Can Virtual Power Plants Replace Peaker Plants? A Conversation with CEG and Brattle Group

A new study prepared by energy analysts from The Brattle Group explores the cost and ability to serve critical resource adequacy needs from an emerging resource: virtual power plants (VPPs). The study, Real Reliability: The Value of Virtual Power, highlights how distributed energy resource (DER) portfolios – which can include technologies such as rooftop solar, smart thermostats, smart water heaters, electric vehicles, and distributed batteries – are actively controlled by utilities and energy service providers to benefit consumers, the power system, and the environment.

In this Clean Energy Group webinar, panelists discussed the findings of the report and shared how VPPs can reduce reliance on high polluting power plants during peak energy use hours.