Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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BLUETTI just dropped something really big. The new Apex 300 is here, and it’s BLUETTI’s most advanced, modular power station to date. It’s made to grow with you, whether you need backup for your home, juice for your RV, or power for your off-grid setup.
And it just launched on Indiegogo on May 20 at 8am PDT, so if you’re interested in living with more energy independence (or just want to keep your fridge running during a blackout), you’ll want to check this out.
BLUETTI Apex 300: big power in a portable package
At its core, the BLUETTI Apex 300 gives you 2,764.8Wh of energy and a solid 3,840W output. But here’s where it gets interesting: it supports both 120V and 240V split-phase power from a single unit. That means you don’t need two machines or fancy adapters to run heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners, pool pumps, or even a Tesla EV (via 12,000W bypass charging). Just flip a switch. Boom. Done.
True whole-home backup, minus the complication
Ever wish your home could keep running without some noisy generator kicking in? The Apex 300 delivers just that, thanks to 12,000W/50A bypass power and a true 0ms UPS switchover. That means your lights, fridge, CPAP, and wifi stay powered without skipping a beat.
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Plus, with ultra-low idle drain at just 20W – that’s just one-third of what’s typical in its class – it sips power instead of guzzling it, keeping a fridge running up to 24 hours longer than typical systems and doubling the runtime of devices like CPAP machines.
Build the power system of your dreams
One Apex 300 is great. But if you want serious, off-grid energy independence? Stack up to three Apex 300s and add up to 18 B300K expansion batteries. That’s up to 58,000Wh of home battery backup power – enough to run your entire home for a week.
And when you plug into BLUETTI’s whole ecosystem, like the AT1 Smart Distribution Box, the Apex 300 automatically manages your home’s power during peak hours, extreme weather, and grid outages.
Generator charging: Your rainy-day plan C
For regions prone to extended blackouts, batteries can still run low – and if the sun isn’t shining? That’s where generators come in. The Apex 300 features built-in 50A charging ports that support 120/240V generator input using a single 30A or 50A cable. With a 3,840W input, it can fully recharge in just 65 minutes. When connected in parallel, it supports up to 11,520W of generator charging – providing even more flexibility for larger power needs in most home battery backup scenarios.
Why bother? While many gas generators adjust their engine speed, they still struggle to match your appliances’ real-time power needs, meaning energy still goes to waste. A hybrid setup, like pairing a generator with the Apex 300, captures and stores that power for later use. The bonus? You can switch off the generator and enjoy some well-earned quiet time.
RV-ready, road-trip approved
For vanlifers, overlanders, and full-time RVers, the Apex 300 is a game changer. It comes with NEMA TT-30R and 14-50R ports built right in, so you can plug into shore power – no adapter needed. Or use it as a mobile campground power source that can directly charge your entire RV, saving on costly campground power fees. While on the move, the Apex 300 can be quickly recharged by pairing foldable solar panels with the Car DC-to-DC Charger 1, delivering up to 1,760W of input power – enough to fully recharge the battery in as little as 1.8 hours without needing shore power.
Solar-powered savings (and speed)
With the optional SolarX 4K Charge Controller, the Apex 300 can handle up to 6,400W of solar input. When you connect three Apex 300 units in parallel – each paired with a SolarX 4K and linked via the AT1 – the total input power soars to an astonishing 30,720W, making it one of the fastest-charging, highest-capacity solar setups in the portable power station market.
Thanks to BLUETTI’s dual MPPT TurboBoost technology, you’ll reach 80% charge in just 40 minutes. Over time, this powerful combo of the Apex 300 and SolarX 4K essentially pays for itself – typically within two years – through peak shaving and optimized solar efficiency.
It’s built to last (like, 17 years)
The Apex 300 uses 2nd-gen automotive-grade LiFePO4 cells, giving it a 6,000-cycle lifespan – that’s up to 17 years of daily use. It’s also hot-swappable, so you can pull a battery to go camping without taking apart your whole system.
And because it’s 40% more energy-dense than typical models, it saves on space, too. Whether you’re sliding it under a bed in your camper or parking it in your garage, it’s built to go the distance – and go quietly, cleanly, and safely.
Smart features, simple control
From the BLUETTI app, you can do everything: set load priorities, enable extreme weather alerts, and even program auto-start for your generator. This is true mobile-first energy management andis surprisingly easy to use.
Plus, the system gets smarter with AI-powered over-the-air updates, so you’re always running the latest and greatest.
What’s so great about the BLUETTI Apex 300
There’s really nothing else like the Apex 300. It’s portable, powerful, modular, and smart – and it’s the first to combine 12,000W bypass capacity with plug-and-play usability and grid-tied smarts. It’s also one of the most cost-effective systems out there, with the fastest solar payback of just two years when paired with BLUETTI’s SolarX 4K system.
And thanks to its plug-and-play design and mobile-first setup, it’s easy to install and manage.
If you’re bracing for hurricane-related power outages or gearing up for summer RV trips, the Apex 300 delivers a practical, reliable solution for real-world energy needs.
As for the standout deal? That would be the Apex 300 + B300K bundle – just $0.36 per watt-hour. Or, as some like to say, $900 to grab the 2.7kWh Apex 300, with tax and shipping already baked in. Quantities are limited, and here’s a nice bonus: installment plans are now on the table.
BLUETTI is a dedicated advocate for sustainability, integrating ESG principles throughout product design and corporate initiatives. Through impactful projects like LAAF (Light An African Family), BLUETTI provides affordable, sustainable energy solutions to communities across Africa. By partnering with Leave No Trace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BLUETTI supports responsible outdoor recreation through clean energy solutions that minimize environmental footprints. This blend of craftsmanship, reliability, and a focus on real-world needs is what makes BLUETTI trusted in over 110 countries and regions.
