Articles tagged with "demand-response"
Gradient’s heat pumps get new smarts to enable old building retrofits
Gradient is developing advanced heat pump technology designed to retrofit old multifamily buildings, particularly those with outdated boiler systems common in cities like New York. Their horseshoe-shaped window units provide both heating and cooling without obstructing views, offering a cost-effective HVAC upgrade that can be installed quickly without electrical system overhauls. Gradient has piloted these systems in public housing in New York City and affordable housing in California, and is engaging with colleges to improve dormitory comfort amid rising temperatures. A key innovation is Gradient’s Nexus system, which allows building managers to set usage limits on heating and cooling to prevent energy overconsumption by residents, leading to significant energy savings—one example showed a 25% reduction in energy use after imposing a 78˚F heating cap. Additionally, Nexus can manage electrical load by reducing power draw on outlets with limited capacity and supports demand response strategies by adjusting cooling based on building conditions and sensor data. This approach aims to ease strain on the electrical grid during peak demand, making widespread
energyheat-pumpsbuilding-retrofitsHVACenergy-efficiencydemand-responsesmart-gridActive Managed EV Charging Can Double EV Hosting Capacity - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the significant benefits of active managed electric vehicle (EV) charging in enhancing the capacity of electrical distribution grids to support EVs. Unlike passive charging strategies, active managed charging uses real-time control algorithms and telematics to optimize when and how EVs charge. This approach can reduce peak demand by up to 50% by smoothing out the load and preventing simultaneous charging surges, known as the “snapback” effect, which commonly occurs with static time-of-use (TOU) rates. Trials showed that active management lowered aggregate peak loads by 55% compared to passive TOU strategies. A key takeaway is that active managed charging can effectively double the EV hosting capacity of distribution systems, meaning more EVs can be supported without costly infrastructure upgrades. The study evaluated two variations of EnergyHub’s active managed charging solutions—TOU + Load Limits and Wholesale + Load Limits—which shift charging to off-peak times while respecting load limits at multiple grid levels, from primary feeders down
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargingvehicle-to-gridsmart-griddistributed-energy-resourcesdemand-responseTransforming EVs & Charging Stations into Virtual Power Plants - CleanTechnica
The article discusses The Mobility House’s recent launch of Cascade EV Aggregator, a vehicle-grid integration platform designed for utilities in North America. This platform enables electric vehicles (EVs) and their chargers to function as virtual power plants by optimizing charging and discharging across various vehicle types and charger classes, from residential chargers to electric school bus fleets. Cascade addresses grid challenges by allowing EVs to download electricity when prices are low and export power back to the grid when demand and prices are high, supporting services such as demand response, dynamic rate optimization, and grid constraint management. The platform integrates with existing charge management systems to coordinate thousands of charging sites, creating flexible load management that benefits both utilities and fleet operators. The article highlights the growing importance of smart, flexible grid management as EV adoption increases, which places additional demand on electricity infrastructure. Cascade’s ability to manage both unidirectional (V1G) and bidirectional (V2G) charging enables EVs to act as distributed energy storage assets, providing
energyelectric-vehiclesvehicle-to-gridsmart-charginggrid-managementenergy-storagedemand-responseEnergyHub Acquires Bridge To Renewables To Expand Managed EV Charging - CleanTechnica
EnergyHub, a leading provider of grid-edge flexibility solutions, has acquired Bridge to Renewables (BTR), an EV-telematics platform connected to over 500,000 electric vehicles. This acquisition aims to expand EnergyHub’s managed electric vehicle (EV) charging capabilities and enhance the use of EV batteries as virtual power plants (VPPs). Unlike traditional gas vehicles, EVs’ batteries can collectively support electrical grids by providing distributed energy resources (DERs). VPPs composed of these DERs can reduce infrastructure costs significantly—studies suggest nationwide deployment of 60 GW of VPP capacity could save ratepayers $15 billion to $35 billion over ten years—and help manage peak demand more efficiently than conventional gas peaker plants. EnergyHub’s technology enables utilities to manage various DERs, including EVs, thermostats, and batteries, through a single VPP platform. This approach allows utilities to alleviate grid challenges such as peak load reduction and local congestion by leveraging AI-driven optimizations
