What a virtual power plant asks of your battery
Your battery keeps doing its usual job. A virtual power plant adds one more request: discharge at a set rate during a set window, called an event. A program is the arrangement, often run by a utility, that sets the event windows and any payment. See what a virtual power plant is.
Eligibility follows your battery model, your utility and your location, and each program owner sets its own season, hours and payment. Battery and demand response programs lists each program with its season, event hours and enrollment route.123
Steps to enroll
- Find the model name of your battery and your inverter on the label or in your installer's paperwork.
- Find your utility on the program list.
- Open the program page and read the list of approved makers or models.
- Enroll through the link, app or maker that the program names.
- Read the event window, the season and the payment rule in the program terms.
Where an Energy Router fits
Connecting equipment and joining a program are two separate steps. An Energy Router is a local device that controls the solar, batteries and other equipment at your site. Elastic's platform shifts your batteries toward the hours a program sets, by direct command or through mode and tariff settings. It records the command, the response and the outcome. Check your equipment to see how the Energy Router works with your model.
In British Columbia, eligible FortisBC customers can apply through FortisBC to join an Energy Router pilot inside the Power Hours Rewards Program. See the pilot.
Your choice stays with you
You decide whether your battery takes part. Enrollment is opt-in, one authorization at a time, and the program terms say how an opt-out applies. How opt-outs and device availability work explains installed and available capacity.
References
- ConnectedSolutions Battery Storage Demand Response (Massachusetts). Eversource.
- Bring Your Own Battery Program. Con Edison.
- Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) A4. San Diego Gas & Electric.
Common questions.
How long does an event last?
The program sets it. Eversource's Massachusetts program lists 2 to 3 hours, Con Edison lists up to four hours and San Diego Gas & Electric lists one to three hours. Eversource also states that it does not draw energy from your battery when extreme weather is in the forecast.
What if my battery is not on the compatibility list?
Search your exact model in the compatibility checker. If it is not there, send us your exact model and our team will follow up.