How Google is building a gigawatt-scale power plant—without building a power plant

Google’s new virtual power plant deal appears to be the largest of its kind from a hyperscaler.

[Source Images: Google and Getty Images]

As hyperscalers pour billions of dollars into new power plants for data centers, Google is also investing in something different: making better use of the existing grid.

The tech giant announced a new deal today for a gigawatt-sized virtual power plant (VPP), which appears to be the largest deal of its kind from a hyperscaler. The approach shrinks overall power demand at key moments. Voltus, Google’s partner, pays businesses and homeowners to use less electricity at times of day when the grid is under strain. A big box store might automatically adjust its thermostat by a couple of........

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