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.
By
03 Jul 2026
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
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. As demand for electricity ramps …
