SMUD’s My Vitality Optimizer Companion+ program can scale as much as 54 MWh / 27 MW storage and photo voltaic capability over time.
Swell Vitality, a digital energy plant and distributed power integrator, has partnered with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to combine 20 MWh of residential battery capability and 10 MW of co-located solar energy capability into residential digital energy plant (VPP) system.
Referred to as My Vitality Optimizer Companion+, the VPP program has the flexibility to scale from 20 MWh / 10 MW of preliminary storage and energy capability to 54 MWh / 27 MW over time. Contractual capability beneath this system relies on two-hour supply capability, with a day’s advance discover to deal with as much as 240 occasions per 12 months.
Whereas particular person photo voltaic and battery storage programs assist prospects handle their very own power wants, the My Vitality Optimizer Companion+ program permits prospects to function their particular person programs with many others in gathering and sending renewable power sources to profit their communities. Collaborating My Vitality Optimizer Companion+ prospects obtain upfront and ongoing funds, or GridRevenue, primarily based on the capability of their photo voltaic and power storage programs.
“As extra SMUD prospects add photo voltaic panel programs paired with battery storage options, they are going to be higher capable of handle their very own power wants whereas making significant contributions to decreasing their group’s carbon footprint, ” stated Lora Anguay, chief zero carbon officer of SMUD.
At present, there are about 600 residential power storage programs in SMUD’s service space with a further 400 within the interconnection course of. The utility has a backlog of 1000’s extra coming on-line over the following few years.
SMUD is dedicated to funding batteries for low-income prospects in its service territory by way of native non-profit applications equivalent to Grid Alternate options.
“We’re honored to work with SMUD in the direction of attaining their Carbon Zero 2030 plan by way of the deployment of a multifaceted digital energy plant within the SMUD territory and the general CAISO grid,” stated Suleman Khan, CEO of Swell. Vitality. “We imagine this mannequin is a beacon for a way municipal utilities and different public utilities can obtain the dimensions and worth of distributed power sources.”
My Vitality Optimizer Companion+ will take enrollments in January 2023, with VPP operations scheduled to start in April. Native residential photo voltaic and electrical installers are invited to associate with Swell Vitality to co-develop tasks for the VPP program.
On November 22, Santa Monica, California-based Swell Vitality raised $120 million in fairness financing to broaden its VPP program choices. The spherical was led by SoftBank and Greenbacker Capital, with participation from Ares Administration.
The corporate develops 350 MWh of VPP programs utilizing 16,000 battery programs from residential and business functions. At present the corporate operates complete utility programs in California, Hawaii and New York.
Swell seeks new progress alternatives in underserved markets the place grid companies are wanted to strengthen and modernize infrastructure, equivalent to New England, the PJM Interconnection market, in addition to the western and southern states the place renewable power and electrical autos are happening.
The power expertise startup is creating VPPs by linking utilities, prospects and repair suppliers to combination distributed power sources. The corporate was fashioned in 2014 and has raised about $582 million in VC funding so far and counts CIT Group, Aligned Local weather Capital, For Good Ventures and Third Sphere as buyers.
Digital energy vegetation or VPPs are digital aggregations of distributed power sources (DERs) equivalent to photo voltaic, power storage, electrical car charging stations and demanding gadgets. that reply like water heaters and good thermostats. The advantages of VPPS transcend offering decarbonization and grid resiliency. The networks supply grid operators a big and utility-grade different to new technology sources and constructing programs by way of automated effectivity, capability assist, and non-wire options.
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