CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS

Peak Power

When demand for electricity is heavy, especially during a heat wave, utility companies generally fire up a back-up fossil fuel plant to meet the extra demand. In some parts of the country they charge more for power generated from these plants.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of homes and businesses generating their own electricity via solar panels and storing it in batteries for use when the sun isn’t shining. ComEd, a power company in Illinois is working to network these batteries and draw on this power to meet peak demand. This power source has been dubbed Virtual Power.

To make Virtual Power a reality, more homeowners/businesses need to adopt battery storage and configure it to pour power into the grid when signaled that demand exceeds supply. Electric cars hooked up to charging units might also participate by putting the power in their batteries back into the grid. Obviously, battery owners should receive some compensation (probably, as is the case now, at lower rates than incoming grid power). Replacing peak power fossil fuel plants with Virtual Power could eventually cut utility costs and lead to cleaner air.