Master Speaker Session: How the Solar and Utility Industries Work Together to Brighten the Outlook for VPPs

Even if the company has ‘sun’ in the name, it’s a safe bet it has already moved beyond a solar-only offering. As solar installers evolve to incorporate grid-edge resources beyond rooftop generation, major utilities face a mass electrification movement that promises to significantly increase system load by decade’s end. In this Master Speaker Series, solar pioneer Jigar Shah sits down with Duke Energy customer solutions executive Lon Huber to discuss why the solar industry should be the “virtual power plant” industry and how NEM 3.0 and other changes can usher in a new era of utility and solar industry partnership. They will explore the standards utilities expect before deploying VPPs on their systems, how changing compensation structures inform system design and consumer DER purchases, what the utility customer experience should look like, and why VPPs will matter for all Americans regardless of economic status.