Summary
- Sunrun and BGE are operating the nation’s first vehicle-to-home power plant using bidirectional electric vehicles
- Three Sunrun customers with Ford F-150 Lightning trucks are participating in the program
- Sunrun is monitoring the enrolled vehicles to share stored energy during peak demand times
- The program aims to reduce demand on the grid and create a more reliable energy system in Maryland
- Sunrun plans to expand the program to offer incentives for existing F-150 Lightning owners and explore vehicle-to-grid capabilities
Article
Sunrun Inc. has launched a pioneering program that showcases how bidirectional electric vehicle charging can help alleviate demand on the electrical grid and create additional value for participants. The program, in partnership with Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), involves a small group of customer-owned Ford F-150 Lightning trucks delivering power to their homes during peak demand times. This initiative marks the nation’s first vehicle-to-home power plant, with one of the participants being Brian Foreman from Howard County, Maryland. Foreman was the first person in the country to power his home with energy from his electric vehicle’s battery while the grid was operating normally.
Sunrun’s CEO, Mary Powell, highlights the significance of the program as a proof of concept that can potentially be expanded nationwide. By using electric vehicles to support grid resiliency and utility price stability, the initiative aims to demonstrate the use of stored energy in electric vehicles for capacity during peak energy consumption. BGE was awarded grant funding from the Department of Energy to create an electric vehicle virtual power plant, with Sunrun as the partner developing and administering the program. This collaboration aims to reduce demand on the grid and create a more reliable and resilient energy system for all BGE customers in Maryland.
Enrolled F-150 Lightning trucks are being monitored by Sunrun as they contribute stored energy to customers’ homes during specific dispatch windows. Customers will receive payments based on the amount of energy shared, estimated to be around $800 over the four-month program. The initiative aligns with Maryland’s net-zero emissions goals and showcases how vehicle-to-grid programs can support grid efficiency and reliability using distributed energy resources. Sunrun has an existing partnership with Ford Motor Company for bidirectional power technology, allowing customers to use their electric trucks to provide backup power during outages and potentially generate revenue.
State Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo applauds the collaboration between Sunrun, Ford, and BGE, positioning Maryland as a leader in vehicle-to-home innovation. The program aims to expand beyond vehicle-to-home capabilities to develop direct vehicle-to-grid capabilities, allowing energy from electric vehicles to be shared throughout a community. By understanding the behaviors and preferences of electric vehicle owners, Sunrun and BGE plan to scale the program and offer incentives for existing F-150 Lightning owners to adopt bidirectional charging. The long-term goal is to demonstrate the potential of bidirectional electric vehicles in the clean energy transition and to collaborate with other utilities nationwide.
BGE, Maryland’s largest natural gas and electric utility, has been at the forefront of this innovative program, partnering with Sunrun to unlock the potential benefits of vehicle-to-grid technology. The collaboration combines the strengths of each organization to benefit ratepayers and contribute to the clean energy transition. Sunrun’s Head of Grid Services, Chris Rauscher, emphasizes the role that virtual power plants with bidirectional electric vehicles will play in the future of clean energy. The success of this program is a step towards achieving ambitious climate goals and showcasing the innovative solutions that can start right in the homes of Marylanders.
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