Stem, a leader in AI-driven clean energy solutions and services, announced that its California virtual power plant (VPP) dispatched approximately 86 MW and 268 MWh over the 5 hour “Flex Alert” period on September 6.
A Flex Alert is a call to energy consumers to voluntarily cut back on electricity and shift electricity use to off-peak hours. The dispatches occurred during electricity usage peaks in response to this week’s extreme statewide heat wave and grid emergency.
The stored energy capacity released to the California electric grid from commercial and industrial customers increased resilience and demonstrated the critical role of energy storage as high temperatures continue to break records in California and the West.
Extreme heat waves can create significant stress on the electrical grid and dispatching 86 MW of stored energy can serve about 103,000 homes. California utilities institute Flex Alerts during these high stress periods.
Stem was the first energy storage provider to launch and integrate a battery storage VPP into California wholesale markets as a demand response resource. Today, Stem has enrolled hundreds of commercial and industrial customers into its California VPP, part of its approximately 2.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage assets contracted or operating in more than 75 jurisdictions.
Stem’s Athena platform helps customers maximize flexibility from their energy storage systems. The company’s AlsoEnergy solution monitors and optimizes a wide range of energy assets, including storage, solar and electric vehicle charging stations.