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What is a neighbourhood battery?
A neighbourhood battery stores energy for use at another time. It can be one shared battery in the area, or virtual: home batteries stay with residents and are coordinated digitally.
Physical or virtual
A physical neighbourhood battery is one installation at a shared location, with its own grid connection and agreements about ownership and management. A virtual neighbourhood battery consists of separate home batteries behind residents' meters. Software coordinates charging and discharging so the group can respond together at suitable times.
The differences at a glance
| Aspect | Physical neighbourhood battery | Virtual neighbourhood battery |
|---|---|---|
| Location | One shared location | At individual homes |
| Ownership | Agreed around the shared system | Defined per home battery and project |
| Connection | Its own grid connection | Behind each household meter |
| Coordination | One installation is controlled | Software coordinates several batteries |
What does MyGrid's virtual approach do?
With MyGrid, batteries remain at individual homes. Digital control can coordinate storage and use around the objective and agreements of the neighbourhood project. VPP stands for virtual power plant: the common term for a network of devices that are controlled together.
Secure control matters. MyGrid DataLock protects the MyGrid layer from battery to platform. The data and settings a project uses are defined for each neighbourhood beforehand.
See how MyGrid DataLock worksHow does a neighbourhood project begin?
- Residents, a neighbourhood initiative or a local organisation maps interest.
- The local grid need and relevant parties are explored together.
- Technology, participation terms and data agreements are set per project.
- Only then can it become clear whether and how a project can start.
Cost, compensation and availability
There is no universal price or fixed return for taking part. Cost, possible compensation and practical availability depend on the battery, local situation and project agreements. Registering interest is a first exploration, not an order or guaranteed installation.
Frequently asked questions
Can every area start a neighbourhood battery?
Not automatically. Local grid conditions, interest, suitable technology and involved parties together determine feasibility.
Does the resident keep their home battery?
In the virtual approach, batteries remain with individual households. Ownership and participation terms are agreed before joining.
What does participation cost?
That is assessed per neighbourhood project, so this website does not state a universal price or return.