Four critical gems from the excellent discussion between Markham Hislop and Ben Brown on the Energi podcast -
Underutilized Energy Potential: In the U.S., a staggering 80 million homes are equipped with central air conditioning, most of which operate inefficiently and fail to adjust their usage based on real-time grid demands or costs. These systems hold a significant amount of untapped potential, essentially functioning as 80 million thermal batteries that are yet to be fully harnessed to stabilize and support the grid.
Adoption of Smart Technology: While we need to continue increasing the adoption of smart thermostats, heat pumps, batteries, EVs, solar, and electric water heaters to transition to a more efficient and cleaner grid, it's equally crucial to harness the existing devices and appliances within our homes. These can contribute to grid support when connected to a VPP, especially as HVAC and water heating are the two most significant energy users within homes.
Building Trust with Consumers: We must gain households' trust by delivering on promises, such as ensuring comfortable homes, EVs charged sufficiently for unplanned trips, and hot water on demand. Micro adjustments to these devices will be the lynchpin of trust needed to secure mass adoption of VPPS.
Utility Partnerships with Tech Companies: Utilities recognize the enormity of their decarbonization objectives and see the value in partnering with companies specializing in technologies that can support those objectives at scale. Broad partnerships, like those with Google Nest, help transform commonly utilitized platforms and services into VPP participation funnels and facilitators for widespread collaboration and integration across the entire ecosystem of OEMs.
Excited for what the future holds in this space and for further electrifying discussions around how to get us to where we need to be as a grid and as a society!
Thank you Markham Hislop for having me on the podcast to talk about #RenewHome and our goals to grow from 3 to 50 GW of VPP capacity in North America by 2030.
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Virtual power plant project will unlock billions of savings for consumers
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