Leap expands battery power export program in California
Virtual power plant (VPP) scaling platform Leap has expanded its battery power export program in California, creating new grid revenue opportunities in the Golden State.
The program expansion comes as part of California’s Emergency Load Reduction Program, the company says, offering the ability to monetize battery storage systems. The statewide grid reliability initiative incentivized lower energy usage during peak hours in California, one of the most energy-needy states in the U.S.
The company’s new ELRP A.4 offering claims to create an additional revenue opportunity for battery storage providers, officials say. Leap will compensate participating battery systems for their energy exports that go back to the grid. The company says this will allow VPPs to access a previously untapped market, as battery systems were previously not widely available for compensation across the state’s grid reliability programs.
“California’s grid needs flexible capacity now, and that means prioritizing programs designed to take full advantage of what behind-the-meter storage can provide,” says Trevor McManamon, VP of markets at Leap. “Leap has been advocating for years to unlock the full potential of batteries. By compensating battery exports and simplifying enrollment, this offering gives our partners a new way to generate revenue while helping grid operators access more of the flexible capacity already available across California.”
Removing response issues
The new service offering “major barrier to demand response participation,” the company says, in the form of customer enrollment. In contrast to traditional opt-in models, which routinely see participation rates lower than 10%, ELRP A.4 enables providers to directly enroll eligible battery storage customer portfolios.
This practice removes the common multi-step process of utility authorization that often comes as part of a customer’s VPP signup. Customers will still be notified of their participation, however, and can opt out of the program at any time.
California’s grid and its reliability programs are continuing to evolve, the company says, and the A.4 offering aims to give storage providers an additional monetization pathway for batteries, preventing battery capacity from going unused by the customer and the grid alike.
Leap’s new ELRP A.4 service offering is now available to eligible customers within Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service area.
