Joining forces with Google, Tesla and other giants, Pacific Coal & Power (PCG.US) to launch a pilot virtual power plant in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Pacific Coal & Power (PCG.US) has launched a virtual power plant pilot project aimed at utilizing more than 20,000 smart home devices in the old Bay Area. The company has partnered with tech and energy giants including Google (GOOGL.US), Tesla (TSLA.US), and Sunrun (RUN.US) to improve grid reliability and reduce customer costs.

The model aims to create additional capacity, guarantee reliability, and help create pressure to lower electricity prices; at the same time, participating households can achieve smarter energy management through next-generation home technology, thereby saving money.

Companies said “SHARE” is a first-of-its-kind virtual power plant (VPP) proof of concept project that combines the access of current home energy equipment with regional deployment of new electrification technology funded by private funding to meet growing electricity demand.

Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said, “Home energy devices have huge untapped capacity and can significantly improve energy affordability and grid reliability for all Californians. The program unlocks this potential while also providing customers with an opportunity to share the economic benefits of improving the local grid.”

Pacific Coal & Electric (PCG.US) will lead planning, analysis, and verification efforts to assess customer impact, system performance, and long-term benefits.

Carrier is the starting partner for the program's new deployment project and is responsible for providing its heat pump solutions with energy storage capabilities — including the Carrier Performance series variable frequency heat pumps equipped with EnerSync. The solution can automatically store and transfer energy use during peak electricity consumption periods to help customers reduce costs, maintain comfort, and support reliable operation of power grids.