Latest news with #OpenADR
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
The Mobility House Energizes V2G Charging System for Fremont Unified School District's Electric School Bus Fleet
FREMONT, Calif. & BELMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--District and school administrators hosted a ceremony on August 7th to celebrate the successful implementation of their new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging system at the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Transportation Yard. The event was co-presented by The Mobility House, and included project partners World Resources Institute, Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara. 'We've already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community. Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too.' Share 'Electric school buses, with their large batteries and predictable schedules, have tremendous potential to support the electric grid with V2G,' said Gregor Hintler, CEO North America of The Mobility House. 'We are proud to provide the technology that enables the district to drive clean and support community energy resilience.' The commissioning represented phase one of a two-phase project which will include six bidirectional chargers, enabled for V2G participation in demand response with Pacific Gas & Electric's (PG&E) Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) by The Mobility House's ChargePilot® charge management system for fleets and utility-facing market aggregation platform. 'This project is a shining example of how innovation creates a cleaner, smarter energy future,' said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnership and Innovation, PG&E. 'We're proud to support Fremont USD and school districts across California as they convert to better, electrified student transportation.' Here's how it works: ChargePilot manages daily smart charging of the buses, controlled and monitored by the fleet operator in an intuitive online dashboard. The market aggregation platform receives notifications from PG&E of an upcoming load reduction event via OpenADR, and suggests optimal charging schedules based on the event and time-of-use electricity prices. ChargePilot adjusts charging optimization for the bus fleet to discharge power to reduce site load during the emergency event, while continuing to ensure vehicle readiness for departure on their next route. By participating in ELRP, the fleet can greatly offset charging costs, making operations more efficient and cost-effective. The Mobility House continuously develops its technical capabilities and programs to coordinate with utility programs for fleet vehicle-grid-integration and V2G in California and beyond, including demand response programs and dynamic rates available in other states including Massachusetts and New York. 'We've already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community,' said Ernest Epley, FUSD's Director of Transportation. 'Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too.' The V2G infrastructure project was funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission's Clean Transportation Program. About The Mobility House The Mobility House is dedicated to shaping a zero-emissions future in energy and mobility. The company provides resilient charging technology that is reliable and flexible, ensuring drivers can benefit from zero emissions and zero cost charging. By integrating flexible charging with energy systems, The Mobility House helps stabilize the grid with clean energy. The company currently manages more than 2,500 EV fleet charging facilities globally, charges hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles, and manages energy storage of more than 100 MWh. About the California Energy Commission The California Energy Commission is the state's main agency for energy policy and planning. It has seven key responsibilities: shaping state energy policy, promoting energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy sources, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies. For more details, visit
Techday NZ
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Techday NZ
Exclusive: Rolf Bienert discusses OpenADR Alliance's growth amid electrification shift
The rise in electric vehicle (EV) charging and the shift to electrified appliances are transforming how utilities manage energy – and the OpenADR Alliance is emerging as a key player in that change. OpenADR is a communications protocol that helps utilities and energy service providers automatically send price and event signals to devices at the customer end. Originally developed in California in response to energy crises in the early 2000s - the standard has evolved into a global tool for managing load on power grids. "EV charging was certainly a catalyst," said Rolf Bienert, managing and technical director of the OpenADR Alliance. "It drove utilities to speed things up. Before, it was nice to have, but now it's essential." "Back then, it was really just about peak load management," Bienert explained. "You had times when energy demand exceeded production, and you needed urgent load reduction. But that happened maybe five or six times a year." Now, however, the stakes are much higher and the use cases more widespread. "We've seen a huge uptick in electrification," he said. "You've got homes producing energy through rooftop solar, then turning around and consuming heavily via chargers. That's a big thing to juggle." The Alliance recently marked a milestone with the first certified products using its 3.0 standard – an upgrade from version 2.0 that Bienert says was necessary to modernise the system's technical backbone. "OpenADR 2.0 leaned heavily on XML, which is clunky for today's programmers," he said. "With 3.0, we moved to a more contemporary system using RESTful APIs and web services. That makes it much more flexible and easier to implement." The launch of certified 3.0 products helped shift perception from theory to reality. "When you have a new standard, the industry often leans back and waits," Bienert said. "But once a real product is out there, others pay attention. Suddenly, it's not just a document – it's working, it's deployed, and competitors are taking note." Among the companies adopting 3.0 is Evoke Energy Services Exchange, which uses a multi-tiered OpenADR architecture