California Utility Launches Virtual Power Plant Project with Google

A new virtual power plant project is underway in California, connecting nearly 21,000 existing home energy devices to reduce strain on the grid and free up capacity.

The SHARE (Smart Home Assets for Reliability and Efficiency) program, led by Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG), aims to tackle rising electricity demand from data centers and electric vehicles.

Alphabet's Google is expected to fully fund the project, which will see companies such as Tesla, Sunrun, and Carrier Global connect their home energy devices to create a virtual power plant (VPP).

The VPP can shift power supply from connected batteries during peak demand hours, reducing grid strain and freeing up capacity.