A Beginner’s Guide to Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)
What is a Virtual Power Plant?
A Virtual Power Plant, or VPP, is a system run by an energy retailer or technology provider that helps homes and small businesses share extra energy. In the WE Share project, this includes collaboration with Ecotricity and Vector.
Why Does It Matter?
Whether you have solar or not, a VPP allows you to participate — by selling your extra energy or buying clean, local power from others in the community.
VPPs help reduce energy costs, support clean power, and make communities more energy resilient. Even if you don’t have solar panels, you can still benefit by buying clean, local energy at competitive rates.
How It Works
Smart meters track how much energy you use and produce. A secure digital platform helps match people who want to buy energy with those who have extra to sell. It’s automatic, flexible, and easy to follow on your energy bill.
What It Means for Waiheke
This is a chance for Waiheke to lead the way in showing how communities can take charge of their energy future.
The WE Share Community Power Project is grounded in building fair, transparent, and collaborative relationships with our key infrastructure and energy partners — specifically Ecotricity and Vector. These partnerships take time to develop and coordinate. We won’t be able to offer everything immediately, but once the framework is in place, we’ll roll out new features step-by-step, in alignment with our shared values, community inputs and stakeholder agreements.
With that approach, the VPP model can help make energy more affordable, sustainable, and fair for everyone — whether you own solar or not.