Electrification is changing the distribution grid.
EVs, heat pumps, electric water heating, and other high-power residential loads are increasing electricity demand. Intelligent load management can help utilities accommodate more electrification using existing grid capacity more efficiently.
Additional U.S. peak-demand resources may be needed by 2030.
Potential electrification-driven distribution upgrades identified in a Berkeley Lab study of PG&E territory.
Estimated U.S. investor-owned utility distribution-system investment in 2024.
Share of U.S. peak demand DOE estimates could potentially be served by VPPs by 2030.
The electrification challenge
Electrification creates valuable new electricity demand, but unmanaged loads can concentrate demand at the same time and in the same locations.
Higher residential peak demand
EV charging, electric heating, water heating, and other high-power loads can overlap with existing household and system peaks.
Local transformer constraints
Electrification can create highly localized load growth, increasing stress on service transformers, secondary systems, and distribution feeders.
Expensive grid upgrades
New transformers, conductors, substations, and distribution capacity can require substantial capital investment and long planning timelines.
Timing matters
Berkeley Lab research shows that where and when EVs charge can significantly change the distribution-system impact of electrification.
Manage demand before building more infrastructure.
Grid-edge Power Control Systems and Energy Management Systems can make flexible residential loads more responsive to available electrical capacity.
Reduce coincident peaks
EV charging and other flexible loads can be reduced, paused, or shifted when electrical demand is high.
Protect local capacity
Local load management can help keep homes and connected equipment within defined electrical capacity limits.
Defer upgrades
Demand flexibility can become a non-wires alternative that may reduce or defer some distribution capacity upgrades.
Enable more EV adoption
Managed charging can allow more EV charging load to use existing electrical infrastructure efficiently.
Support demand-response programs
With future utility communication and program integration, flexible devices can respond to utility or grid conditions.
Build toward VPP participation
Aggregated flexible loads can potentially participate in broader utility demand-flexibility and Virtual Power Plant programs.
Managed EV charging can create measurable grid value.
In an NREL simulation involving three million EVs with 50% optimized charging, managed charging reduced peak demand and produced substantial system savings.
From one home to a flexible grid resource.
ZigTech's long-term opportunity is to connect intelligent residential load management with utility demand-flexibility programs.
Home
EV chargers and other flexible electrical loads.
ZigTech PCS
Monitors available capacity and manages connected loads locally.
Aggregation
Multiple participating homes can potentially provide coordinated load flexibility.
Utility
Demand response, peak management, grid planning, and future VPP opportunities.
Electrification without unmanaged load growth.
ZigTech believes residential electrification and grid reliability should advance together. By making flexible electrical loads intelligent at the grid edge, utilities can potentially serve more electrification while extracting greater value from existing distribution infrastructure.
Let's build a more flexible grid.
ZigTech welcomes collaboration with utilities on residential electrification, managed charging, demand flexibility, demonstration projects, and pilot programs.
Connect with ZigTech