Sam Evans-BrownMay 4, 2023
Chris Nelder 🤘

RT @SamEBEnergy

Dear @chrisnelder and @JigarShah

This episode you have made is a SERVICE TO THE WORLD.

There is no technology that i am more excited about than VPPs and demand flexibility.
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-197-virtual-power-plants-vpps/

[Episode #197] – Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) | The Energy Transition Show

Virtual Power Plants are finally ready to scale up, making it possible for the grid to do more with less as we “electrify everything.”

The Energy Transition Show
May 4, 2023 at 2:17amWeb
Show threadKevin LeecasterMay 4, 2023
@chrisnelder @SamEBEnergy @JigarShah
Not everything should be connected to the internet we've learned though.
Show threadSam Evans-BrownMay 6, 2023
@GreenFire @chrisnelder @JigarShah the "connection" can quite minimal though. It could just receive a once a day email with prices for the next day. All of the control could be handled internally, offline.
Show threadKevin LeecasterMay 6, 2023

@SamEBEnergy @chrisnelder @JigarShah
But, then how could the virtual power plant respond to cloudy conditions and such?

I'm not entirely opposed, just nervous about nefarious actors hacking into our energy infrastructure.

I can just imagine how nice it would be to have a "powerwall" in every apartment of a skyscraper of hundreds of them that could provide personal and grid backup power. It's over my pay grade to worry about the risks or benefits from it though.

Show threadSam Evans-BrownMay 6, 2023

@GreenFire @chrisnelder @JigarShah weather forecasts 24 hours out are getting pretty darn good, and ISOs are big drivers of that. If your balancing area is big enough, your prices aren't responding to little cloudy patches, they're responding to the macro, region wide weather. Much of it is forecastable a day ahead.

We'll always need bulk systems to be talking to the real time markets for real time load following, but we don't necessarily need millions of tiny DERs responding in that way.

Show threadChris Nelder 🤘May 6, 2023
@GreenFire @SamEBEnergy @JigarShah If you want to learn more about cybersecurity on the grid, listen to Ep. 114: https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-114-cyber-and-climate-risks/
[Episode #114] – Cyber and Climate Risks | The Energy Transition Show

What does cybersecurity on the grid mean, and what does it have to do with energy transition and climate change?

The Energy Transition Show