Real Reliability: The Value of Virtual Power

Consumers are adopting clean, flexible technologies such as smart thermostats, electric vehicles, and batteries at a rapid rate. Virtual power plants (VPPs) combine these technologies across participating customers to create a resource that can reduce, shift, or generate electricity when needed. By providing these services to the power system, VPPs can make significant contributions to grid reliability while directly compensating those consumers who participate. This presentation will introduce the concept of VPPs, describe their potential for facilitating affordable decarbonization of the power sector, and address barriers to deploying VPPs at scale.

Ryan Hledik is a Principal of The Brattle Group. His consulting practice focuses on regulatory, planning, and strategy matters related to emerging energy technologies and policies. Mr. Hledik’s work on the grid edge has been cited in federal and state regulatory decisions, as well as by Forbes, National Geographic, The New York Times, Vox, and The Washington Post. He has published more than 30 articles on electricity matters, presented at industry events in 10 countries, and assisted clients in matters related to energy storage, load flexibility, distributed generation, electrification, retail rate design, energy efficiency, and grid modernization. Ryan received his M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, where he concentrated in Energy Economics and Policy. He received his B.S. in Applied Science from the University of Pennsylvania, with minors in Economics and Mathematics.

Sanya Carley is the faculty director of the Kleinman Center and Presidential Distinguished Professor of Energy Policy and City Planning at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. She holds secondary appointments at the Wharton School and the School of Social Policy and Practice. She also co-directs the Energy Justice Lab and is a Resources for the Future (RFF) university fellow.

Carley’s research focuses on energy justice and just transitions, energy insecurity, electricity and transportation markets, and public perceptions of energy infrastructure and technologies. With the Energy Justice Lab team, she built and maintains the Utility Disconnection Dashboard. Carley is an author of the Fifth National Climate Assessment report and a member of the Innovation Policy Forum and the Roundtable on Macroeconomics and Climate-related Risks and Opportunities, respectively, for the National Academies.

We look forward to welcoming guests to the Kleinman Center’s Energy Forum. In accordance with the University of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 guidelines, masks are optional for all visitors. Boxed lunches will be available to go following the event!

Host or Publisher Kleinman Center for Energy Policy