Securing Flexible Demand

Summary

This NREL report, dated December 2, 2024, addresses the increasing vulnerabilities of the evolving, distributed, and complex energy grid in the United States. It analyzes the potential power system impacts and cyber risks of aggregating and coordinating grid-edge resources like residential air conditioners through Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). Key findings indicate that VPPs could meet 10-20% of peak load nationwide by 2030, but coordinated control of even 15-20% of residential ACs (representing 3,490 to 6,030 MW) could lead to significant grid instability and system separation, particularly when combined with distributed solar trips of up to 9.7 GW. The analysis highlights that these potential impacts are comparable to or exceed traditional contingency events, such as a 2.7 GW loss in the Western Interconnect or a 10 GW loss in the Eastern Interconnect.

Key Facts

Source Document

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