How can virtual power plants reduce energy use?

Virtual power plants can reduce energy used and avoid the use of peaking power plants, which are associated with high emissions output. By adding more resources/supply to the grid, virtual power plants can bring down the overall cost of electricity to end-consumers.

What is a virtual power plant?

Commercial, industrial, residential, and transportation energy users can join Voltus’s virtual power plant and get paid to provide much needed relief and on-going support to the grid. Virtual power plants and traditional power plants both provide essential services to the grid, however, their structure differs.

Can virtual power plants balance supply and demand?

Most new supply is coming from wind and solar farms, whose output varies with the weather. That’s left power companies seeking new ways to balance supply and demand. One option they’re turning to is virtual power plants. These aren’t massive facilities generating electricity at a single site.

Can South Australia build a virtual power plant?

South Australia aims to connect 50,000 homes with solar and batteries to build that country’s largest virtual power plant. Virtual power plants aren’t a panacea. Many customers are reluctant to give up even temporary control of their thermostats, or have a delay when charging their electric car.

Are virtual power plants better than new power plants?

Virtual power sources typically are quicker to site and build, and can be cleaner and cheaper to operate, than new power plants. Virtual power plants aren’t new. The U.S. Department of Energy that there are already 30 to 60 gigawatts of them in operation today. A gigawatt is 1 billion watts – roughly the output of or one large nuclear reactor.

Could virtual power plants reshape electric power?

Virtual power plants could help reshape electric power into an industry that’s more nimble, efficient and responsive to changing conditions and customers’ needs. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Daniel Cohan is an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University.