Sunrun, a leading provider of PV systems and battery energy storage products, is now operating the nation’s first vehicle-to-home power plant using a small group of customer-owned bidirectional EVs in Maryland.
The regulator-approved initiative is using all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning trucks to power owners’ homes during the summertime peak demand to support the state’s grid.
Formed in partnership with Maryland’s largest utility, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), the program includes three Sunrun customers in BGE’s service territory who own an F-150 Lightning, a Ford Charge Station Pro, and Home Integration System, which is sold exclusively through Sunrun.
The program is the first of its kind in the U.S.
The Department of Energy awarded BGE with a grant to create an EV power plant. BGE partnered with Sunrun to develop and administer the program, which is designed to assist BGE’s system during times of peak demand. The program is an example of how EVs can function like stationary energy storage to alleviate demand on the grid and create a better functioning energy system for Maryland BGE customers.
“This program is a significant proof of concept—no other market player has done this—and the goal is to expand these programs all around the country,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell, in a statement. “This exciting partnership lays the foundation for the power grid of the future where electric vehicle owners can contribute to grid resiliency and utility price stability for everyone. The summer heat can be especially stressful on our power grid, which is why proving the use of stored energy in electric vehicles for capacity is so important.”
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