CPower CEO Michael Smith joined the Factor This! podcast to break down the technology behind VPPs, where the industry stands today, and the critical markets no one is looking at.

By testing energy use in multiple homes in a real world setting ARENA hopes to unlock the potential of smart homes.

Ningxia is just one region taking the initiative to explore virtual power plants in China. Currently, the virtual power plant control platform manages five virtual power plants, involving 14 types of industries. Their adjustable electricity load is equivalent to three 600-megawatt thermal power units, saving an investment of about 9 billion yuan and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 8.3 million metric tons.

California is home to the nation's largest virtual power plant, and it will likely play a critical role in supporting the state's electric grid during the hot summer months. 

Texas is uniquely suited to adopt virtual power plant (VPP) technology due to its competitive, deregulated market. Its success highlights the “perverse incentive” of vertically integrated utilities in other US states to make capital expenditures without discretion to raise profits.

In this explainer video, we delve into the concept of DSF, showcasing its potential to revolutionise our energy systems by enabling consumers to dynamically adjust their energy use in response to external signals.

GM Energy, a new business unit of General Motors, focuses on offering batteries, EV chargers, and software to residential and commercial customers. The company has recently introduced the Ultium Home product suite, which includes energy storage, solar panels, and bi-directional charging equipment. These products enable vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, allowing electric vehicles to power homes during blackouts or to provide energy back to the grid. GM Energy aims to expand its energy management services to mitigate the effects of power outages and provide cost-effective energy solutions for customers.

In this episode, Shayle talks to Jigar Shah, director of the Loans Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. Jigar argues that the rooftop solar industry should reinvent itself, relying on batteries and virtual power plants (VPPs). He also argues that regulations should focus on system-level dispatchability. 

With its dense population and seismic activity, Taiwan faces formidable challenges in maintaining a steady energy supply. Similarly, Japan is also threatened by quakes. In response, Japan initiated the development of virtual power plants (VPPs) in 2016.

This report presents a high-level summary of the demand flexibility initiatives currently underway in Australia; outlinig four key pathways operating to incentivise demand-side participation. The report overlays this information on the ARENA-funded and external trials in detailed charts and tables.

The DRIVE Act would require utilities to support vehicle-to-grid technology in a distributed energy resource portfolio amid efforts to shore up the congested PJM Interconnection.

Project Symphony’s final report presents the 18 recommendations found whilst assessing the viability of DER orchestration. These actionable recommendations are highlighted through the framework of four ‘pillars’. This being Technical, Customer, Value, and Policy & Regulation.

Vietnam has millions of e-scooters and an unstable power supply. One might think that these two things signal trouble when put together, but here’s how some Vietnamese are using their e-scooters to improve stability of the electrical grid and help small businesses avoid blackouts.

Nigeria's first-ever feasibility study into a pilot project on developing custom hybrid distributed energy systems that integrate with the national grid shows promising results.

Australian researchers have found that if 10% of vehicles are electric and utilize V2G connections, they could reduce peak electricity demand at local substations by 6% and save car owners hundreds of dollars per year on charging costs.

PG&E, Kaluza and Wallbox are partnering on an EV and V2X programme in California, which will use dynamic tariffs to reward customers for providing surplus power back to the grid during public safety power shutoff events.

This report, New Resource Adequacy Criteria for the Energy Transition: Modernizing Reliability Requirements, outlines the need for, and a path toward, the use of a multi-metric criteria approach in resource adequacy analysis.

Unlocking the Potential of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) for Green Living and Sustainability.

Power grids globally must be upgraded by 2040 to keep the lights on. And while these upgrades will likely cost trillions, virtual power plants (VPPs), writes Autogrid’s Gisela Glandt, can curb these costs to the tune of $10B annually.

By orchestrating EVs, batteries, and smart home devices, VPPs can help make the grid cleaner and more efficient.