Where: Virtual

The clean energy transition cannot happen at the speed we need unless we modernize the nation’s electrical grid. But in the U.S., the process of building new transmission lines and power stations is notoriously complex and can take well over a decade. Fortunately, there are resources that can be deployed today to make the most of our existing grid infrastructure, while simultaneously optimizing transmission investments in the coming years.

This webinar, part of the Beyond Transmission series by Heatmap Labs, will focus on the key role of customer-side flexibility in the form of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). Across the country, utilities are harnessing existing network and customer assets – from solar panels and car batteries to smart thermostats and water heaters – to create VPPs that can deliver a range of grid services, satisfy soaring electricity demand, and bring relief to congested grid infrastructure. And VPPs also provide opportunities to empower customers, keep costs low, and decarbonize the grid through flexibility.

The panel of experts will discuss how VPPs can help with the energy transition both now and in the long term. The discussion will explore the ways in which VPP program designs and operations have evolved, best practices learned over time, evaluation metrics, and technology and policy trends that will shape the role of VPPs in the near future. This webinar is presented by Heatmap Labs and Uplight.