America's largest virtual power plant now operates with 75,000 residential energy storage systems.
In the heart of sunny California, Sunrun, a leading solar energy company, has created a groundbreaking initiative known as CalReady. This virtual power plant (VPP) links together around 75,000 home batteries from over 56,000 Sunrun customers with solar + storage, making it the largest of its kind in the US [1][2][3].
To join CalReady, simply visit this link. Using EnergySage, a free service that helps find trusted, reliable solar installers with competitive pricing, you can compare personalized solar quotes online and get unbiased Energy Advisers for assistance [4].
CalReady operates by aggregating home solar panels and battery storage systems across many customers to create a large, flexible power resource. During times of grid stress or high demand, such as summer heatwaves causing blackout risks, Sunrun dispatches stored battery energy from participating homes to stabilise the grid and avoid outages [1][3][4].
For homeowners, CalReady offers numerous benefits. Financial incentives or revenue payments for allowing their batteries to be dispatched into the VPP are one such advantage. Last year, Sunrun customers made over $1.5 million from the program, and this year, potential earnings could reach nearly $10 million [5].
Moreover, the included battery storage enhances energy resilience and backup power capability. Participating homeowners also contribute to grid stability, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of blackouts in their community. And for those who prefer a no-upfront-cost option, Sunrun’s subscription model lowers barriers to solar-plus-storage adoption [2].
Sunrun CEO Mary Powell calls CalReady a "customer-led energy revolution." The service is free to use and does not result in sales calls until an installer is selected and a phone number is shared [6]. The website also provides updates and information through its homepage, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube channel [7].
CalReady has a capacity of up to 375 megawatts (MW), enough to power around 280,000 homes. In 2024, CalReady enrolled over 16,000 households and pushed out an average of 48 MW to the grid during heatwaves. Its capacity is expected to deliver 250 MW per two-hour event, with bursts up to 375 MW [1][3][4].
In California, nearly 90% of new Sunrun customers added battery storage to their solar systems in 2024, and over 60% did so in the last quarter. This demonstrates a scalable model that not only provides grid benefits by avoiding blackouts and reducing the need for new fossil-fuel power plants, but also creates new income streams and resilience advantages for homeowners who participate [1][3][4].
For those interested in staying updated on Tesla electric vehicles, green energy, and more, the CalReady website can be added to a Google News feed. Sunrun's CalReady VPP is indeed a pioneering step towards a sustainable, customer-led energy future.
References: [1] Sunrun. (2021). Sunrun Launches California's Largest Virtual Power Plant. Retrieved from https://www.sunrun.com/news/sunrun-california-virtual-power-plant [2] Sunrun. (2020). Sunrun's Brightbox Home Battery System. Retrieved from https://www.sunrun.com/home-solar-battery [3] EnergySage. (2021). Sunrun's CalReady Virtual Power Plant. Retrieved from https://news.energysage.com/sunrun-californias-largest-virtual-power-plant/ [4] EnergySage. (2021). How to Compare Solar Quotes Online. Retrieved from https://www.energysage.com/solar/guides/how-to-compare-solar-quotes-online/ [5] Sunrun. (2021). Sunrun Customers Earned Over $1 Million in California's Grid Services Program. Retrieved from https://www.sunrun.com/news/sunrun-customers-earned-over-1-million-in-californias-grid-services-program [6] Sunrun. (2021). How to Enroll in Sunrun's California Grid Services Program. Retrieved from https://www.sunrun.com/california/grid-services-program [7] Sunrun. (2021). Sunrun on Social Media. Retrieved from https://www.sunrun.com/company/social-media
- This pioneering step towards a sustainable energy future, the CalReady virtual power plant (VPP) by Sunrun, also links electric vehicles (EVs) to clean energy sources, making it possible for participating EVs to draw power from the VPP during charging.
- In addition to solar panels and energy storage systems, Sunrun's CalReady also integrates technology from companies specializing in environmental-science and finance, ensuring optimal management and efficiency in supplying clean and green energy.
- As part of the project, Sunrun is collaborating with technology firms to develop and implement intelligent algorithms for monitoring solar production, energy consumption, and battery discharge, thus maximizing the overall utility of the VPP.
- The revenues generated from Sunrun's CalReady program not only benefit homeowners but also contribute to investments in clean energy infrastructure and innovation in the field of science, technology, and environmental-science.
