June 2026

What Is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP)? How Home Battery Owners Can Earn Money While Supporting the Grid

If you already have solar and battery storage or you’re planning to install a system, you may be able to earn additional income simply by allowing your battery to support the electric grid when it’s needed most.

Through Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs, homeowners across the country are turning their energy storage systems into valuable grid resources while maintaining reliable backup power for their homes. With Fortress Power EnergyBroker, participating in a utility battery program is simple. Eligible homeowners can enroll in available programs, earn incentives, and let their battery work automatically behind the scenes.

What Is a Virtual Power Plant?

A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a network of connected home battery systems that utilities can temporarily draw from during periods of high electricity demand.

Instead of relying solely on traditional power plants to meet spikes in demand, utilities can dispatch energy from thousands of distributed battery systems. This helps stabilize the grid, reduce strain during peak demand, and improve overall energy reliability.

When your Fortress Power battery participates in a Virtual Power Plant program, only a portion of your stored energy is used during scheduled dispatch events. In return, you receive financial incentives from your local utility. The process is completely automated through your Fortress Power system and Guardian monitoring platform—no manual action is required.

How Do Virtual Power Plant Programs Work?

Every utility program is slightly different, but the overall process is simple:

Install a qualifying Fortress Power battery system.
Enroll in an eligible utility battery program through EnergyBroker.
Your utility schedules dispatch events during periods of high grid demand.
Your battery automatically exports a portion of its stored energy.
You earn incentives based on your participation.

Many homeowners never notice when a dispatch event occurs because the system handles everything automatically.

How Much Can You Earn?

Virtual Power Plant incentives vary depending on your state, utility, and program structure. Some utilities provide:

Upfront installation incentives
Annual participation payments
Performance-based incentives
Monthly bill credits
A combination of multiple incentive types

For example, homeowners participating in Vermont’s Green Mountain Power Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program may qualify for substantial upfront incentives. Other states, such as Arizona, reward customers based on battery performance during summer dispatch events.

As new utility battery programs continue to launch nationwide, opportunities for homeowners continue to grow.

Will I Still Have Backup Power?

One of the most common concerns homeowners have is whether participating in a Virtual Power Plant leaves them without backup power during an outage. Most utility programs maintain a battery reserve—often around 20%—that remains untouched. This means your battery still provides backup power when your home needs it.

In addition, Fortress Power’s intelligent monitoring helps ensure your battery is prepared for severe weather and outage conditions whenever possible.

Will I Still Have Backup Power?

In addition, Fortress Power’s intelligent monitoring helps ensure your battery is prepared for severe weather and outage conditions whenever possible.

What Happens During a Dispatch Event?

A dispatch event occurs when your utility requests stored energy from participating battery systems.

These events typically happen during:

Extremely hot summer afternoons
High electricity demand periods
Grid reliability events
Peak energy pricing windows

Depending on the utility program, dispatch events may last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Because the process is automated, homeowners don’t need to monitor or control anything manually.

Which Fortress Power Systems Qualify?

All Fortress Power batteries and inverters are approved for participation in available EnergyBroker programs. No additional hardware is required beyond your standard Fortress Power system and Guardian monitoring. Eligibility ultimately depends on your state’s utility requirements, but qualifying homeowners may be able to enroll immediately after installation.

Why Participate in a Utility Battery Program?

Beyond earning incentives, Virtual Power Plants provide meaningful benefits for both homeowners and the electric grid.

Generate Additional Value: Your battery doesn’t just provide backup power—it can also generate recurring financial benefits through eligible utility programs.

Improve Grid Reliability: Participating batteries help utilities manage periods of high demand, reducing stress on the electric grid.

Reduce Peak Demand: Virtual Power Plants help decrease reliance on expensive and higher-emission peaker plants that are traditionally used during demand spikes.

Support Renewable Energy: Battery storage allows renewable energy generated during the day to be stored and dispatched when electricity demand is highest, making the grid cleaner and more efficient.

What Is Fortress Power EnergyBroker?

EnergyBroker is Fortress Power’s Virtual Power Plant platform that connects eligible homeowners with available utility battery programs.

Through EnergyBroker, homeowners can:

Discover available incentive programs in their state
Enroll with participating utilities
Receive ongoing performance reports
Track incentive payments
Automatically participate in dispatch events

The platform works seamlessly with Fortress Power batteries and Guardian monitoring, creating a simple experience from enrollment through ongoing participation.

Is a VPP Program Right For You?

