Google and Tesla think we're managing the electrical grid all wrong | TechCrunch

"The group points out, correctly, that the grid is designed for brief bursts of high demand; most of the time there's lots of capacity that goes unused. Utilize thinks that should change. The group argues that smarter ways to use that capacity already exist. Utilize name checks a number of those solutions, including battery storage, demand response, and virtual power plants, all of which have emerged en masse over the last decade, but remain under utilized."

"In many cases, those new technologies are used to improve the grid's resilience. Take Texas's grid, for example, which has fared better during recent cold snaps following an increase in battery storage in the state. Still, many regulators and politicians remain wary of these new technologies, opting instead to stick with familiar options like centralized fossil fuel power plants."

"Each member occupies a niche piece of the grid. On the sell side, Tesla sells batteries and solar panels, Span sells a electrical panel that can react to changing loads, Carrier makes heat pumps, and Sparkfund and Renew Home build and aggregate distributed energy resources. On the buy side, Google and Verrus have enormous power needs to keep their servers humming."

Utilize, a new coalition founded by Google, Tesla, Verrus, Carrier, Renew Home, Sparkfund, and Span, launched to promote more efficient use of the electrical grid. The group argues that the grid is designed for peak demand but operates with significant unused capacity most of the time. Modern technologies like battery storage, demand response, and virtual power plants can better utilize this capacity and improve grid resilience, as demonstrated by Texas's improved performance during recent cold snaps. Despite these proven solutions, regulators and politicians remain hesitant to adopt new technologies, preferring traditional centralized fossil fuel power plants. Utilize will advocate for policies encouraging widespread adoption of these technologies, which benefit both grid efficiency and member companies' business interests.

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