The power sector in the US is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by ambitious decarbonisation goals and substantial investments in renewable energy and grid modernisation. This shift is leading to increased adoption of utility-scale renewables, including solar, wind and battery storage, along with the proliferation of behind-the-meter distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar and residential energy storage, writes Saqib Saeed, Chief Product Officer at PTR. The power sector is facing a substantial transformation to address grid congestion and meet increasing load demands through grid flexibility services like Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and demand response programs. With the retirement of conventional power plants and rising peak load demand, the US will require around 242GW of grid flexibility services by 2030. According to PTR, about 324GW of new grid flexibility capacity will be added by then, primarily through DERMS and VPPs.

Heat pumps, smart thermostats, and advanced HVAC systems also play a crucial role in grid flexibility by improving energy efficiency and providing demand response capabilities. The adoption of EVs, expected to rise to 31.5 million by 2030, further enhances grid flexibility through V2G technology, enabling bidirectional power flow. V2G could revolutionize grid operations, adding 20-90GW of demand and 300-540GWh of storage capacity annually from 2025 to 2030. California and Texas lead in V2G adoption, promoting regulations and pilot projects to enhance grid reliability and efficiency.

Overall, the transition towards renewable energy and grid flexibility services, supported by technologies like V2G and VPPs, is crucial for meeting the US’s future energy demands and clean energy goals.