As the PJM Interconnection grid struggles to meet soaring electricity demand, energy storage startup Base Power has launched its massive home battery systems in Illinois, offering cheaper electricity to residents. This move marks the company's first foray into the PJM territory, which spans Northern Virginia and other regions with high data center density. Base Power's approach is centered around a virtual power plant, where residential batteries are used to store energy when prices are low and dispatch it when the grid needs it most. With battery sizes starting at 25 kilowatt-hours, the company is able to offer rates 25% below those of utility ComEd in Illinois. By leveraging existing interconnections at residential homes, Base Power can deploy capacity quickly, avoiding the lengthy interconnection queues that have hindered other new generating sources. The company's timing is notable, given PJM's recent struggles to manage rising demand and its slow adoption of distributed energy storage technologies. With over 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage already operating in Texas, Base Power is well-positioned to make a significant impact on the PJM grid, and its recent $1 billion funding round has provided the necessary resources to drive its expansion.

Source: TechCrunch