Google-Funded Virtual Power Plant Launches in San Francisco Bay Area
PG&E and Rewiring America have launched the SHARE program, a virtual power plant that will deploy flexible residential energy devices in the San Francisco Bay Area. The initiative is funded by Google and aims to test the locational value of customer-sited resources.
The program will utilize existing home batteries and smart devices from companies like Tesla and Sunrun, as well as new battery-enabled heat pumps subsidized by Google. PG&E expects the SHARE program to reach approximately 12 MW of capacity by 2028.
Eligible homeowners in Santa Clara and Alameda counties will receive a discount of at least $5,000 toward a heat pump installation, with $10,000 available to the first 25 households to sign up. Those who participate will have their energy devices managed through PG&E's DERMS platform.
PG&E Chief Commercial Officer Chelle Izzi said, 'SHARE shows how investing in customers can unlock grid capacity, support growth, and bring real benefits back to communities.'