Google-Funded Virtual Power Plant Launches in San Francisco Bay Area

PG&E has teamed up with Google and Rewiring America to launch the SHARE virtual power plant program in the San Francisco Bay Area. The project aims to orchestrate around 21,000 existing home batteries, smart thermostats, and other distributed energy resources across the region.

The program is fully funded by Google and targets approximately 12 MW of flexible capacity by 2028. To achieve this goal, eligible customers in Santa Clara and Alameda counties will receive discounts of at least $5,000 toward heat pump installations.

The pilot combines enrollment of existing devices with the deployment of new technology, which is expected to begin supporting the grid in fall 2026.