Virtual Peaker, a cloud-based SaaS company empowering modern utilities with the friendliest distributed energy platform on the planet, and Armada Power, an innovative grid resource company that controls standard electric resistance water heaters to serve as an energy storage and grid resilience resource without compromising the availability of hot water, have integrated their technologies to easily and cost-effectively transform the second-largest residential energy load device—water heaters—into low-carbon energy storage assets.

The Virtual Peaker / Armada Power application programming interface (API) integration makes it much easier for utilities to scale their water heater DERMS initiatives. Water heater controllers are affordable, easy-to-install after-market items that allow standard units to be upgraded to smart water heaters. The new partnership integrates the Virtual Peaker platform via the open spec Gravity Connect API with Armada Power's DR API, enabling Virtual Peaker to seamlessly communicate with any Armada Power device that has an internet connection.

Virtual Peaker and Armada Power have previous experience working together. In March 2022 they helped to launch a pilot program with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and other partners called WatterSaver, which is slated to be the largest program of its kind in the United States. WatterSaver is expected to optimize 5,000-9,000 residential water heaters and provide up to 2.5 megawatts of peak-load reduction by the end of 2025.

"The new partnership between Virtual Peaker and Armada Power creates a number of synergies: our two companies don't need to integrate each time we want to roll out a new device, utilities can quickly get more devices under control to scale up and make their programs more effective, and residential consumers can avoid buying expensive water heaters yet still participate in DER programs that lead to a more sustainable planet," said Virtual Peaker Founder & CEO, Dr. William (Bill) Burke. "We're looking forward to deepening our relationship with the talented team at Armada Power and our shared utility clients."

"Armada Power and Virtual Peaker have a great partnership. We have a shared mission in transforming the power grid to support reliable, zero-carbon energy sources. Our ability to store energy in fleets of water heaters combined with the Virtual Peaker platform creates the perfect product for utility operators," said Armada Power President Timothy (T.J.) Harper. 

Virtual Peaker | www.virtual-peaker.com

Armada Power | www.armadapower.com