Tesla Japan announced on X the nationwide launch of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), offering free Powerwall installations to eligible participants. A sign-up link is provided on Tesla Japan’s website. A VPP is similar to a conventional power plant in that it provides energy to businesses and homes. It connects many Powerwalls to form a larger power source, stabilizing the grid and supplying power to individual homes or businesses.
What are DERs? Distributed Energy Resources (DER) combine with Tesla’s advanced software and infrastructure to aggregate energy, ensuring reliable power during blackouts.
Tesla partners with Global Engineering and Fuyo General Lease to deliver this DER aggregation service, potentially supported by Japanese government subsidies through the Long-Term Decarbonization Auction (up to 90% cost coverage for battery storage). This aligns with Elon Musk’s Master Plan 3 for global sustainable energy.
Hello! Welcome back to What’s Up Tesla! As a Tesla owner and supporter, I am constantly learning about the incredible creations of a company I once just associated with nice cars and solar products. Though it was confusing at first, I have come to an understanding of yet another aspect of Tesla. Autobidder is an amazing piece of software created by the Tesla team. I am excited to share Autobidders’ incredible features with you and explain why it is so important.
Tesla Solar Panels and four Powerwalls [credit: Tesla]
Tesla creates software to optimize battery storage systems. The purpose of Tesla’s Autobidder software is to allow the owner of a Tesla Powerwall to sell their excess power to the grid automatically and at the best price. The software automatically bids a competitive price to a buyer. Tesla explains Autobidder,
Autobidder provides independent power producers, utilities, and capital partners the ability to autonomously monetize battery assets. Autobidder is a real-time trading and control platform that provides value-based asset management and portfolio optimization, enabling owners and operators to configure operational strategies that maximize revenue according to their business objectives and risk preferences.
Autobidder is already being successfully deployed in South Australia at the Hornsdale Power Reserve (HPR). This market bidding has added competition to drive down energy prices. Tesla Powerwalls and Megapacks are much more valuable assets to their owners if they are managed by the Tesla Autobidder System. Tesla explains it this way,
Batteries are highly flexible assets, but they require smart strategies and software to realize their full value. Autobidder allows owners to realize this value by handling the complex co-optimization required to successfully stack multiple value streams simultaneously, including:
Wholesale markets, including energy, ancillary services and capacity
Transmission & Distribution-level grid services
Renewable firming and shaping
Bilateral contractual arrangements
Other portfolio needs
Telsa Megapacks and Solar [credit: Tesla]
“Autobidder operates at every scale: from aggregations of behind-the-meter residential systems to 100 Mega Watt utility-scale installations” – Tesla
Example of Tesla Autobidder Software in action [credit: Tesla]
“We are designing and manufacturing a complete energy and transportation ecosystem. We both develop the technology behind this ecosystem and focus on the affordability of the products that comprise it. We seek to achieve this through our R&D and software development efforts as well as through our continuous drive to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities.” – Tesla
My thoughts
I expect the electricity grid in my state of Texas to improve rapidly when ERCOT allows residential battery storage to create temporary microgrids to help in emergencies like tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather conditions. When Tesla Powerwall customers in Texas and beyond can participate in the free market and sell power, families will stay safer including yours!
If this topic interests you, consider attending a workshop through ERCOT hosted by Tesla, “Tesla Virtual Power Plant Workshop Related to OBDRR041 by Webex Only.” Date/Time: May 31, 10:00 am. If you are unable to attend, the meeting should be available in the archives here.
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