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Volume 18
Issue 22
10.3390/en18225929
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Performance and Security Evaluation of Virtual Islands as a Service for Active Distribution Networks

by
Andrea Bonfiglio
1,
Sergio Bruno
2,*,
Francesco Lorusso
2,
Maria Martino
1,
Manuela Minetti
1 and
Angelo Velini
2
1
Department of Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
2
Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(22), 5929; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225929
Submission received: 15 October 2025 / Revised: 6 November 2025 / Accepted: 8 November 2025 / Published: 11 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Microgrids and Renewable Energy Systems—2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This article presents and discusses the role of the Virtual Islanding (VI) control strategy in decentralizing flexibility services for distribution networks (DNs). VI services are provided by Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) through a suitable coordination of available local flexible resources. The impact of the proposed VI service is assessed by investigating its ability in mitigating security violations during DN operations. The VI service’s efficacy is tested considering the model of a realistically sized DN and developing a scenario of a high-RES penetration scenario, as foreseen by the Italian Energy Plan (PNIEC). The robustness of the approach was challenged applying a randomized association of flexible resources to the RECs. The aim is to prove that VI can substantially support DN operations, regardless the distribution of flexible resources among feeders and energy communities. To make a comparison with an ideal centralized control made by the Distribution System Operator, a Distribution Optimal Power Flow (OPF) formulation is also developed. The simulations are performed in a Python (v. 3.12.7)/OpenDSS (v. 9.6.1.1) open-source programming environment.
Keywords: renewable energy communities; distribution system operation; virtual islanding; grid services; energy transition renewable energy communities; distribution system operation; virtual islanding; grid services; energy transition

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bonfiglio, A.; Bruno, S.; Lorusso, F.; Martino, M.; Minetti, M.; Velini, A. Performance and Security Evaluation of Virtual Islands as a Service for Active Distribution Networks. Energies 2025, 18, 5929. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225929

AMA Style

Bonfiglio A, Bruno S, Lorusso F, Martino M, Minetti M, Velini A. Performance and Security Evaluation of Virtual Islands as a Service for Active Distribution Networks. Energies. 2025; 18(22):5929. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225929

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bonfiglio, Andrea, Sergio Bruno, Francesco Lorusso, Maria Martino, Manuela Minetti, and Angelo Velini. 2025. "Performance and Security Evaluation of Virtual Islands as a Service for Active Distribution Networks" Energies 18, no. 22: 5929. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225929

APA Style

Bonfiglio, A., Bruno, S., Lorusso, F., Martino, M., Minetti, M., & Velini, A. (2025). Performance and Security Evaluation of Virtual Islands as a Service for Active Distribution Networks. Energies, 18(22), 5929. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225929

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