Is energy storage the key to virtual power generation

Virtual energy storage systems can help in solving these issues and their effective management and integration with the power grid will lead to cleaner energy and a cleaner transportation future. By posting a comment you confirm that you have read and accept our Posting Rules and Terms of Use.

What are virtual power plants and how do they work? A virtual power plant is a system of distributed energy resources—like rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, and smart water heaters—that work together to balance energy supply and demand on a large scale. They are usually run by local utility companies who oversee this balancing act.

The “virtual” nature of VPPs comes from its lack of a central physical facility, like a traditional coal or gas plant. By generating electricity and balancing the energy load, the aggregated batteries and solar panels provide many of the functions of conventional power plants. They also have unique advantages.

One significant difference is VPPs' ability to shape consumers' energy use in real time. Unlike conventional power plants, VPPs can communicate with distributed energy resources and allow grid operators to control the demand from end users.

But because solar and battery technology has evolved, utilities can now use them to supply electricity back to the grid when needed. In the United States, the Department of Energy estimates VPP capacity at around 30 to 60 gigawatts. This represents about 4% to 8% of peak electricity demand nationwide, a minor fraction within the overall system.

For more than a century, the prevalent image of power plants has been characterized by towering smokestacks, endless coal trains, and loud spinning turbines. But the plants powering our future will look radically different—in fact, many may not have a physical form at all. Welcome to the era of virtual power plants (VPPs).