Alone we go faster, together we are stronger. For Tesla, it will be the second option. Alongside its production of electric cars, the brand has become a major player in electrical infrastructure. Its new weapon is to network all the solar panels of individuals to control them together and offer them to resell their electricity on the public network.
Called “virtual power plant”, this concept already existed before Tesla. But thanks to its software infrastructure, the manufacturer is now able to provide individuals with batteries, solar panels and connect them to each other so that they work as a single unit. Tesla seems to have big ambitions as it continues to roll out its infrastructure to every corner of the world.
After California and Australia, it’s Japan’s turn. On the island of Miyako-jima, since last year, Tesla has deployed no less than 300 systems with batteries and individuals who have accepted the device can now send their excess electricity back to the public grid in exchange of a financial counterpart.
In a press release, we can read that the Virtual Power Plant in California allows residents to earn $2 per kilowatt-hour returned, in times of high demand or if problems with outages arise. The installation is free for individuals while Tesla has made a partnership with the public authorities of the island. On site, electricity problems are frequent, particularly because of typhoons.
Greater stability of the electrical network
Such a decentralized network, like the Starlink network in space, is a good way to guarantee network security and capacity without interrupting the supply of energy. The constellation must also grow again and again with 400 new batteries planned by the end of the year and 600 more next year. All households are equipped with a Powerwall battery, one of the most popular models sold by Tesla.
In California, too, the public services called on the builder and helped households to install these infrastructures thanks to subsidies. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has made it the new engine of its program which must lead the State towards greater network security, which must go through reinforced stability thanks to this kind of decentralized storage organization. .
Something to echo with politics in France, at a time when the Government is concerned about national capacities in terms of electricity resources. Friday August 26, the price of electricity in France exceeded 1000 euros per MWh, a record when it was only 85 euros a year ago. In addition to Russian gas pricing, several French reactors are currently shut down, which explains this volatility. Electricity production in France is currently at a historically low level.