energyelectric-vehiclesvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-edge-flexibilitydemand-responserenewable-energyCalifornia VPP Links 100,000 Residential Storage Batteries - CleanTechnica
On July 29, 2025, California made history by linking approximately 100,000 residential battery storage units in a large-scale Virtual Power Plant (VPP) test, collectively supplying about 535 megawatts of electricity to the grid during peak demand hours. This initiative, led by PG&E in partnership with Tesla and Sunrun, demonstrated the ability of distributed batteries to respond quickly, reliably, and in coordination to support grid stability without causing blackouts or emergencies. The test involved customers across Northern, Central, and Southern California, including underserved and rural communities prone to outages, highlighting the potential of VPPs to alleviate grid stress and reduce reliance on fossil fuel power plants. The California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission have developed programs like the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) and Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) to incentivize electricity reduction or backup power provision during peak stress periods. The July 29 test served as a real-world rehearsal to validate these programs and the operational
energybattery-storagevirtual-power-plantgrid-managementrenewable-energydemand-responseclean-energy-programsChargeScape Demand Response Program For EV Drivers On Long Island - CleanTechnica
The ChargeScape Demand Response program on Long Island enables over 6,000 BMW and Ford electric vehicle (EV) drivers to participate in a Peak Load Reduction initiative aimed at supporting grid stability during peak electricity demand periods, particularly in summer. Using ChargeScape’s AI-powered software, EV AI, which integrates real-time data from PSEG Long Island, the program optimizes the timing, duration, and intensity of home EV charging to prevent exceeding local grid capacity. Participants receive financial incentives, such as utility bill credits, for adjusting their charging behavior to reduce strain on the grid. This marks the first time PSEG Long Island’s nine-year Peak Load Reduction program includes EVs as direct contributors to grid reliability. ChargeScape is a joint venture initially formed by BMW, Honda, and Ford in 2023, with Nissan joining later and plans for additional automakers to participate. The company’s platform connects utilities, automakers, and EV drivers to facilitate demand response efforts. Executives from ChargeSc
energyelectric-vehiclesdemand-responsesmart-gridEV-charginggrid-stabilityAI-energy-managementWhy engineers are turning to virtual power plants to stabilize the grid
Virtual power plants (VPPs) represent a transformative shift in electricity grid management by aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicles, and smart appliances into a coordinated, software-driven network. Unlike traditional centralized power plants, VPPs operate without physical infrastructure, instead relying on real-time communication and control software to balance supply and demand dynamically across thousands of devices. This decentralized approach allows VPPs to perform essential grid functions like peak shaving, demand response, and load balancing, effectively stabilizing the grid without building new generation facilities. The rise of VPPs is driven by the rapid adoption of DERs and advances in grid control technology, enabling faster deployment and greater scalability compared to conventional power plants. VPPs can span large geographic areas and integrate diverse energy assets, distinguishing them from microgrids, which are localized and capable of islanded operation. Engineers favor VPPs for their reliability, flexibility, and cost efficiency, as they reduce
energyvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcessmart-gridbattery-storagerooftop-solardemand-responseWith New EV Charging Stations, Norway’s Excellent EV Adventure Is About To Get More Excellent
electric-vehiclesEV-chargingenergy-storagegrid-infrastructurerenewable-energybattery-technologydemand-responseEVNSPC trao đổi kinh nghiệm về kiểm tra giám sát mua bán điện điều chỉnh phụ tải với EVNNPC và EVNHANOI
energyelectricityload-managementpower-monitoringdemand-responseutility-companiesenergy-efficiencyAmsterdam Begins Deftpower Smart Charging Trial
smart-chargingelectric-vehiclesenergy-managementIoTartificial-intelligencedemand-responseAmsterdam