Leap Powers National Grid’s Virtual Power Plant Initiative in Massachusetts - CleanTechnica

National Grid, one of the largest energy utilities, has expanded its collaboration with Leap to implement virtual power plant (VPP) solutions at selected facilities in Massachusetts, following a successful pilot in New York. Using Leap’s software-only platform, National Grid’s office buildings will participate in Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Standard and ConnectedSolutions programs, which incentivize reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods. This initiative aims to enhance grid reliability, lower carbon emissions, and support the state’s climate goals by leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and HVAC systems to balance grid demand without relying heavily on fossil-fueled peaker plants. The collaboration highlights the growing role of grid-interactive buildings as valuable resources in the energy transition. National Grid’s Vice President of New England Operations emphasized the importance of demonstrating distributed energy solutions’ critical role in advancing clean energy and resilience. Leap’s technology aggregates DER loads into virtual power plants, enabling participation in energy markets and helping to reduce customer costs