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)

Grid edge

Swell raises $120M for virtual power plants to link solar and batteries

Getting networks of homes with rooftop solar and batteries to help balance the grid requires innovative tech and financing. L.A.-based Swell Energy is on it.

By Jeff St. John . 22 November 2022
Batteries

Hawaii is paying home-battery owners to help the grid. How's that going?

Hawaii's main utility reached a deal with pro-solar groups to reward households for sharing their clean energy. We check in on the results at the six-month mark.

By Julian Spector . 6 October 2022
Grid edge

Californians saved the grid again. They should be paid more for it

Smart thermostats, solar-charged batteries, EVs and other household devices can shore up the stressed grid. Why isn't the state going all in on incentives?

By Jeff St. John . 15 September 2022
Batteries

In Utah, thousands of homes feed the grid stored solar power

Utility Rocky Mountain Power teamed with sonnen to set up a virtual power plant that's thriving. Now it plans to expand the model across Utah and Idaho.

By Julian Spector . 14 September 2022
Batteries

Lunar Energy enters solar+battery field with $300M investment

Sunrun, SK Group and others back the startup's plan to break into a crowded market with integrated home battery systems and broader energy controls.

By Jeff St. John . 26 August 2022
Electric vehicles

Lucky drivers will get discount on Ford EV pickup for helping the grid

Some customers leasing Ford F-150 Lightning electric trucks will score lower monthly payments in exchange for sharing power with the grid at peak times, under a deal between Ford and Duke Energy.

By Julian Spector . 24 August 2022
Batteries

This utility keeps customers cool during heat waves while saving them money

Vermont’s Green Mountain Power helped thousands of customers get home batteries. Now it taps them at peak times to prevent high costs and grid outages.

By Julian Spector . 11 August 2022
Grid edge

Smart electric panels in homes could prevent overtaxing the grid

As more homes are electrified, utility circuits could face major upgrade costs. Or smart panels and controls could help save the day, a new study says.

By Jeff St. John . 18 July 2022
Solar

How rooftop solar got big: Sunrun hits milestone of 5 gigawatts installed

Canary talks to Sunrun CEO Mary Powell on the U.S. home-solar leader's first 15 years, its Ford electric truck partnership, and what comes next.

By Julian Spector . 28 June 2022
Grid edge

OhmConnect raises $55M to enlist more homes to prevent blackouts

This summer will be tough on U.S. power grids. Startup OhmConnect is ready to pay 200,000-plus households to help out by saving energy.

By Jeff St. John . 9 June 2022