How Google is building a gigawatt-scale power plant—without building a power plant
Google's virtual power plant aggregates demand reduction from businesses, homeowners, and EV owners by coordinating thermostat adjustments, battery-backed production, and EV charging schedules during grid strain periods. Partner Voltus compensates participants for reducing electricity use at peak times. This approach provides new grid capacity faster and more affordably than building power plants, while potentially lowering costs across the grid. The solution addresses capacity shortages in networks like PJM, complementing Google's other energy investments in geothermal technology and long-duration batteries.
Key points
- Google's largest hyperscaler virtual power plant deal with Voltus
- Coordinates thermostat adjustments, battery storage, and EV charging to reduce peak demand
- Builds capacity without new physical power infrastructure
- Aims to lower costs for entire grid while addressing capacity shortages
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