With Great Power How VPPs came of age
Apr 14, 2026
Seth Frader-Thompson, co-founder and president of EnergyHub known for pioneering DERMS and VPP frameworks. He recounts EnergyHub’s shift from smart-home hacks to utility-scale virtual power plants. He covers VPP maturity tests, real-world storm performance, the 100 GW by 2035 ambition, EV charging benefits, product automation for scale, and a strategic acquisition to speed industry progress.
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From Accidental Chemist To DER Pioneer
- Seth moved from semiconductor lab work (including a sulfuric acid accident) into robotics and then sales at Honey Bee Robotics.
- That path exposed him to hardware-software control and slow-moving customers, preparing him for utilities and smart homes.
Startup Pivot From Device To Utility Software
- Seth Frader-Thompson pivoted EnergyHub from a hardware device to utility-facing software after seeing smartphone apps rise.
- That strategic shift from B2C to enterprise DERMS emerged after early pilots with customer engagement tools and utility partnerships.
Huells Test Defines VPP Maturity
- EnergyHub's VPP maturity model frames progress from basic demand response to a level that can replace a physical power plant (the Huells test).
- The Huells test asks: can you unplug a real plant, replace it with a VPP, and have the grid not notice.