The ability to aggregate the power of many microgrids and other distributed energy resources (DERs) is ramping up in many countries, including the U.S., and the utility grid operators are seeking out help because they are stressed by extreme temperatures and equipment outages.

China, which seeks to challenge the U.S. in other energy categories such as renewables and battery storage, now claims new heights in its work on virtual power plant (VPP) technology. State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Co. this week has reported a new VPP demand response which achieved 1.163 million kWH of load adjustment during a peak demand with record temperatures in China.

Virtual power plants aggregate tens, hundreds or even thousands of DERs into a single, dispatchable resource that can either reduce load or create supply during times of peak demand, helping the grid to stay in balance. In the State Grid Shanghai case, the utility aggregated resource generation from 47 operators, which included data centers, HVAC and EV charging stations (pictured).

Demand response technology utilizing digitalization not only deploys distributed energy resources into the grid, but also adjusts the load from customers through devices controlling thermostats, lighting, heating and cooling. In the U.S. and Canada, utilities and companies such as sonnen, San Diego Gas & Electric, CPower, Southern California Edison, Hawaiian Electric, Dominion Energy and Renew Home.

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