Norwegian utility Statkraft has unveiled what it claims is the UK's first virtual power plant (VPP) to connect variable wind and solar generation with battery storage and gas.

The utility said the VPP, an IT-linked set of assets monitored from Statkraft’s facility in Dusseldorf, will help to integrate an increasing share of renewable power into the British energy market.

The virtual power plant monitors the operations of more than 1GW of wind power, solar, battery storage and flexible gas plant, and compares it with constantly updated forecasts, allowing the real-time optimisation of power trading in the UK energy market.