Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

The state has created more ways for solar-and-battery-equipped homes to get paid to help the grid — but not enough to save the crashing rooftop solar market.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024

An aerial view of a subdivision of single-family homes, many with solar panels visible on the roof — The Chatsworth neighborhood in Los Angeles, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Guides and how-tos

The power grid explained — plus demand response, virtual power plants and more

Canary Media defines the concepts that are key to a clean, distributed electricity system, from "behind the meter" to "balancing the grid."

By Alison F. Takemura . 2 June 2022
EV charging

EV-charging microgrids are worth more than the sum of their parts. Here's why

Scale Microgrid Solutions says pairing electric trucks with solar, batteries and backup power can help fleet operators, financiers and utilities alike.

By Jeff St. John . 23 May 2022
Grid edge

How AI chips could make smart meters smarter

Grid tech vendor Utilidata and chipmaker Nvidia see artificial intelligence as the best way to manage a grid with more and more solar, batteries and EVs.

By Jeff St. John . 19 May 2022
Grid edge

Schneider buys AutoGrid to tap huge potential of distributed energy resources

Schneider Electric wants to connect utility grids with the world of energy behind the utility meter. Autogrid’s virtual-power-plant technology platform will help.

By Jeff St. John . 11 May 2022
Grid edge

Sense raises $105M to bring real-time home energy data to the masses

Can household energy use be sensed down to the individual plug load? Yes, says this startup, which is embedding its tech in smart meters and electrical panels.

By Jeff St. John . 3 May 2022
EV charging

Helping auto dealers learn to love EVs

Car dealers are struggling with the shift to selling EVs. JouleSmart and mCloud created an energy management package that can make it easier.

By Jeff St. John . 18 April 2022
Grid edge

Home water heaters: A new ally in making grids cleaner

Smart water heaters can soak up clean power, then turn off when the grid is stressed. A new California utility pilot will test the concept at scale.

By Jeff St. John . 11 April 2022
Heat pumps

These new double-duty heat pumps can warm both air and water

Heat pumps are a more efficient way to heat homes. Startup Harvest Thermal says its tech can turn them into thermal batteries too.

By Jeff St. John . 28 March 2022
Solar

These next-gen solar cells could make single-use batteries obsolete

Billions of batteries are thrown out every year. Ambient Photonics and Exeger say their low-light solar cells can help end that waste.

By Jeff St. John . 24 March 2022
Electrification

Span raises $90M to make smart panels the gateway to home electrification

Tesla alum's startup sets sights on expanding markets for orchestrating solar, batteries, EVs and electric appliances.

By Jeff St. John . 22 March 2022