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Energy

Battery Virtual Power Plant launches to help with electricity grid stability

By Paul Ridden
February 10, 2023
Battery Virtual Power Plant launches to help with electricity grid stability
SolarEdge has launched its first Battery Virtual Power Plant in support of a grid stability initiative being run by Great Britain's electricity system operator
SolarEdge has launched its first Battery Virtual Power Plant in support of a grid stability initiative being run by Great Britain's electricity system operator
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SolarEdge has launched its first Battery Virtual Power Plant in support of a grid stability initiative being run by Great Britain's electricity system operator
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SolarEdge has launched its first Battery Virtual Power Plant in support of a grid stability initiative being run by Great Britain's electricity system operator

Smart energy tech developer SolarEdge is inviting thousands of home battery owners to join Britain's first Battery Virtual Power Plant, where stored energy will be used to help stabilize the grid during peak demand events.

Back in November 2022, Britain's electricity system operator got the green light from the energy regulator for a scheme that offers financial incentives to businesses and the public to reduce their electricity usage at certain times in a bid to help the National Grid better cope with peak demand during the UK winter.

The Battery Virtual Power Plant has been launched in partnership with Smart Metering Systems Plc to support this effort by having SolarEdge Home Battery owners utilize stored battery energy from solar installations during such pre-scheduled demand events, and get paid for doing so. Those who also have an eligible export meter can earn extra by offloading excess energy to the grid.

"With the residential solar and storage market in Great Britain rapidly growing, we believe the DFS Battery Virtual Power Plant can help further accelerate adoption by providing homeowners with an additional revenue generator," said SolarEdge's Christelle Barnes. "Homeowners can sit back and passively earn more income without having to even change their energy consumption. With electricity prices continuing to soar, the financial business case for solar and storage becomes even more attractive."

SolarEdge solar and battery system owners in Great Britain can join the Battery Virtual Power Plant scheme until February 19. The National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service is due to run until March 31.

Source: SolarEdge

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EnergyBatteriesRenewable EnergyGrid
5 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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5 comments
edjudy
It would be interesting to read a bit about the proposed control algorithms on extracting energy from a home battery installation for distribution to the grid. I'd guess that there might be a "cut-off" on how much of "my" energy "you" can take during a high load period.(?)
TpPa
well there is one issue for the homeowners, where as it is a great idea to use power from people's batteries if they are full and the sun is still shining, it is going to take cycles from your battery, and kill it much faster than if one just uses it for their homes. The monies they pay the people for their power is going to need to be saved to buy a new battery much sooner.
Karmudjun
Interesting article Paul. I'm sure the plan is equitable since it is a two staged demand reduction/energy-redistribution system. In the USA we already have peak usage equipment shuttering AC compressors and cycling them during peak demand hours to reduce system-wide consumption. If I had solar with storage, I'd be open to reducing in home electrical usage by shifting high demand to my storage batteries - but I'm not willing to pay for the equipment to achieve that goal. I'm currently planning a solar array and financing options now. But I already reduce our demand during the peak air-conditioning hours of the day.
PrometheusGoneWild.com
I think Tesla is already doing this in Texas.
Not sure if they are selling electricity yet, but they have set up a power generation company.
ljaques
I'm perfectly happy with my offgrid system, and my trons are MY trons, thankyouverymuch.
Governments would be wise to build neighborhood power banks which serve localities only and disassemble the extremely vulnerable, ancient, brittle, and outdated grid as we know it. Perhaps they are finally discovering something like this, but I fear that those in power will never release their greed for power over others. (double entendre intentional)