Connecticut Green Bank and California-based GoodLeap are collaborating on an AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) initiative to unlock savings for homeowners and enhance grid reliability.

The partnership will aggregate solar and energy storage systems across Connecticut through the state’s energy storage programme to incentivise homeowners and reduce strain on the electrical grid.

This collaborative effort will focus on deploying residential solar systems and battery energy storage to help lower energy costs, improve grid resilience and advance Connecticut’s clean energy goals.

Enabled by GoodLeap’s AI-powered proprietary software, GoodGrid, said to be the fastest growing VPP network in the USA, and integrated with the utility’s distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), the VPPs can aggregate thousands of residential solar and storage systems into coordinated networks to provide grid services, such as peak demand reduction, helping reduce strain on the electrical grid. This can potentially defer distribution infrastructure investments for utilities, and will better position Connecticut to meet its clean energy deployment targets. This can help lower costs for all homeowners as more expensive sources of energy can be avoided during these peaks, and will increase access to distributed energy resources.

“Together with GoodLeap, we are working to ensure that Connecticut residents, especially those in vulnerable communities, benefit from clean, resilient and affordable energy,” said Bryan Garcia, CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. “We saw GoodLeap leading on VPPs in other states around the country and felt that their technology, products and services were needed in Connecticut to help our families realise the benefits of these distributed energy resources. This initiative will bring new resources to homeowners and ratepayers while supporting our state’s climate and energy goals.”

Eligible Connecticut homeowners will receive monthly cash rewards through the GoodGrid cash rewards, advancing the goals of the energy storage programme. Green Bank will also support the partnership through technical assistance to streamline project development and interconnection, as well as stakeholder and community engagement to boost awareness and participation while ensuring equitable access.

“We are thrilled to work with the Connecticut Green Bank to scale residential clean energy and energy storage across the state,” said Daniel Lotano, chief operating officer at GoodLeap. “Our technology has already helped tens of thousands of homeowners across the USA earn money for supporting a more reliable grid, and we’re glad to bring our AI powered VPP software and our deep residential customer expertise to Connecticut.”

Through this agreement, Connecticut Green Bank and GoodLeap will partner in ongoing collaboration on performance metrics, grid integration and community impact reporting.

The energy storage programme (energystoragect.com) is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, is paid for by electric ratepayers, and is administered by the Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource and UI.

The Connecticut Green Bank (www.ctgreenbank.com) was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the USA’s first state-level green bank and has since supported the creation of nearly 30,000 green jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 77,000 families, businesses and nonprofits.

GoodLeap (goodleap.com) is a technology company delivering financing and software products for sustainable offerings, from solar panels and batteries to energy-efficient HVAC, heat pumps, roofing, windows and more.