verification centers in accordance with the characteristics and needs of local resources.
(IV) strengthen construction and operation management
13. establish a unified management system. The “Shandong Province Virtual Power Plant Construction and Operation Management Measures” was formulated to clarify the business requirements of the whole process of virtual power plants, and to standardize and guide the construction, operation and management of virtual power plants. The related business of virtual power plant will be incorporated into the power load management system to realize the unified management and service of virtual power plant.
14. Strengthen the guidance of standards and specifications. Focus on virtual power plant aggregation response, grid-connected regulation, intelligent metering, data interaction, security protection and other links, accelerate the promotion of relevant standards project, preparation and release. To study and refine the relevant standards for the classification of virtual power plants to participate in power system operation and power market transactions, and to revise the non-adaptation clauses in the existing standards in a timely manner to enhance the applicability of the standards.
15. Strengthen access operation management. Strengthen the source control of virtual power plants, formulate technical standards for virtual power plant resource aggregation, system construction, baseline acquisition, data interaction, security protection, etc., and strictly manage the access and operation of virtual power plants. Virtual power plant operators should strengthen the construction of fine monitoring and precise control capacity of aggregated resources and related equipment, ensure that virtual power plants with regulated loads have “considerable, measurable, adjustable and controllable” conditions, and gradually enhance the ability of virtual power plants to participate in grid operation regulation as power generation units.
16. Improve the level of safe operation. The virtual power plant operator should actively guide the aggregated resources to execute the regulation instructions based on the results of the power market clearing, and when an emergency occurs in the power grid, the virtual power plant and the aggregated resources should be under the unified command of the power dispatching agency and the power grid enterprise. The operator can specify the regulation measures that can be taken when the aggregated resource fails to execute the regulation instructions as required or is not in place by signing an agreement with the aggregated resource.
17. Conduct regular operational assessments. From the aspects of resource aggregation ability, adjustment ability, response rate, information synchronization ability and data transmission quality of virtual power plant, the implementation monitoring and effect evaluation of virtual power plant are carried out regularly, which provides decision-making basis for optimizing the operation mode of virtual power plant and improving the policy support system.
18. Increase publicity and guidance.Strengthen the publicity, training and policy interpretation of relevant support policies, standards and trading mechanisms for virtual power plants, and actively cultivate and incubate virtual power plant operators. Track and evaluate the operation effect of virtual power plant, summarize and promote advanced projects and experience, and create a good atmosphere for high-quality development of virtual power plant.
4. safeguard measures
The Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the Provincial Energy Bureau take the lead in organizing the implementation. The Provincial Finance Office, the Provincial Science and Technology Department, the Provincial Finance Department, the Provincial Market Supervision Bureau, and the Shandong Energy Supervision Office have strengthened coordination and improved relevant supporting measures based on the division of responsibilities. The municipal power authorities shall, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the state and the province, guide and speed up the construction of local virtual power plants. Relying on the virtual power plant service center of Shandong Province, the power grid enterprises are specifically responsible for the service guarantee of the virtual power plant. While accepting the access application, they should timely report the relevant information to the provincial energy bureau, and cooperate with the standardization, scale, marketization and normalization of the virtual power plant.
