Kombikraftwerke

Kombikraftwerk is a concept and demonstration project in Germany that aims to operate a large number of small renewable energy installations and other flexible resources as a virtual power plant to supply the electric grid with a reliable output. It treats a dispersed set of generators and demand-side resources as if they were a single, controllable power plant.

How it works is to coordinate generation from diverse sources such as wind farms, photovoltaic installations, biogas plants, and hydropower, together with demand-side measures and energy storage. Using information technology and real-time communication, these assets are forecast, scheduled, and dispatched to meet grid needs and market signals. The approach seeks to provide services typically associated with conventional plants, including balancing, frequency regulation, reserve capacity, and load following, while maintaining the emissions and land-use benefits of renewable energy.

The concept emphasizes distributed energy and flexible operation rather than a single physical facility. It serves as a demonstration of how high shares of renewables might be integrated into the electricity system and how technology can coordinate diverse assets to maintain grid stability. It has informed discussions about the potential and limits of renewable-dominated power systems and has influenced subsequent virtual power plant concepts and grid-management approaches.

Historically, Kombikraftwerk originated in Germany in the mid-2000s as part of energy transition debates and public demonstrations. It is described in academic and media contexts as illustrating the feasibility of aggregating many small producers to deliver controllable electricity, while also acknowledging regulatory, technical, and market challenges.