National Grid Expands Virtual Power Plant Program to Massachusetts Facilities

Following a successful pilot in New York, National Grid and Leap expand collaboration to bolster grid reliability.

SAN FRANCISCO & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leap, a leading virtual power plant (VPP) platform, and National Grid, one of world’s largest energy utilities, today announced the expansion of their grid services collaboration to selected National Grid facilities in Massachusetts. Building on a successful pilot project in New York, this initiative will enable the Massachusetts facilities to easily access virtual power plant (VPP) opportunities that help advance the state’s climate goals.

Leap and National Grid expand their VPP pilot.

Through Leap’s software-only solution, select National Grid office buildings in Massachusetts will participate in the state’s Clean Peak Standard and ConnectedSolutions grid services programs. This will lower the buildings’ electricity usage during periods of grid strain.

“We’re proud to expand our collaboration with National Grid and bring the advantages of VPP solutions to these Massachusetts facilities,” said Thomas Folker, Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Leap. “National Grid’s program underscores the immense potential of using grid-interactive buildings as resources to strengthen and decarbonize the energy system.”

At National Grid’s most recent NextGrid Alliance Summit in Boston, Folker joined senior officials from the U.S. Department of Energy for a breakout session on how VPPs can help reduce customer costs and balance grid demand. Folker shared insights from Leap’s initiative facilitating VPP participation for National Grid’s New York facilities. The annual Summit brings together utilities, regulators and startups to focus on innovative solutions for grid transformation.

“By operating our office buildings as a virtual power plant, National Grid will enhance local grid resilience and lower carbon emissions, benefiting Massachusetts residents and advancing the state’s climate goals,” said Amanda Downey, VP of New England Operations Support at National Grid. “It's important to walk the walk and continue demonstrating the critical role distributed energy solutions can play in the energy transition.”

Leap’s technology enables distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and HVAC systems to easily participate in energy markets. By aggregating loads from DERs into virtual power plants, Leap enables operators to balance the grid with less reliance on fossil-fueled “peaker” plants.

Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Energy Standard program offers incentives to clean technologies that boost energy supply or reduce demand during seasonal periods of peak demand. ConnectedSolutions provides incentives to residential and commercial electric customers that allow their excess energy to be used as virtual power plants during times of peak demand.

National Grid Partners, the utility’s venture investment and innovation arm, is an investor in Leap. The organization invests in startups whose technology has potential to help National Grid's business units accelerate the energy transition.

About Leap

Leap is the leading platform for generating new value from distributed energy resources (DERs) through integration with energy markets. Through its software-only solution, Leap facilitates fast, easy and automated access to high-value grid services revenue streams for the providers of batteries, electric vehicle charging, smart thermostats, HVAC systems and other flexible assets. By aggregating the DERs enrolled on its platform, Leap supplies virtual power plants (VPPs) to balance the grid. Leap enables its partners and their customers to unlock new value streams and help create a more flexible, resilient grid powered by renewable resources.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.

About National Grid Partners

National Grid Partners is the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc., one of the world's largest investor-owned energy companies. By providing corporate venture capital, business development counsel and direct integration with National Grid’s innovation teams, National Grid Partners is accelerating the energy transition and helping innovators reach critical scale faster. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, National Grid Partners has offices in Boston, London, and New York. Visit ngpartners.com or follow us on Twitter (@ngpartners_) and LinkedIn.