America's leading virtual power station currently operates on a massive network of 75,000 residential batteries.
In the heart of California, where soaring summer heat waves and escalating energy costs have become the norm, a groundbreaking initiative is making waves. Sunrun's CalReady Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is transforming the state's energy infrastructure, empowering homeowners to harness the power of solar and battery storage.
This innovative system, which aggregates over 56,000 customer solar-plus-battery systems across California, is a flexible, distributed energy resource capable of delivering an average of 250 megawatts (MW), peaking at 375 MW during grid peak periods from 4-9 PM daily between May and October. By storing solar energy generated during the day and discharging it during peak demand hours, CalReady forms a large-scale, virtual power plant that can reduce strain on the electricity grid and offset the need for fossil fuel generation.
The benefits of CalReady extend beyond grid management. It provides backup power at the customer level by maintaining a minimum 20% battery reserve for participating households, ensuring they have stored energy available during outages. By using distributed solar-plus-storage, customers can rely less on the grid during high-price or high-carbon periods, thus lowering their electricity bills—especially since they are compensated up to $150 per battery per season for participating in CalReady events where their stored energy is dispatched to the grid.
CalReady's impact on the environment is substantial. By reducing dependence on traditional fossil-fuel power plants during peak demand times, it cuts pollution and supports California's clean energy goals. In fact, Sunrun's VPP has demonstrated reliability equivalent to traditional power plants, as confirmed by The Brattle Group, dispatching hundreds of megawatts to the California grid during critical evening hours when electricity demand and emissions are highest.
The service is free to use, and consumers won't receive sales calls until they select an installer and share their phone number with them. For those considering solar installation, EnergySage offers a solution. This platform provides personalized solar quotes that are easy to compare online, and unbiased Energy Advisers are on hand to help consumers every step of the way.
California's evolving energy needs are met with greater resilience and flexibility thanks to CalReady's decentralized nature, which eliminates any potential single point of failure. In 2024, CalReady enrolled over 16,000 households and pushed out an average of 48 MW to the grid during heat waves. With a capacity of up to 375 MW, enough to power around 280,000 homes, CalReady is a testament to the power of collective action in the pursuit of a cleaner, greener future.
By the end of 2024, over 60% of new Sunrun customers added battery storage to their solar systems nationwide. Last year, Sunrun customers made over $1.5 million from the CalReady program, and this year they could bring in nearly $10 million. This initiative is not just a step towards a sustainable future—it's a powerful demonstration of the potential of renewable energy to transform our lives.
To start the process with EnergySage, consumers can visit their website here. Embrace the future of energy, one home at a time, with CalReady.
- The CalReady Virtual Power Plant, driven by Sunrun, is revolutionizing clean energy storage and green energy usage in California.
- By using electric vehicles and solar-plus-storage systems, CalReady participants can lower their electricity bills and reduce environmental pollution.
- The scientific community recognizes the environmental benefits of CalReady, as it supports California's clean energy goals and reduces fossil fuel generation.
- Solar energy investments made through platforms like EnergySage can lead to substantial returns, aiding the transition to a sustainable and clean energy future.
