September 23, 2026

In the photo, from left to right: Tito Homem-de-Mello, Javiera Barrera, Bárbara Basualto (National Electric Coordinator), Bernardo Severino, Rodrigo Barraza and David Saldivia, at the Coordinator’s Dispatch and Control Center.

A research team from the UAI Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA) visited Chile’s National Electric Coordinator to share progress on the three research lines of the Anillo VPP project, hear the Coordinator’s perspective and discuss ways to collaborate on concrete challenges in integrating distributed energy resources into the operation, planning and markets of the power system. The meeting was organized by the Coordinator’s Innovation Unit, which has taken part in the project since its launch earlier this year.

CENTRA was represented by Bernardo Severino, who gave the presentation, Rodrigo Barraza, Javiera Barrera, Tito Homem-de-Mello and David Saldivia. The Coordinator was represented by professionals from its Innovation Unit, its regulatory area and its Competition Monitoring Unit.

The Anillo VPP project

Anillo VPP (ACT250025) is a research project funded by ANID and led by CENTRA. It aims to develop decision tools for virtual power plants (VPP) that account for uncertainty, network constraints, reliability, resilience and market participation. Its research lines address the reliable and resilient design of these plants, their efficient and autonomous operation, and the markets and regulatory frameworks that would allow them to take part in the power system.

Services from the distribution grid

Much of the discussion focused on the ancillary services that resources connected to distribution networks could provide, such as frequency control, voltage control and service restoration. Participants also examined how to measure and verify the response of those resources, given that the system operator has no direct visibility of distribution networks, and which testing protocols and regulatory framework apply.

Topics for joint work

CENTRA proposed addressing other long-term challenges related to VPP and distributed resources together with the Coordinator’s professionals:

  • Operation and the role of the distribution system operator: the operational relationship between the Coordinator, distribution companies and aggregators, and who communicates with whom during operation.
  • Zonal planning: how to bring information and models of distribution-connected resources into the planning processes carried out by the Coordinator.
  • Competition monitoring: the challenges posed by the free market, self-consumption, distributed resources and the possible participation of VPP.

The proposal is to organize these topics into working groups with professionals from both institutions, each starting with a kick-off meeting to define its scope and schedule. The day ended with a visit to the Coordinator’s Dispatch and Control Center (CDC).

Learn more about the Anillo VPP project.