Google-Backed Company Merger Eyes Massive Virtual Power Plant
In a bid to link millions of homes together to more effectively manage electricity, Nest Renew is joining forces with software company OhmConnect.
Homes in a subdivision in Atlanta, Georgia. Renew Home, a new company, will link millions of homes together as a virtual power plant to help improve grid reliability.
Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/BloombergNest Renew, a Google service that helps individuals optimize electricity consumption, and software company OhmConnect are merging in a bid to build a so-called virtual power plant that would improve grid reliability as more renewables come online.
OhmConnect pays users to reduce electricity consumption when energy demand is high. Nest Renew provides homes with a smart thermostat that automatically reduces energy usage when prices are high and prioritizes usage when renewable energy is available.