Let's dig a little deeper into virtual power plants (VPPs) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 1H 15M

Let's dig a little deeper into virtual power plants (VPPs)

from Volts · host David Roberts

Everyone is talking about virtual power plants, but as I discuss with EnergyHub CEO Seth Frader-Thompson, not all VPPs are created equal. We get nerdy on the various stages of VPP maturity and the specific technical requirements that VPPs must meet to truly compete with conventional power plants rather than just acting as “enhanced demand response.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe

NOW PLAYING

Let's dig a little deeper into virtual power plants (VPPs)

0:00 1:15:18

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

A Climate Change with Matt Matern Matthew Matern A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a weekly show featuring influential guests from government, business, activism, academia, and culture. The show serves to inform its audience with a focus on environmental and climate issues. Join us as we commit to making "a climate change." Similar to these great podcasts: TED Climate, Reversing Climate Change, Climate One, My Climate Journey, Volts, America Adapts, & A Matter Of Degrees. Climate Papa Ben Eidelson At the intersection of climate change, technology, and parenthood. Climate Papa is a home for the climate dads, climate papas, and climate papis. The climate abbas, the climate babas, and climate tatas.We're here to gather folks sitting at the intersection of Emily Oster, Dr. Volts, Jason Jacobs, and Elad Gil. Maybe I’m the only one. Maybe there’s dozens of us. 7,000 Volts - Living the Electrified Life - LJ Tucker LJ Tucker LJ Tucker shares how he turned his life around and became a husband, father, and business owner. Explore topics such as family, faith, and entrepreneurship. A Climate Change with Matt Matern Matt Matern's Environmental Advocacy Podcast A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a weekly show featuring influential guests from government, business, activism, academia, and culture. The show serves to inform its audience with a focus on environmental and climate issues. Join us as we commit to making "a climate change." Similar to these great podcasts: TED Climate, Reversing Climate Change, Climate One, My Climate Journey, Volts, America Adapts, & A Matter Of Degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Volts?

This episode is 1 hour and 15 minutes long.

When was this Volts episode published?

This episode was published on January 21, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Everyone is talking about virtual power plants, but as I discuss with EnergyHub CEO Seth Frader-Thompson, not all VPPs are created equal. We get nerdy on the various stages of VPP maturity and the specific technical requirements that VPPs must meet...

Can I download this Volts episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!