Sunrun home energy storage owners will help PG&E with load relief again this year

Sunrun home energy storage owners will help PG&E with load relief again this year

  • 24.03.2025 17:17
  • solarpowerworldonline.com
  • Keywords: High Voltage

Sunrun and PG&E have partnered to use hundreds of solar + storage homes for targeted load relief, helping reduce grid strain and costs. The program will pay customers $150 per battery while ensuring home power availability during outages.

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Estimated market influence

Sunrun

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Analyst rating: N/A

Sunrun is a key player in the VPP partnership, providing solar + storage solutions and leading grid innovation.

PG&E

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Analyst rating: —

PG&E collaborates with Sunrun to alleviate grid strain through distributed energy resources.

Tesla

Tesla

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Analyst rating: Neutral

Tesla provides grid services platform for optimizing battery power dispatch.

Lunar Energy

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Lunar Energy offers AI forecasting via Gridshare to manage non-Tesla batteries.

Context

Analysis of Sunrun and PG&E Virtual Power Plant Partnership

Overview

  • Partnership: Sunrun and PG&E have formed a virtual power plant (VPP) collaboration to alleviate grid strain in California.
  • Scale: The program will involve approximately 600 Sunrun customers using solar + storage systems.
  • Timeframe: Activated for up to 100 hours from June through October 2025.

Business Insights

  • Customer Incentives: Sunrun customers enrolled in the Local PeakShift Power program receive a one-time payment of $150 per battery.
  • Grid Support: Enrolled batteries retain at least a 20% backup reserve, ensuring power availability during outages.

Market Implications

  • Distributed Energy Resources (DERs): Homes with solar + storage systems are becoming critical grid assets, shifting the traditional role of consumers to active participants in energy distribution.
  • Cost Savings: The program aims to reduce costs for ratepayers by avoiding or deferring distribution infrastructure investments.

Competitive Dynamics

  • Strategic Partnerships: Sunrun leverages partnerships with Tesla (grid services platform) and Lunar Energy (AI forecasting).
  • Technology Integration: Sunrun uses Tesla’s Powerwall batteries and Lunar Energy’s Gridshare software to optimize battery dispatch for grid needs.

Long-Term Effects

  • Program Scalability: With 156,000 residential battery systems nationwide, Sunrun has the potential to expand similar initiatives across the U.S.
  • Policy Alignment: The collaboration supports California’s clean energy goals and PG&E’s load-shifting objectives under the California Energy Commission.

Regulatory Considerations

  • Grid Resilience: The program enhances local grid reliability and resiliency, aligning with regulatory priorities for a cleaner energy future.

Key Metrics

  • Participation: 600 Sunrun customers in PG&E’s service area with distribution circuit constraints.
  • Payment Structure: $150 per battery for customers, compensated for managing dispatches.
  • Duration: 100 hours of operation from June through October 2025.

This partnership underscores the growing role of distributed energy resources in modern grid management and highlights Sunrun’s leadership in virtual power plant deployment.