The Role of Virtual Power Plants in the Future of Clean Energy

Energy infrastructure in the U.S. is not keeping pace with demand. Virtual power plants (VPPs), a collection of small-scale distributed energy resources, can stabilize the grid by compensating for fluctuations in generation and consumption.

When you think of energy infrastructure, you probably imagine towering smokestacks, old power lines, cramped industrial parks, and lengthy coal trains. Once virtual power plants enter the picture, this could change.

With a decentralized system stabilizing supply and demand, energy infrastructure goes from dirty and industrial to clean and welcoming.

The Emerging Faults in Energy Infrastructure

As data centers are built nationwide to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies, electricity demand increases exponentially. However, energy infrastructure is not keeping pace. In the United States, most transmission lines and transformers are at least 50 years old — they have reached their planned life expectancy. Engineers are beginning to replace them ...