Enphase offers push-based data streaming to partners via its VPP API in under 1 minute
On special request, the company provides access to its system data and device errors to European VPP partners
It expands its excess solar curtailment feature through VPP API across Europe
Enphase Energy, Inc., a well-known microinverter and solar plus storage solution provider, broadened its support for virtual power plant (VPP) services in Europe.
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) combines PV installations, battery storages, and diesel generators (DGs), among others, on a single virtual platform. Without being physically located in one place, these energy resources are monitored and controlled by the VPP to optimize generation, storage, and consumption of electricity.
The company offers ‘one-minute data streaming’ for Europe’s VPP service providers.
Unlike the standard VPP, where the data of the participated distributed energy resources are pulled by the aggregators in real-time via an application programming interface (API), this function pushes the data every minute. In a communication system, API is a protocol and a set of defined rules that allow communication and interaction between multiple software applications. The company states this faster data streaming provides VPP aggregators with detailed data on energy and power, including energy production and consumption from solar, the status of connected battery, and grid import or export units (energy), in reduced response time. This feature, which Enphase expects to make the operation of the VPP fast and smart, is available on a monthly subscription basis.
The company, upon request from the VPP partners, now offers access to its participating system’s data and details of device errors. Having access to these data, according to the company, enables partners to quickly address fault-related issues than standard alternatives, thereby enhancing the VPP efficiency.
In addition, the company extends its ‘home solar curtailment’ feature to aggregators through the VPP API across Europe. It helps in stabilizing the distribution grid during excess energy generation or negative grid electricity prices.
Lastly, the Enphase Energy system, when paired with IQ Energy Router, offers control of major household loads, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs), via VPP API. The company emphasizes that this integrated control shifts the use of energy to non-peak hours or during abundant solar generation.
The company added that last year, thousands of European homes with IQ series batteries and Enphase Energy Systems, were integrated with regional smart tariff programs. These homes span the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, and Belgium.
