GM, Ford Partner with Google to Create Virtual Power Plants

GM is joining the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3), a coalition of companies aimed at shaping standards for scaling up the use of virtual power plants (VPPs).

Per a recent report from Reuters, VPPs are systems of thousands of decentralized energy resources, including electric vehicles and electric heaters, that can work in concert to smooth electricity grid loads at times of heavy use or other challenges. With approval from customers, VPPs can coordinate EVs to switch from charging to discharge mode, as well as reduce consumption in electricity-using appliances like water heaters.

According to RMI, an independent non-profit organization focused on clean energy transition, VPPs can potentially reduce U.S. peak demand by 60 gigawatts by 2030, or roughly the consumption of 50 million households, and over 200 gigawatts by 2050. RMI will host the VP3 initiative.

Read the source article at gmauthority.com