By David Dodge, GreenEnergyFutures.ca
In the heart of Edmonton, Alberta, lies Blatchford a planned carbon-neutral community that is pioneering the future of sustainable energy. This innovative neighbourhood is home to a groundbreaking project known as the Blatchford Virtual Power Plant (VPP), a collaboration between Landmark Homes, EPCOR, SolarTility, and sonnen Inc.
What is a Virtual Power Plant?
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a network of decentralized energy resources, such as solar panels and batteries, that are coordinated to function like a single power plant. This coordination allows for better management of energy production and consumption, making the grid more efficient and resilient.
Oh, and it also allows the owners of Landmark Homes’ solar-powered net-zero homes to export their solar energy to the grid in exchange for higher revenues.
The Blatchford Project
The Blatchford VPP pilot project is one of the first of its kind in Canada and has funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta.
Landmark Homes, known for their net-zero energy homes, has partnered with sonnen Inc., a leader in energy storage solutions, to equip 100 homes in Blatchford with sonnen batteries. These batteries will store energy generated by solar panels installed on the homes, creating a reliable and sustainable energy source.
How Does It Work?
The VPP in Blatchford works by coordinating the energy stored in the sonnen batteries with the needs of the home and the grid.
“We were brought in as the hardware provider for the batteries,” says Geoff Ferrell, a VP with sonnen.
Then sonnen will work with EPCOR, the distribution utility, and a retailer called SolarTility to coordinate what a VPP virtual power plant would look like and how it will work.
This means that homeowners can earn money by participating in the VPP, making their investment in solar and batteries even more worthwhile.
Benefits for Homeowners
The sonnen batteries are capable of “islanding” the home from the grid in the event of a blackout. For homeowners in Blatchford, participating in the VPP provides a backup power source in case of outages, ensuring that critical loads in the home remain powered.
Secondly, it allows homeowners to earn a return on their investment in solar and batteries by selling excess energy back to the grid at market rates. This not only helps to offset their energy costs but also contributes to the overall stability and efficiency of the grid.
In Alberta, the way the microgeneration regulation works is that homeowners are paid the same for the electricity they export as the electricity they buy.
So, if a homeowner is paying 9.7 cents per kWh for electricity, they are paid 9.7 cents for every kWh they export. This means it is always better if the homeowner self-consumes the energy in the home because they save the 9.7 cents, plus all of the other charges, which in total add up to about 20 cents per kWh.
With the virtual power plant, “SolarTility will be a conduit to the wholesale market, which could mean they can sell electricity when rates peak in high-demand periods.
“We will buy and sell energy on your behalf and use your battery as the tool to earn you money, and save you money on your bill,” says Ferrell.
Impact on the Grid
The Blatchford VPP is not just beneficial for homeowners; it also has a positive impact on the grid. By coordinating the energy resources in the community, the VPP helps to alleviate congestion and manage energy demand more effectively. This is particularly important as the grid becomes more stressed with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps and other high-demand devices.
The VPP helps utilities by shifting the solar energy from times of low demand to peak periods, thereby improving the reliability of the grid.
The beginning of smart energy systems in the home
As they have done in Europe already, the sonnen batteries and associated software can coordinate your energy use in the home by managing the homeowners’ priorities.
“I have excess charge or I have excess solar. I have a battery. I’ve got this other battery in your own electric car. What is the priority? What do I charge first? Do I just want to charge off the solar?
If time of use pricing were implemented, the sonnen battery will also respond to market signals such as the price of electricity, to charge your EV at the best time.
“The sonnen battery is the brain in our system,” says Ferrell.
Future Prospects
The Blatchford VPP project is set to be fully built out by 2027, but the partners are already looking at expansion opportunities. This includes retrofitting existing homes with solar and batteries, allowing more homeowners to participate in the VPP and benefit from its advantages.
The success of the Blatchford project could serve as a model for other communities, demonstrating the potential of VPPs to transform the way we generate and consume energy.
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