Spanish electric utility Iberdrola is providing active demand response services (ADRSs) using technology from Colorado-based Generac Grid Services.

Using Generac’s Concerto platform, Iberdrola has built a virtual power plant (VPP) that has transitioned its provision of ADRSs, which started in November 2022, into an automated dispatch service.

Iberdrola selected Generac to be its VPP software provider via tender in late 2021. In the time since, the companies have been working together to aggregate solar generation and load from commercial and industrial facilities as well as smart homes across Spain to support stabilising grid frequency for Spanish transmission system operator, Red Eléctrica de España.

“The Concerto platform’s open ecosystem enables us to connect to and dispatch assets that leverage distinct communication interfaces,” said Rafael Bellido, head of flexibility at Iberdrola. “This helps Iberdrola generate value from a greater number of participating systems, therefore benefiting our customers while helping to keep the Spanish grid more reliable.”

Jan Peter Moree, vice president at Generac Grid Services, added: “Together, Generac Grid Services and Iberdrola are demonstrating the value of forecasting and optimising renewable generation. Having proven the value of leveraging clean solar generation in the ADRS market, we look forward to supporting Iberdrola as they create more opportunities for distributed energy resource owners and operators in Spain.”

Iberdrola and Generac are exploring ways to expand their collaboration. Together, the companies are looking to grow the number and type of distributed energy resources capable of providing flexible capacity and are specifically looking to incorporate electric vehicles and industrial loads into their portfolio. In addition, the companies are planning to extend this flexibility into markets beyond ADRS, with manual frequency restoration reserves expected to go live later this year.

Generac Grid Services is a subsidiary of Generac Power Systems, a designer and manufacturer of energy technology and other power products.

With more than 170 years of history, Iberdrola is one of the largest electricity companies in the world in terms of stock market capitalisation. The group supplies energy to around 100 million people in dozens of countries, employs more than 40,000 people, and has assets in excess of €150bn. Iberdrola has the objective of exceeding 52,000MW of renewable capacity by 2025.