The first BMW EVs powered by all-solid-state batteries are now on the road for testing. BMW used an i7 to test the “holy grail” of EV battery tech, promising longer driving range at a lower cost.
BMW tests first EVs with all-solid-state batteries
BMW hit a milestone on Monday after completing its first on-road tests using Solid Power’s all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells.
Often called the “holy grail” of EV battery technology, ASSBs promise significantly higher energy density than current batteries. Since they can pack higher energy density into a smaller space, all-solid-state batteries have the potential to boost driving range at a lower cost.
The i7 test vehicle is based on BMW’s current Gen 5 architecture, using new prismatic cells in modules. To integrate Solid Power’s ASSB cells, BMW modified the platform using new module concepts.
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BMW and Solid Power have been working together since 2022 to advance the new EV battery tech. In December 2022, BMW revealed plans to license Solid Power’s tech for a new solid cell prototype line at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf.
BMW i7 equipped with all-solid-state EV battery cells from Solid Power (Source: BMW Group)
The German automaker will continue to test sulfide-based electrolytes in solid-state battery packs over the next few months.
BMW i7 equipped with all-solid-state EV battery cells from Solid Power (Source: BMW Group)
BMW follows Mercedes-Benz, which announced in February it had put “the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road” through its partnership with US-based Factorial Energy.
Mercedes used a modified EQS, fitted with solid-state batteries. With an expected 40% weight savings compared to current Li-ion batteries, Factorial aims to unlock over 600 miles of driving range.
Mercedes EQS modified with a solid-state battery (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
The milestone also comes after Martin Schuster, BMW Group’s vice president of next-generation battery tech, told Autocar in February that solid-state batteries were still too expensive and that current lithium-ion batteries have “a long way to go.”
Electrek’s Take
German automakers are not the only ones advancing the promising new battery tech. Global battery leaders CATL and BYD are also expected to launch EVs with all-solid-state batteries over the next few years.
Sun Huajun, the CTO of BYD’s battery business (Shenzhen BYD Lithium Battery Co), said earlier this year that the company expects its first EVs with all-solid-state batteries to arrive in 2027. Production will be limited for the first two years, but by 2030, BYD expects ASSBs to enter the mass market.
In the initial phase, BYD will use a sulfide-based solution in some of its higher-end models. Like BYD, CATL reportedly plans to begin production of all-solid-state EV batteries in 2027, but in small volumes.
Several others, including Hyundai, Nissan, Stellantis, Toyota, and Honda, are racing to develop the next generation of EV batteries.
Which will be the first to launch all-solid-state EV batteries on a mass scale? CATL and BYD already lead the market by a wide margin, but others are quickly advancing with on-road testing. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
File: The wind farm in the Baltic Sea 35 kilometres northeast of Rügen is a joint venture of the Essen-based energy group Eon and the Norwegian shareholder Equinor.
Bernd Wüstneck | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Norwegian energy company Equinor will resume construction on its offshore wind farm in New York, after the Trump administration lifted its order to halt work on the project.
Empire Wind 1 will be the first offshore wind project to deliver electricity directly to New York City. The Interior Department under the Biden administration approved the project last year after Equinor signed a lease issued by the department in 2017.
But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered construction on Empire Wind to stop on April 16, alleging the Biden administration rushed the project’s approval “without sufficient analysis or consultation among the relevant agencies as relates to the potential effects.”
The stop-work order had raised fears among investors that the White House might target other wind projects that had already been permitted and approved.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday evening that Burgum and President Donald Trump agreed to lift the stop-work order and allow the project to move forward “after countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials.” Empire Wind supports 1,500 union jobs, Hochul said.
Equinor said it aims to execute planned installation activities this year and minimize the impact of the stop-work order in order to reach its goal of starting commercial operations in 2027.
Apparent natural gas compromise
Burgum said he was encouraged by Hochul’s “willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity.”
“Americans who live in New York and New England would see significant economic benefits and lower utility costs from increased access to reliable, affordable, clean American natural gas,” the Interior secretary said in a post on social media platform X.
Hochul did not mention natural gas in her statement, though she “reaffirmed that New York will work with the Administration and private entities on new energy projects that meet the legal requirements” under state law. New York has a history of opposing new natural gas pipelines.
Trump has targeted the wind industry, despite his agenda calling for the U.S. to achieve energy dominance. The president issued an executive order on his first day in office that barred new leases for offshore wind in U.S. waters and ordered a review of leasing and permitting practices.
Trump has a long history of attacking wind turbines, arguing that they kill birds and cost more than they generate in revenue. He posted more than 150 times about wind across Twitter, X and Truth Social since 2012, according to a CNBC review of his posts.
Empire Wind 1 started construction in the spring of 2024 and is more than 30% complete. Equinor has invested $2.5 billion in the project so far. The company is planning to build 54 turbines that are up to 910 feet tall. Empire Wind 1 will generate 810 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power half a million homes, according to Equinor.
Equinor Chief Financial Officer Torgrim Reitan called the Trump administration’s order to stop work unlawful, extraordinary and unprecedented during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 30.
“We have complied with this order. However, the order did not include any information about the alleged deficiencies in the approval,” Reitan said.
Three other offshore wind projects are under construction in the U.S. all located on the Eastern Seaboard. They are Revolution and Sunrise Wind in New England and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.
Dominion Energy is confident Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind will continue to move forward, CEO Robert Blue said on the company’s May 1 earnings call. It is 55% complete and will deliver electricity in early 2026, Blue said.
Orsted remains fully committed to Revolution and Sunrise Wind, CEO Rasmus Errboe said on the company’s May 7 earnings call. Revolution and Sunrise are about 75% and 35% complete respectively, Errboe said.