Virtual power plants could ease growing strain on US electric grid

Energy-saving networks called “virtual power plants” are linking batteries, solar panels and smart devices in a growing number of homes across the US – but they face obstacles to reliably reducing electricity demand.

“You can create this massive resource that is really valuable to the grid,” says Ben Brown at Renew Home, a new company that plans to switch on what it says will be the largest such residential network in North America later this year. The firm…