NEW ORLEANS — As city officials finalize plans for a $30 million virtual power plant (VPP) program, New Orleans has an opportunity to become a national leader in using distributed battery storage to strengthen the electric grid, improve storm resilience and lower energy costs.
The initiative would aggregate battery systems installed at homes, businesses and community facilities into a single grid resource, allowing the utility to draw on stored electricity during periods of peak demand or emergencies rather than relying solely on centralized power generation. Coordinating hundreds or thousands of distributed battery systems in this way can improve grid reliability while reducing strain during periods of highest demand.
The City Council is now reviewing the final details of Entergy New Orleans’ implementation plan, including how participants will be compensated for making stored electricity available to support the grid…