NRG, Renew Home and Google Cloud Announce Partnership
NRG Energy has announced a partnership with Renew Home and Google Cloud to create a 1 GW virtual power plant (VPP) in Texas by 2035. The initiative aims to distribute hundreds of thousands of VPP-enabled smart thermostats to help enhance grid resilience and reduce household energy costs. The program will offer Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, including professional installation, at no cost to eligible customers. The AI-powered VPP will utilize Google Cloud's technology for weather prediction, generation output forecasting, and pricing models. The program is scheduled to launch in spring 2025, addressing Texas's increasing peak energy demand, which reached 85 GW in 2023.
NRG Energy ha annunciato una partnership con Renew Home e Google Cloud per creare una centrale elettrica virtuale (VPP) da 1 GW in Texas entro il 2035. L'iniziativa mira a distribuire centinaia di migliaia di termostati intelligenti abilitati per VPP per migliorare la resilienza della rete e ridurre i costi energetici delle famiglie. Il programma offrirà termostati intelligenti Vivint e Nest, compresa l'installazione professionale, senza costi per i clienti idonei. La VPP alimentata dall'IA utilizzerà la tecnologia di Google Cloud per la previsione meteorologica, la previsione dell'output di generazione e i modelli di pricing. Il programma è previsto per il lancio nella primavera del 2025, affrontando la crescente domanda di energia di punta del Texas, che ha raggiunto gli 85 GW nel 2023.
NRG Energy ha anunciado una asociación con Renew Home y Google Cloud para crear una planta de energía virtual (VPP) de 1 GW en Texas para 2035. La iniciativa tiene como objetivo distribuir cientos de miles de termostatos inteligentes habilitados para VPP para mejorar la resiliencia de la red y reducir los costos de energía en los hogares. El programa ofrecerá termostatos inteligentes Vivint y Nest, incluida la instalación profesional, sin costo alguno para los clientes elegibles. La VPP impulsada por IA utilizará la tecnología de Google Cloud para predicción meteorológica, pronósticos de generación de energía y modelos de precios. El programa está programado para lanzarse en la primavera de 2025, abordando la creciente demanda de energía máxima en Texas, que alcanzó los 85 GW en 2023.
NRG Energy는 Renew Home 및 Google Cloud와 협력하여 2035년까지 텍사스에 1 GW 규모의 가상 발전소(VPP)를 만들겠다고 발표했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 grid의 회복력을 높이고 가정 에너지 비용을 줄이기 위해 수십만 개의 VPP 지원 스마트 온도조절기를 배포하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 이 프로그램은 Vivint 및 Nest 스마트 온도조절기를 전문 설치 서비스와 함께 자격이 있는 고객에게 무료로 제공합니다. AI 기반 VPP는 기상 예측, 발전량 예측 및 가격 모델을 위해 Google Cloud의 기술을 활용할 것입니다. 이 프로그램은 2025년 봄에 출시될 예정이며, 2023년 텍사스의 최고 에너지 수요가 85 GW에 달하는 문제를 해결할 것입니다.
NRG Energy a annoncé un partenariat avec Renew Home et Google Cloud pour créer une centrale électrique virtuelle (VPP) de 1 GW au Texas d'ici 2035. L'initiative vise à distribuer des centaines de milliers de thermostats intelligents compatibles VPP pour améliorer la résilience du réseau et réduire les coûts énergétiques des ménages. Le programme proposera des thermostats intelligents Vivint et Nest, y compris l'installation professionnelle, sans frais pour les clients éligibles. La VPP alimentée par l'IA utilisera la technologie de Google Cloud pour la prévision météorologique, les prévisions de production et les modèles de tarification. Le programme est prévu pour le lancement au printemps 2025, afin de répondre à l'augmentation de la demande d'énergie de pointe au Texas, qui a atteint 85 GW en 2023.
NRG Energy hat eine Partnerschaft mit Renew Home und Google Cloud angekündigt, um bis 2035 ein virtuelles Kraftwerk (VPP) mit 1 GW in Texas zu schaffen. Die Initiative zielt darauf ab, Hunderttausende von VPP-fähigen Smart-Thermostaten zu verteilen, um die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Stromnetzes zu verbessern und die Energiekosten für Haushalte zu senken. Das Programm bietet Vivint- und Nest-Smart-Thermostate, einschließlich professioneller Installation, kostenlos für berechtigte Kunden an. Das KI-gestützte VPP wird die Technologie von Google Cloud für Wettervorhersage, Erzeugungsvorhersage und Preisgestaltung nutzen. Das Programm soll im Frühjahr 2025 starten und damit der zunehmenden Spitzenlastnachfrage in Texas begegnen, die 2023 85 GW erreichte.
