The Virgin Islands Energy Office says its distributed battery network supplied a combined 2.5 megawatt-hours to the territory's power systems during two half-hour tests Friday. The dispatches tested whether residential batteries enrolled in the VIBES 2.0 virtual power plant can respond together when grid operators need energy.
On the St. Thomas–St. John system, 190 batteries at 80 locations delivered approximately 800 kilowatts. A separate St. Croix test drew about 500 kilowatts from 108 batteries. VIEO says WAPA monitoring showed a measurable reduction in demand at the system and feeder levels during the events.
The pilot does not replace conventional generation and currently represents only a small share of peak demand. The agency says a larger network could eventually help cover short generation gaps and reduce the need for load shedding, but the tests do not establish how the resource will perform during a prolonged outage or emergency.
VIEO reports paying more than $176,000 in enrollment incentives, with another $68,000 being processed. During the 2026 launch year, eligible Tesla Powerwall owners may receive $1,000 per enrolled battery, up to $4,000; the program currently accepts only participating net-metering or net-billing customers with compatible equipment.
The agency says no enrolled participant opted out of Friday's tests. It is awaiting federal approval that could expand future eligibility to batteries from other manufacturers and additional distributed-energy resources.
VIEO and WAPA should publish standardized results after every dispatch, including event timing, available capacity, delivered energy, feeder impacts, participant performance, costs and any effect on outages or fuel use.
Source published September 16, 2026. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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