SolarEdge has launched its first “battery virtual power plant” in support of the UK’s national grid. More specifically, it is providing grid support through the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service (“DFS”). Owners of SolarEdge home batteries are able to participate in the program. They also need to have smart … [continued]
Virtual power plants were virtually unknown just a few years ago, and now the floodgates are open thanks in part to a Trump-era ruling.
Virtual power plants may be our most important and most overlooked domestic energy resource. Last summer, California’s record-breaking, grid-straining heat wave forced the state government to send text messages asking residents for emergency, voluntary energy conservation. And it worked. Energy demand dropped; blackouts were avoided. California’s successful response illustrates how … [continued]
A group of heavy hitters, including Ford, General Motors, Google Nest, OhmConnect, Olivine, SPAN, SunPower, Sunrun, SwitchDin, and Virtual Peaker, has formed a coalition that aims to scale up the market for virtual power plants in a bid to increase the resiliency of the grid and help decarbonize the electric … [continued]
Volvo is planning to enable bi-directional charging on all its future electric cars, starting with the EX90 that debuts in November.
What defines sexy? Lots of press. Frequent headlines. Gushing talking heads who should know better. Promises of massive deployment and profits. Glistening Photoshop renders. Curves. Lots of fanbois and fangrrrls who proselytize on its behalf.
The heatwave that’s been hitting California and other states in the West has been a beast of a problem. It’s crippling grids, which even has utilities and governments asking people to not charge their electric cars, turn down their AC, and wear dirty clothes rather than do the laundry*. What’s … [continued]
Let’s start with the ABCs: what are inertia services on an electricity grid? Even before that, what is inertia in a grid setting? Most of us should remember “inertia” from our younger years in primary school. Inertia is an object’s natural inclination to just keep moving (if it weren’t for … [continued]
OAKLAND, California — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Tesla Inc. have launched a new pilot program that creates a virtual power plant, to help support electric grid reliability and save customers money. On June 22, Tesla invited approximately 25,000 PG&E customers with Powerwalls to join the VPP and … [continued]
A new solar-enabled virtual power plant in Richmond, California, will not leave low- and middle-income households out in the cold