- Creation of a 1 GW virtual power plant equivalent to powering 200,000 homes during peak demand
- Free smart thermostats and installation for eligible customers
- Partnership with established technology leaders (Google Cloud, Renew Home)
- Potential for future expansion to include batteries and electric vehicles
- None.
Insights
This strategic partnership to build a 1 GW virtual power plant represents a significant technological advancement in Texas's energy infrastructure. The initiative's scale - equivalent to powering 200,000 homes during peak demand - could substantially impact grid stability in ERCOT's challenging market. The AI-powered VPP leveraging Google Cloud's technology for weather prediction and generation forecasting presents a sophisticated approach to demand response.
The free smart thermostat distribution program, combined with professional installation, removes adoption barriers and creates a compelling value proposition for consumers. The planned 2025 rollout timing aligns with Texas's growing energy challenges, where peak demand hit 85 GW in 2023. The future integration of batteries and EVs into the VPP network indicates strong scalability potential and additional revenue streams.
This partnership positions NRG strategically in the rapidly evolving distributed energy market. The collaboration with Google Cloud adds significant technological credibility and scalability to NRG's consumer offerings. The initiative addresses multiple market opportunities: grid stability, consumer cost savings and sustainable energy management.
The timing is particularly strategic given Texas's population growth and increasing energy demands. By targeting residential customers with free smart devices, NRG can build a substantial customer base while creating a valuable grid asset. The 2035 timeline for full deployment allows for measured scaling while capturing first-mover advantages in the VPP market.
NRG and Renew Home to Create a 1 GW Virtual Power Plant in Texas That Will Help Enhance Grid Resilience and Reduce Household Energy Costs Leveraging Google Cloud Technology
Together, NRG and Renew Home aim to distribute hundreds of thousands of VPP-enabled smart thermostats by 2035 and create a nearly 1 GW AI-powered VPP – enabled by Google Cloud technology – to improve the
“This marks a pivotal step forward in our efforts to deliver more value and an enhanced experience to customers while empowering them with our virtual power plant capabilities,” said Rasesh Patel, President, NRG Consumer. “By partnering with industry leaders like Renew Home and Google Cloud, we are set to deliver cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions that will bolster grid resilience and contribute to a more sustainable future. We are excited about the transformative impact this collaboration will have on our customers and the broader energy landscape.”
Building an AI-Enabled, 1 GW Virtual Power Plant in
A 1 GW VPP delivers capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand. To build the VPP, NRG, in partnership with Renew Home, plans to offer Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, including professional installation, at no cost to eligible customers across NRG’s retail electricity providers and plans. These advanced thermostats make subtle automatic HVAC adjustments to help customers shift their energy use to times when electricity is less constrained, less expensive, and cleaner. By combining smart devices, energy intelligence, and AI, this innovative program gives consumers comfort and control through a modern and efficient energy experience. Over time, the parties expect to add devices like batteries and electric vehicles to the VPP, expanding energy savings opportunities for customers.
“As rapid population growth and weather events create new challenges for meeting demand in ERCOT, VPPs can deliver a reliable, flexible and dispatchable energy resource,” said Ben Brown, Renew Home CEO. “NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program. This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.”
To maximize the impact of the VPP and other strategic initiatives, NRG will embark on a broad multi-year technology transformation with Google Cloud. Through the use of Google Cloud's data, analytics, and AI technology, NRG will be able to do things like better predict weather conditions, forecast wind and solar generation output, and create predictive pricing models, allowing for more efficient production and ultimately ensuring the home energy experience is seamless for customers.
"As we move toward a more sustainable future and face increasing energy demands, Google Cloud recognizes the importance of partnering with innovators like NRG and Renew Home to help transform the consumer energy experience with AI and the best of Google Cloud,” said Michael Clark, President,
NRG and Renew Home expect to roll out their VPP program to
About NRG
NRG Energy, Inc. is a leading energy and home services company powered by people and our passion for a smarter, cleaner, and more connected future. A Fortune 500 company operating in
About Renew Home
Renew Home is building
About Google Cloud
Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “believe” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that the expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially.
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Source: NRG Energy Inc.
FAQ
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