A network of solar panels and batteries installed on affordable apartment buildings with more than 500 units in Oakland, CA will provide power to those units first, then fill the batteries, which can discharge electricity to the grid. This will eliminate the use of a power plant that burns jet fuel in peaking times like hot summer days when most air conditioners are on. A substantial battery system will be installed at the jet fuel plant as well to store electricity from the grid at low demand times for release when needed.
This virtual power plant being built by Sunrun will be operating in 2022. It will replace the fossil fuel plant without building new power lines and, will reduce electric bills of low income households who will receive net metering credit for the solar produced. Virtual power plants of solar plus storage could provide nine gigawatts of capacity across California, which is the equivalent of 50 large natural gas plants. FastCompany