Why this works and why it makes sense?

We know battery owners value control, transparency, and energy independence. So, how does connecting to a VPP serve those goals? 

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Energy independence isn’t about isolation - it’s about taking control. 

Going off-grid might seem like the ultimate symbol of independence but it can limit your flexibility, increase your costs, and reduce your resilience. Energy independence isn’t just about disconnecting from the grid, it’s about having control over when you buy, store, and use energy. 
 

A well-run VPP lets you: 

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• Charge your battery when prices are low or solar is abundant 

• Discharge when prices are high or demand is peaking 

• Reduce your grid reliance – not by disconnecting, but by engaging on your own terms 

 

This means more control, more choice, and often, better financial outcomes. 

 

The same means to different ends

Many people may feel uneasy about handing control of their battery over to energy retailers or DNSPs. It may be true that different stakeholders work to different ends, but the means to those ends are often more aligned than you might think. Consider the following. 

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Midday (solar peak): 

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• You want to charge your battery with your rooftop solar. 

• Retailers don’t need the surplus energy and want to avoid paying feed-in tariffs. 

• DNSPs want to reduce grid congestion and maintain grid stability. 

 

Everyone agrees: Charge the battery, don’t supply to the grid. 

 

Evening (demand peak): 

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• You may want to use your battery to avoid buying expensive electricity. 

• Retailers want you to discharge so they don’t have to buy high-cost wholesale energy. 

• DNSPs want more energy injected locally to off-load and stabilise the network. 

 

Again, aligned: Discharge the battery.

 

In these cases, while the motivations are different, the actions that benefit all stakeholders are much the same. Delegating (limited) control to a trusted VPP or aggregator, isn’t giving up your independence; rather, it’s amplifying your advantage as these systems: 

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• Respond faster to market signals 

• Optimise charge/discharge cycles 

• Maximise returns with less effort 

 

They’re often more effective than manual operation. 

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If the actions align, then why is control necessary in the first place?

Because without it, the electricity market is flying blind - unable to coordinate or fully harness the potential of thousands of distributed batteries. By opting in, you're not just supporting the grid - you're making sure you’re first in line when value is created. ​​​

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But not everyone values the same things

True. Not all battery owners have the same objectives. When battery owners are more focused on resilience, autonomy, or minimising grid reliance, that’s where the desired actions can diverge. 

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• You may prefer to keep your battery charged for self-use at other times and in case of an outage for example, but the VPP may want to discharge it during peak events. 

• You may not care about market prices, but the VPP might schedule your battery based on price signals. 

• You may want to limit exports, while the VPP optimises for maximum grid value. 

 

In these cases, your objectives may conflict with those of the VPP’s optimisation strategy. 

 

So How Do You Manage That? 

If you value self-sufficiency over cost reduction, make sure your VPP provider:

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• Is transparent about when and why they’ll discharge your battery 

• Allows custom reserve settings and opt-out options, including for certain event types 

• Doesn’t lock you into usage patterns that conflict with your values 

• Offers clear, fair compensation for any energy they use from your battery 

 

A good VPP should let you choose whether to maximise return, maximise autonomy, or balance the two - with no surprises. 

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VPP providers we can work with 

We can support customers joining any VPP program so long as the right documentation is provided. 

Jump to here to get started.