If you’re planning a new battery installation—or your utility allows existing systems to enroll—a Virtual Power Plant program can increase the long-term value of your energy storage investment.

With automated participation, protected backup reserves, and the opportunity to earn utility incentives, VPP programs allow homeowners to do more with the battery system they already own. As utilities continue expanding these programs across the United States, now is an excellent time to explore what’s available in your area.

Ready to see if your state offers a Virtual Power Plant program? Visit the Fortress Power EnergyBroker page to explore available utility incentives and learn how to enroll.

Why More Businesses Are Investing in Commercial Energy Storage

Blog, Solar Batteries

For years, energy storage solutions largely fell into two categories: residential systems designed for homes and large-scale systems built for utility projects. But what about the businesses in between?

Schools, restaurants, dealerships, agricultural operations, municipal facilities, and small manufacturing sites often face many of the same energy challenges as larger organizations, yet traditional commercial energy storage solutions can be too complex, oversized, or expensive for their needs. As utility costs continue to rise and energy demands increase, more businesses are turning to commercial energy storage to reduce costs, improve resilience, and gain greater control over how they use power.

The Growing Need for Commercial Energy Storage

Commercial and industrial (C&I) facilities are under increasing pressure to manage energy expenses. Whether it’s a school adding new technology, a dealership installing EV chargers, or a restaurant operating during peak utility rate periods, energy consumption continues to grow while utility rates become more complex.

Many businesses are discovering that their electric bill isn’t just about how much energy they consume. It’s also about when and how they use it. This is where energy storage can create significant value. By storing energy and intelligently deploying it when it’s needed most, battery systems can help businesses reduce operating costs while improving energy reliability.

Understanding Demand Charges

One of the biggest drivers behind commercial energy storage adoption is demand charges. Unlike residential utility bills, many commercial customers are charged not only for the energy they use but also for their highest periods of power demand.

A brief spike in electricity usage can result in substantial demand charges that impact the entire month’s utility bill. For businesses with fluctuating energy usage, these charges can become a significant operating expense. Commercial battery storage systems help address this challenge through a strategy known as peak shaving.

How Peak Shaving Helps Lower Energy Costs

Peak shaving allows businesses to reduce their reliance on grid power during periods of high demand. Rather than pulling all of that energy from the utility, the battery discharges stored energy to help support the facility’s load. The result is a lower peak demand reading and, in many cases, lower utility costs.

This approach can be especially valuable for:

Schools and educational facilities
Car dealerships with EV charging infrastructure
Agricultural operation
Quick-service restaurants
Manufacturing facilities
Municipal buildings

For many of these organizations, reducing demand charges can significantly improve the return on investment of an energy storage system.

Beyond Peak Shaving: Additional Value Streams

Commercial energy storage isn’t limited to demand reduction. Many businesses also use battery systems to support time-of-use energy management, charging batteries when electricity costs are lower and discharging them when rates increase.

Others use battery storage to improve resilience during outages, ensuring critical operations remain powered when the grid is unavailable. Some facilities participate in utility demand response or virtual power plant programs, creating additional opportunities to generate value from their energy assets. The most successful projects often combine multiple strategies, allowing businesses to maximize the financial and operational benefits of energy storage.

The Challenge: Finding the Right-Sized Solution

While the benefits of energy storage are clear, many businesses fall into an underserved segment of the market. Residential systems may not provide enough capacity or flexibility, while utility-scale solutions can introduce unnecessary complexity and cost. Many small commercial facilities need something in between: a solution designed specifically for light commercial and small C&I applications. That’s where purpose-built systems become essential.

Introducing the eSpire Nano

The Fortress Power eSpire Nano was developed to address the growing demand for right-sized commercial energy storage. Designed for light commercial and small C&I applications, the system combines scalable battery storage with flexible inverter options to support a wide range of projects.

From schools and municipal facilities to retail locations and agricultural operations, eSpire Nano provides a practical path to commercial energy storage without the complexity often associated with larger systems. The platform supports both 208V and 480V three-phase applications, AC and DC coupling, generator integration, backup power, demand charge reduction, and time-of-use optimization. Its modular architecture allows installers to configure systems based on each customer’s specific requirements while maintaining room for future expansion.

Simplifying Commercial Energy Storage

As commercial energy storage continues to evolve, businesses are looking for solutions that deliver measurable value without unnecessary complexity. The ability to reduce demand charges, manage utility costs, improve resilience, and support future energy goals is no longer limited to large enterprises.

