Overview
- The Huels test asks whether a control room could tell a gas peaker from a VPP in operation, creating an objective benchmark for interchangeability.
- Passing criteria include sub-five-minute telemetry to the utility control room, the ability to follow build–flatten–recover schedules that avoid rebound, and year-round availability for at least four to six hours.
- EnergyHub’s maturity model maps VPP capability from manual demand response (Level 0) to grid-adaptive control (Level 4), with estimated combined values rising from $55–$65/kW at Levels 0–1 to about $105/kW at Level 2 and $160–$210/kW at Levels 3–4.
- A Mid-Atlantic utility showed Level 2 behavior by maintaining a predictable three-hour load shape across consecutive dispatches, which EnergyHub cites as early evidence of passing the test for simpler profiles.
- EnergyHub says its platform is near Level 2 and projects Level 3–4 VPPs could be commercially viable in years, not decades, contingent on technical progress and regulatory support, while current VPPs generally do not yet meet the test.