Key facts
- Google signed a three-year BYOC agreement with Voltus for up to 100 MW of distributed capacity.
- Voltus will aggregate batteries, smart thermostats, EVs, and other flexible assets into a Google-funded VPP.
- The VPP dispatches resources when the grid needs relief, compensating participants.
- This initiative aims to provide Google with grid capacity without long interconnection queues.
- The deal is in the PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid operator.
Google has entered into a three-year "Bring Your Own Capacity" (BYOC) agreement with Voltus, aiming to deploy up to 100 MW of accredited distributed capacity within the PJM Interconnection. Voltus will aggregate various flexible assets, including batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles from homes and businesses, into a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) funded by Google. This VPP utilizes coordinated software to manage these decentralized energy resources, enabling them to act as dispatchable generation when the grid requires relief. Participants in the program will be compensated, while Google gains access to grid capacity without the lengthy delays associated with traditional interconnection queues. The Brattle Group estimates that better utilization of existing infrastructure could save U.S. consumers over $100 billion this decade. Voltus currently manages over 7.5 GW of distributed energy resources across North American wholesale markets and launched its BYOC offering to address interconnection delays. This strategic move by Google aligns with its broader efforts to secure diverse energy and flexibility technologies, including restarting the Duane Arnold nuclear plant, partnerships for geothermal power with Fervo Energy, acquiring Intersect Power for co-located data center and energy infrastructure, and investing in long-duration battery technology with Form Energy. The company's focus on speed is driven by the rapid pace of data center construction outpacing grid infrastructure development.