Google and Voltus expand PJM virtual power plant deal to 1GW
The tenfold increase on June's 100MW agreement will aggregate flexible home and business capacity across PJM, as the US grid operator faces rising peak demand and interconnection backlogs.
Google and distributed energy resource (DER) platform Voltus have expanded their virtual power plant (VPP) agreement to 1GW, covering the PJM Interconnection market in the US.
Announced on 22 October, the deal is a tenfold increase on the companies' original agreement of 2 June. Under that earlier arrangement, Voltus agreed to aggregate up to 100MW of DERs a year from local businesses and homes into a Google-funded VPP over three years.
PJM is the largest regional transmission organisation in the US, serving 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C.
How the VPP works
Voltus pools flexible capacity from local businesses and homes. The assets include smart thermostats, residential battery energy storage systems (BESS) and industrial equipment.
During periods of peak demand, these assets temporarily cut their energy use to support grid reliability. Participating customers receive bill savings and cash payments in return.
The initial agreement was structured so that Voltus pays participating customers. This converts Google's capacity demand into direct economic benefits for PJM customers.
A "bring your own capacity" model
Google and Voltus describe the arrangement as a "bring your own power" (BYOP) or "bring your own capacity" (BYOC) deal. Structures of this kind have been encouraged by the US government, including through the White House's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge".
In August, residential solar and BESS provider Sunrun signed an agreement with Voltus to support its BYOC programmes for AI hyperscalers.
PJM's demand outlook
The expansion comes as PJM prepares for higher load. A study published in October 2025 by the US Energy Storage Coalition found that, if the demand forecast in PJM's 2025 Load Forecast Report materialises, the region's summer peak would rise by 16GW by 2028 and by a further 30GW by 2032.
The projected growth in load, together with backlogs in the interconnection queue, has prompted calls for reform from local leaders and the federal government.
Google's other energy moves
Google has been active in the data centre and energy sector this year. In March, it announced plans with utility DTE Energy for a Michigan data centre supported by 1,600MW of solar paired with 450MW of energy storage.
In September, Google said it would buy the energy, capacity and clean energy attributes of the Mammoth Solar project in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The project combines 86MW of solar with a 10MW/100MWh BESS, and comes from developer-operator MN8 Energy and zinc hybrid cathode battery maker Eos Energy Enterprises.
Distributed resources are also being tested as a way to ease the strain large loads place on consumers. On 16 April, developer-operator Lightshift Energy announced a five-project, distribution-scale BESS portfolio in Virginia.
Instead of pursuing 200MW to 500MW transmission-scale projects that require lengthy PJM interconnection studies and costly upgrades, Lightshift is installing smaller batteries, typically 20MW or less, at existing distribution substations. The aim is to reduce the burden on regular energy consumers.
