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Featured in The power puzzle – 06 – 2026

The aggregation imperative

Grid operators across the United States face an unprecedented dual challenge of surging electricity demand from data centers and frequent extreme weather events. These grid strains are forcing a structural shift in the US energy market, and decentralized generation capacity aggregated under virtual power plants (VPPs) is entering the mainstream.
Ryan Kennedy
By
Ryan Kennedy
VPPs have faced tough real-world tests in Puerto Rico, where frequent load shedding mean solar and storage are prized for their ability to step in when power lines fail. | Image: Daniella Cheslow

Europe’s split grid infrastructure and lack of central planning mean it fails to use its renewables. It is stuck in volatile prices driven by reliance on imported fossil fuels. Treating the system as one network rather than separate national grids would unlock PV, storage and wind, says Christian Kjaer, executive director at Supergrid Europe. For …

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