Virtual Peaker and Generac have formalized a licensing agreement that fully integrates the Generac PWRcell suite of energy storage systems with Virtual Peaker’s advanced cloud-based distributed energy platform.
The agreement allows Virtual Peaker access to Generac’s proprietary PWRcell control systems, allowing PWRcell systems to participate in utility companies’ grid services programs. Integration of the technology benefits customers of both companies, who will be able to reduce costs by seamlessly storing and optimizing solar power that’s managed in real-time by Virtual Peaker’s software.
The technology partners currently participate in Green Mountain Power’s (GMP) “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) program that allows the Vermont utility to remotely access customers’ battery storage systems in place of more expensive surplus power. In return, GMP credits customer accounts based on the amount of energy transferred from the residential batteries to the grid. The companies are also participating in Portland General Electric’s recently announced pilot program aimed at utilizing residential storage systems as a controllable virtual power plant. In addition, Virtual Peaker and Generac have teamed up with ReVision Energy to install solar energy arrays, including storage, in Maine.
“Virtual Peaker works with the most innovative utilities and energy companies in the United States, and we’re thrilled to add Generac PWRcell to our suite of technology partners,” said William (Bill) Burke, founder and CEO of Virtual Peaker. “Our customers demand real-time control systems and a seamless user experience, and we’re confident that Generac will help us continue to deliver on that promise.”
“At Generac, we’re accelerating the world’s transition to residential clean energy,” said Ben Polito, president of Clean Energy Solutions at Generac. “We build products that make it simple and efficient to store, monitor, and use solar power, so Virtual Peaker’s real-time, cloud-based control system for smart home devices is a great addition to what we offer our customers.”
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Toes says
Seems to me that Tesla needs in on a deal like this but they will probably provide their own software, million-mile battery, and solar roof. That way consumers wouldn’t have to pay for that second home battery array making it cost effective in far more places like maybe even Texas if we could get a good deal on net-metering into law even with these very low natural gas generation prices.
Solarman says
The GENERAC product is being delivered with up to 34kWh of energy storage, which probably means about 24kWh useable. If this aspect is really going to be a “thing” VPP, then the industry needs to look at about 70kWh, with a maximum of 48kWh for the VPP and a 20 to 22kWh for the home owner’s emergency use, (PSPS). 10,000 homes with 48kWh available for the VPP would make one very large energy storage asset. Having 480 MWh of distributed energy storage available in a community could be the micro-grid of the future. California had their 1,000,000 solar PV roofs initiative and have surpassed it. What would 1,000,000 ESS systems look like? Right now the “sweet spot” seems to be 4 hours of energy storage, with a behind the meter system of 70kWh, 48kWh available for the VPP and a 7.6KW smart inverter, one would have 6.3 hours of VPP generation available.