The role of virtual power plants in the future of clean energy

When you think about the energy infrastructure, you can imagine tall smoke, old energy lines, narrow industrial gardens, and lengthy coal trains. Once the virtual power plants enter the image, this may change.

With the decentralized system that stabilizes the supply and demand, the energy infrastructure is transmitted from dirty and industrial to cleaning and welcoming.

Emerging errors in energy infrastructure

Since data centers are built at the country level to support artificial intelligence technologies and cloud computing, the demand for electricity increases significantly. However, the energy infrastructure does not keep pace with. In the United States, most transport lines and transformers At least 50 years – They have reached the average life expectancy. Engineers began to replace them, but the operation will cost trillion and take years.

Meanwhile, the peak-period of the period when the demand for electricity is at its highest levels-up to the highest level ever. If the network is not able to compensate, it is likely that it is possible. To avoid this result, operators use peak gas -powered plants that are still asleep unless consumption is unusually high.

Consumers pay the operators millions

The operators often get millions of dollars to ensure the appearance of the network while loading the peak. For example, two operators of the southern England station It will get 15.5 million dollars After providing only three hours of electricity in January 2025, a mixture of frozen weather and low wind speeds raised market prices, which led to more than 50 times the market value. Such problems will only exacerbate with increased network ages and energy demand.

While these operators provide basic service, there are undoubtedly more efficient alternatives – and less expensive -. What if people do not have to pay the boom? What if, instead of relying on a central system, they generated their offer? With virtual power plants (VPPS), this future may be possible.

The role of VPPS in the future of clean energy

VPP is a range of powerful power resources such as solar panels, connected electric cars and air conditioners. What makes this system default if it depends on physical devices? Each electrical and wireless electrified node, and constantly involved information about production, consumption and storage.

When hundreds, thousands, or even millions of small DERS are assembled with a control system, citizens can contact them to provide or store electricity when the demand fluctuates. Unlike traditional power or gas plants, they can ensure stability without raising prices or contributing to climate change. However, it provides the same reliability and economic value.

Benefits of benefiting from VPPS

Virtual plants help stabilize the network by compensation for the fluctuations in obstetrics and consumption. In addition, because they do not need a central material space, it allows more integration with renewable energy sources. You will need a typical solar farm About 1.88 million solar panels To produce 1 Gigawatt, which occupies a large area. Instead of removing a local ecosystem to make room, civil engineers can use the current compact environment – home roofs for home owners.

Moreover, this solution increases durability. Even if the existing infrastructure can A few traditional energy systems Designed to deal with highly influential events such as natural disasters or harsh weather events. Thanks to the nature distributed of VPP, physical damage is almost not a threat.

Can we rely on consumers for a solution?

Since this technology depends on citizens instead of a central operator, some fears about reliability exist. However, people who represent part of the system cannot choose and choose the rate in which electricity is produced, consumed or stored. Moreover, societies have risen to this occasion in similar circumstances, proving that they can be trusted.

In 2022, California residents suffered a permanent heat wave. The demand for electricity for the independent system operator in CaliforniaI reached a record level of 51426 megawatts At 4:55 pm on September 6. After about one hour, the operator sent an alert to the emergency text to resume preservation. Consumption decreased immediately, and reached 35,000 megawatts within six hours. Consumers showed their ability to coordinate and follow up.

Using VPPS in urban and rural areas

Although this solution may be more effective in urban areas due to the high population density, it still can work in rural sites because peak loads will be much lower there. As long as enough consumers collect their devices in a virtual factory, they can improve electricity production, consumption and storage, which eliminates the need for peak plants and improve the rate of local renewable use.

Although many people do not understand the internal work of energy infrastructure, most of them pay a monthly electricity bill. Even if they have their own solar panels, renewable energy sources Energy cannot be produced constantly As fossil fuel. For this reason, many have to rely on the network to some extent. If they join VPP, they can improve their elasticity and sustainability.

When will VPPS exceed the perception?

Today, tall smoke and photovoltaic panels come to mind when looking at the energy infrastructure. When VPPS becomes more prevalent, this old -aged standard may change. The US Energy Ministry is already planning Increase VPP capacity to 160 GB By 2030, an increase of 80 gigawatts today, according to the Massachusetts Institute technology review. This is the equivalent of eliminating about 160 future fossil fuels.

If the US Department of Energy does this, it will take it 10 % to 20 % of the peak demand By the end of the contract. Although virtual plants have been successfully published, they have not yet become widespread. If the Ministry of Energy continues, it may become a large part of the modern infrastructure of the nation within a few years.

The future of clean energy is supported by VPPS

With virtual plants, a world in which neighbors lend power to each other and prevent the dense urban areas that there is a power outage. This technology can stimulate home owners to install solar panels, driving electric cars, and adopting electricity. With the rise in smart homes, the demand for demand for electricity rises, this technology may be the most effective solution.