With solutions like the Fortress Power eSpire Nano, commercial energy storage is becoming more accessible to the businesses that need it most. For installers and energy professionals, that creates new opportunities to help customers take control of their energy future while building projects that deliver long-term value. Learn more today.

Puerto Rico Airport Expands Renewable Energy Infrastructure with Fortress Power eSpire

Blog, Case Studies, Solar Batteries

Major infrastructure facilities are turning to energy storage to support renewable integration, improve power quality, and strengthen operational resilience. A newly completed project at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport demonstrates how battery energy storage is becoming a critical component of large-scale clean energy deployments. Airport operator Aerostar Puerto Rico recently unveiled a $14 million renewable project featuring 4,000 high-efficiency solar panels and two Fortress Power eSpire battery energy storage systems.

The project marks another step in Aerostar’s ongoing sustainability initiatives while helping support critical airport operations with cleaner, more resilient energy.

A Large-Scale Solar Investment

Installed atop a solar carport structure approximately 113,200 square feet, the 4,000-panel system is designed to generate clean energy for passenger-serving areas and key operational facilities. The system includes:

2 MW DC solar capacity
4,000 photovoltaic solar panels
Estimated production of 245,000 kWh per month
2,940 MWh of clean energy annually

According to Aerostar, the environmental impact is equivalent to planting approximately 100,000 trees. It’s also expected to prevent more than 2,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Why Energy Storage Matters

While solar generation is often the most visible part of an energy project, energy storage plays an increasingly important role behind the scenes. To support the installation, the airport incorporated two eSpire battery systems. Each provides 280 kWh of storage capacity.

The eSpire systems help:

Stabilize the airport’s internal electrical network
Improve power quality
Support renewable energy integration
Enhance operational resilience
Maximize the value of on-site solar generation

For facilities that operate around the clock, maintaining stable and reliable power is critical. Energy storage helps ensure renewable energy can be utilized more effectively while supporting overall system performance.

Supporting Critical Infrastructure

Airports are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the world. They use reliable power for passenger services, security systems, communications, operations, and support infrastructure.By combining solar generation with battery storage, Aerostar created a more flexible energy ecosystem capable of supporting both sustainability goals and operational requirements.

The project was also engineered to meet the demanding conditions of Puerto Rico’s coastal environment, including compliance with local building codes and standards related to hurricane-force wind loads.

The Growing Role of Battery Storage

As C&I facilities continue to invest in renewable energy, battery storage is becoming a key part of modern energy infrastructure. Projects like the one at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport show how energy storage can improve reliability, support sustainability goals, and maximize energy investments. In addition, it helps critical infrastructure bridge the gap between clean energy generation and dependable power delivery.

Meanwhile, energy storage technology continues to evolve. Businesses are looking for solutions that deliver measurable value without unnecessary complexity. Today, reducing demand charges, managing utility costs, improving resilience, and supporting future energy goals are priorities for organizations of all sizes. As a result, energy storage is becoming an increasingly important tool for long-term energy management.

Interested in learning more? Discover how Fortress Power’s commercial solutions can support your next renewable energy project.

Introducing the Fortress Power Battery & Inverter Wiring Validator

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Validate System Layouts Before Installation

Designing battery energy storage systems involves more than selecting the right inverter and battery combination. Installers must also ensure that system layouts meet current requirements, discharge limits, connection point capacities, and equipment ratings before work begins in the field.

To help simplify that process, Fortress Power has launched the Battery & Inverter Wiring Validator, a new planning tool that helps installers evaluate battery and inverter configurations before installation.

How the Validator Works

The Battery & Inverter Validator allows users to select:

Inverter model
Battery model (eBoost or eForce)
Number of inverters
Number of batteries
Battery sharing configuration

Based on these inputs, the tool automatically generates a system topology and analyzes how current flows throughout the system.

The Validator then checks key design parameters, including:

Conductor current loading
Per-battery maximum discharge limits
Connection-point terminal counts
eWay node ratings
Battery sharing configurations

If any component exceeds its rated limits, the tool highlights the issue and provides a plain-language explanation to help users understand why the configuration is out of specification.

Designed Around Worst-Case Conditions

Unlike many design tools that focus on typical operating scenarios, the Fortress Power Wiring Validator analyzes systems using the maximum rated current output of both the inverter and battery equipment.

This creates a worst-case model designed to identify potential limitations before installation. In real-world operation, systems often run well below these maximum ratings. As a result, configurations that pass the Validator generally have additional operating headroom, while configurations that fail indicate conditions that could exceed equipment ratings under peak demand.