that Bienert described as unusually advanced. "They didn't just connect to the utility. They created a hierarchy within their own system," he said. "It's server-client, then new server, more clients. It allows fully interchangeable nodes – they can plug in any system that supports OpenADR, anywhere." The flexibility of 3.0 also allows for tailored implementations. "It can be as simple or as complex as you need," Bienert said. "In some cases, all you need is to send the current price – that's a few lines of code. But we also support more complex exchanges and new signal types for things like dynamic operating envelopes in Australia." Another major development is the Alliance's work with Matter, the home automation standard backed by major tech firms. "Matter brings a whole ecosystem of devices into the fold," Bienert said. "It lets utilities manage entire homes as one unit, rather than creating separate programmes for each device." In the UK, OpenADR is gaining traction through its collaboration with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on PAS 1878 – a government-backed framework for demand-side flexibility. "That was the first time a government agency really unravelled the entire use case," Bienert said. "From utility to device type, clearly defining objectives, signals and pathways. It helps the industry understand how this should work." Looking ahead, Bienert believes OpenADR has a central role to play in the global future of demand response and dynamic pricing. "Some experts in our working group say everything will just be dynamic pricing eventually," he said. "I can't say if that's true, but it does make some sense." The protocol offers advantages beyond pricing. It enables utilities to send emergency messages or load reduction requests without directly controlling customer equipment. "It's about security and simplicity," Bienert explained. "You don't want your control network reaching into customers' homes – that creates cyber risk and customer confusion. If something goes wrong, they'll call the utility, even if it's their own device." OpenADR can support a range of systems, from water heaters and EV chargers to building energy management. "The key is to let companies innovate for their customers," he said. "OpenADR provides the signals and leaves the implementation to them." Still, challenges remain. The biggest threat to adoption, according to Bienert, isn't competing standards – it's proprietary systems. "Companies say, 'Yeah, there are standards, but we'll just build our own API.' That fragments the market," he said. "It might help them own a segment briefly, but it can't grow." The Alliance is trying to overcome this by working closely with both utilities and manufacturers. "We want utilities to require OpenADR. We want manufacturers to see the flexibility of 3.0," Bienert said. As the energy sector navigates a historic transformation, OpenADR's goal is to be the backbone of intelligent, automated load management. "It's all about helping the grid, and the customers, keep pace with change."
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Shadow Power Announces OpenADR 2.0b Compliance
Shadow Power, a leader in customer energy resource (CERs) management, proudly announces that its platform is now OpenADR 2.0b certified. This milestone reinforces Shadow Power's ability to transform energy and utility markets by delivering automated, intelligent, and scalable distributed energy resource solutions that enhance grid reliability and optimize customer value. By achieving OpenADR 2.0b compliance, Shadow Power unlocks new capabilities for real-time demand response and distributed energy resource management, seamless integration with utility programs, and market-driven energy dispatch. This enables energy providers, businesses, and utilities to maximize distributed assets, increase financial returns, and enhance resilience in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. 'Shadow Power's OpenADR 2.0b certification is more than a milestone—it's a catalyst for innovation in energy markets,' said Clint Davis, Head of Grid Services at Shadow Power. 'By delivering reliable, automated, and scalable DER dispatch, we empower our partners to unlock the full potential of virtual power plants while ensuring cost-effective and seamless grid interactions.' 'The future of energy is dynamic, and OpenADR 2.0b compliance ensures Shadow Power remains at the forefront of enabling intelligent energy-as-a-service,' said Michael Ruehlman, Co-Founder and CEO of Shadow Power. 'Our ability to automate and optimize distributed resources strengthens both market participation and grid stability, delivering real value for energy providers and consumers alike.' Impact and Key Benefits of OpenADR 2.0b Compliance for Shadow Power Bi-Directional Energy-as-a-Service: Allows for two-way grid interaction, ensuring a sustainable and responsive energy future. Seamless Energy Market Integration: Enables real-time participation in demand response and distributed energy resource programs as well as wholesale energy market participation with minimal friction. Automated, Intelligent Dispatch of DERs: Enhances efficiency, optimizes grid services, and ensures reliable load balancing. Cost Optimization & Revenue Growth: Reduces operational costs while maximizing financial opportunities for energy providers and customers. Utility and Market Integrations Shadow Power's OpenADR-certified platform enables seamless integration with utilities and energy markets, automating demand response and supporting intelligent VPP expansion. This approach ensures enhanced resilience, flexibility, and financial viability in energy distribution and consumption. Shadow Power is pioneering the development of resilient, reliable power plants through the aggregation of distributed energy resources. By providing bi-directional energy-as-a-service, Shadow Power enables energy companies and their customers to optimize grid interactions, enhance energy reliability, and maximize the value of their assets. With advanced software solutions and a commitment to sustainability, Shadow Power is shaping the future of energy markets. Learn more at Co-Founder 169 Madison Ave #11407 New York, NY [email protected] P. (704) 796-0283 SOURCE: Shadow Power Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/25/2025 05:13 PM/DISC: 03/25/2025 05:12 PM
