PG&E to implement ‘critical window’ virtual power plant in California

Californian utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is partnering with PV and storage systems provider Sunrun on a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programme to provide demand response during critical hours in the state from August to October, 2023.

The announcement comes after a year of record-high summer temperatures in California.

Sunrun and PG&E launched the energy reliability programme to provide flexible support from residential solar and battery systems during the state’s hottest months, when demand for energy is highest and energy supplies are tighter.

Through the Energy Efficiency Summer Reliability Program, Sunrun will enroll up to 7,500 new and existing residential home solar and battery systems in PG&E’s service area into the programme, creating a VPP capable of discharging 30MW of clean energy back to the grid.

Through the programme, an optimal battery dispatch schedule will lower the overall cost of power during the times of highest need and reduce critical strain on the overall energy system, as well as reliance on fossil fuel burning power plants.

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Enrolled systems

Enrolled battery systems will be directed to discharge every day from 7pm to 9pm during the months of August through October, a critical window when energy needs are highest in California.

In exchange, customers will receive an upfront payment of $750 and a free smart thermostat for participating. Batteries enrolled in the programme will retain enough energy to meet personal, essential needs in the event of a local power outage in their area.

All Sunrun solar and battery customers in single-family homes who have an interconnection agreement with PG&E, and are not enrolled in other demand response programmes, are eligible to participate.

This programme will also provide Sunrun incremental revenue for managing and delivering VPP services to the grid for one year, and an opportunity for Sunrun and PG&E to extend and expand the programme in future years.

“There’s no denying climate events are becoming more severe and power outages are more frequent and prolonged as a result,” said Mary Powell, CEO of Sunrun. “Consumers want energy security and peace of mind, and by integrating more reliable clean energy resources into the grid through this innovative programme, we can deliver that…”

“Home batteries and virtual power plants are valuable resources for supporting grid reliability and an essential part of California’s clean energy future,” added Patti Poppe, CEO of PG&E Corporation.

“PG&E is making great strides ensuring the grid is ready to partner with a diversity of energy providers. In collaboration with Sunrun, our Energy Efficiency Summer Reliability Program will serve as a unique resource that will positively contribute to our state’s electric grid and complement a host of actions PG&E is taking to provide greater energy resilience to our customers and hometowns.”

Californian state of emergency

This first-of-its-kind partnership was formed after an issuance by the California Public Utilities Commission for “Energy Efficiency Actions to Enhance Summer 2022 and 2023 Electric Reliability”, a direct response to a State of Emergency proclamation issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The proclamation challenges energy providers “to take immediate action to reduce the strain on the energy infrastructure, increase energy capacity and make energy supply more resilient this year to protect the health and safety of Californians.”

The new Sunrun VPP is part of a suite of programmes and solutions that PG&E has implemented to decrease energy demand and increase energy supply during critical hours of the day to ensure grid reliability during extreme heat events.

This also includes procuring additional energy supply, deploying new incremental battery energy storage capacity, expanding existing Demand Response (DR) programmes and incentives, and launching new DR options.

The new Sunrun VPP was approved by the CPUC on January 30, 2023.

Sunrun will soon begin enrolling customers into the programme and start dispatches on August 1, 2023.