Better Planning, Fewer Surprises

As energy storage systems become larger and more complex, validating system layouts early in the design process can help installers avoid costly revisions and improve installation planning.

The Validator provides visibility into how batteries share current, how inverter ports interact, and whether system components remain within their designed operating limits. For example, installers can quickly identify:

Uneven battery loading
Overloaded connection points
Exceeded discharge limits
Improper battery-sharing arrangements
eWay capacity concerns

This allows potential issues to be addressed before equipment is installed onsite.

Integrated With the System Recommendation Tool

This tool is also integrated directly into the Fortress Power System Recommendation Tool. After generating a recommended system configuration, installers can launch the Validator with their selected battery and inverter combination already preloaded. This creates a more streamlined workflow by eliminating the need to manually re-enter system information.

Important Planning Disclaimer

The Fortress Power Battery & Inverter Validator is intended for education, planning, and system evaluation purposes only. All installations must be reviewed and approved by a licensed electrician and qualified engineering professional before construction. Final system designs should always comply with applicable electrical codes, local requirements, and project-specific engineering documentation.

Ready to test your next system design? Try the Fortress Power Battery & Inverter Wiring Validator and evaluate your configuration before installation begins.

Why Installers Are Pairing Envy Inverters with eBoost Energy Storage

Blog

As demand for battery backup and energy storage continues to grow, installers need solutions that are flexible, scalable, and easy to deploy across a variety of applications. That’s why more installers are turning to the combination of Fortress Power’s Envy inverter lineup and eBoost energy storage system. Together, they create a streamlined solution that supports everything from residential backup power to light commercial energy storage while giving installers the flexibility to design systems around each customer’s unique needs.

One Platform, Multiple Possibilities

Every project is different. Some homeowners want whole-home backup. Others want to keep only critical loads running during an outage. Some systems include solar, while others require generator integration or future battery expansion.

The Envy inverter platform is designed to support those scenarios without forcing installers into a one-size-fits-all approach.

Available in 8 kW, 10 kW, and 12 kW models, as well as the Envy Duo 21 kW hybrid inverter, the lineup gives installers the flexibility to match inverter capacity to the project while maintaining a familiar platform across installations.

Paired with eBoost, the result is a complete energy storage solution capable of supporting grid-tied, backup, off-grid, solar, and generator-assisted applications.

Scalable Storage That Grows With the Project

One of eBoost’s biggest advantages is scalability. Each unit provides 16 kWh of usable LFP battery storage, making it suitable for residential and light commercial applications. Whether the goal is critical-load backup or larger energy storage capacity, installers can build systems around the customer’s current needs while leaving room for future expansion.

With support for up to 384 kWh of storage using the latest firmware, eBoost allows installers to scale projects without redesigning the entire system. That flexibility can help simplify system planning while giving customers confidence that their energy storage investment can grow alongside future energy demands. This will energize the inverter and prepare the system for setup.

Designed for Real-World Installations

Installers know that product features only matter if they make the job easier. eBoost includes several practical design elements that help streamline installation and deployment. Built-in wheels make positioning and moving the unit easier on-site, while the system’s clean design helps reduce visible wiring for a more professional finished installation.

The battery is also IP65-rated, providing protection against dust and water intrusion for indoor or outdoor installations. This gives installers greater flexibility when determining system placement without sacrificing durability.

Built for Challenging Environments

Not every installation takes place in ideal weather conditions. That’s why eBoost includes integrated battery heating technology designed to help maintain battery performance in colder climates. The system automatically helps protect the battery during low-temperature conditions, supporting reliable operation when customers need backup power most.

Combined with its weather-resistant enclosure, eBoost is designed to perform across a wide range of installation environments.

Reliable Backup Power When It Matters Most

At the end of the day, customers aren’t buying batteries or inverters. They’re buying reliability. When paired together, Envy and eBoost help ensure essential loads remain powered during grid outages. Lights stay on, refrigerators continue running, internet connections remain active, and homeowners gain greater confidence in their energy security.

For installers, that means delivering a solution that not only performs on paper but also provides real-world value when outages occur.

A Flexible Energy Storage Solution for Today’s Market

As backup power, self-consumption, and energy independence become increasingly important, installers need products that can adapt to evolving customer requirements.

The combination of Fortress Power’s Envy inverter platform and eBoost energy storage system delivers the flexibility, scalability, and installer-friendly design needed to support a wide range of residential and light commercial applications.

Whether you’re designing a solar-plus-storage system, building a backup power solution, or planning for future expansion, Envy and eBoost provide a powerful foundation for modern energy storage projects. Get started today.