Google · MIT Technology Review
How virtual power plants could provide energy for data centers
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Google signed a new deal to help pay for a virtual power plant (VPP) in the largest power grid in the US.
Key facts
- At $40 per month (about 15% of their power bill), only 4.6%
- This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review ’s weekly climate newsletter
- The plant will be part of PJM, the grid that covers much of the US East Coast
- Google signed a new deal to help pay for a virtual power plant (VPP) in the largest power grid in the US
Summary
Voltus will set up the virtual power plant, grouping together devices like electric vehicles and smart thermostats. This is one of the most concrete examples so far of a tech giant using a VPP to help meet energy demand for data centers. Last year, it felt as if everyone was talking about data center flexibility. The underlying reason is that their power grid is designed not for their average energy use, but for the absolute maximum: the brutally hot July evening when everyone is blasting their air conditioners, watching Love Island, and microwaving popcorn.