The Future of Energy: Virtual Power Plants, AI & Battery Storage

Climate Confident

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In this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Chris Doherty, CEO of Joulen, to discuss how data, AI, and battery storage are changing the way homes and businesses interact with renewable energy. With energy costs fluctuating and grid constraints becoming more of a challenge, the role of smart energy management has never been more important.

Chris explains how virtual power plants (VPPs) allow households and small businesses to collectively act as a large-scale power provider, reducing costs and generating income. We explore how AI-driven algorithms optimise energy use, ensuring that people buy low and sell high—maximising savings and revenue.

We also break down the regulatory barriers that prevent wider adoption of decentralised energy and discuss what governments can do to speed up the transition. From Germany’s success in residential battery storage to the UK’s evolving energy market, we look at how different countries are tackling these challenges.

Other key topics:

• Why EVs with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could replace home batteries
• How energy storage can help stabilise the grid and reduce investment in new infrastructure
• The financial incentives needed to scale solar and battery adoption in homes and businesses
• The growing role of demand-side management in balancing electricity supply

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your renewable energy system—or how policy can unlock wider adoption—this episode has you covered.

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Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper