NRG, Renews Home aim for 1GW Texas VPP by 2035

Learning: “The companies will begin installing Nest and Vivint smart thermostats in Texas homes next spring and eventually hope to supply capacity equivalent to the peak demand of 200,000 average homes.”

Implication: “The Google Cloud-supported partnership will begin installing Vivint and Nest smart thermostats at participating households in spring 2025 and could eventually expand its VPP to leverage home batteries, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources, the companies said.

NRG plans to use Google Cloud data, analytics and AI to improve weather forecasting, variable renewable generation modeling and predictive pricing models to improve the performance of the Renew Home VPP and other strategic initiatives.”

Heat pumps could save some Texas households money, reduce grid strain: ACEEE

Learning: ‘Installing heat pumps in Texas homes that currently use central air conditioners and electric resistance heating systems would on average save them each more than $300 in utility bills annually, according to estimates in a white paper published this month by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.”
Implication: “The study of more than 350 Texas homes also finds that switching these buildings to heat pumps from electric resistance heat would slash peak winter electricity demand, bolstering the state’s strained grid.”

Heat pump maker’s retro sweats and joggers reframe climate tech as a lifestyle choice
Learning: "Heat pump maker Quilt is taking an unconventional approach to building consumer advocacy. The California startup… just launched a capsule collection of retro-style branded apparel, including sweatshirts, pants, socks and hats.”
Implication: “While heat pumps have traditionally been viewed as utilitarian background infrastructure — equipment is often selected by HVAC contractors rather than homeowners, so incumbent manufacturers historically focused on trade relationships — Quilt is positioning its products as consumer-facing lifestyle choices worthy of declaration.”

Global carbon market framework endorsed at COP29

Learning: Countries at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, have approved carbon credit quality standards, a significant step toward launching a UN-backed global carbon market to fund emissions-reducing projects. The move aims to operationalize the market by next year.

Implication: “Carbon credits theoretically allow countries or companies to pay for projects anywhere on the planet that reduce CO2 emissions or remove it from the atmosphere and use credits generated by those projects to offset their own emissions…

The market could be one route for U.S. companies to keep participating in global efforts to address climate change.”

Solar microgrids could curb energy poverty

Learning: The devastation to the southeastern US power grid caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton highlights the need to address energy poverty, a critical issue affecting over one billion people globally. Energy poverty hampers access to essential services like health care and education, with climate change exacerbating grid vulnerabilities.
Implication: Rajat Panwar, a professor of responsible and sustainable business at Oregon State University, writes that renewable energy, especially solar-based microgrids, offers a sustainable path forward.