How Are Yorkshire Locals Using Electric Vehicles To Power The Worlds Largest Virtual Power Plant With Octopus Energy?

Think of Yorkshire and what comes to mind? Probably proper good tea, stunning countryside, and maybe a bit of cricket. But on 28th August 2025, it became clear there's something new brewing in the county. It turns out that thousands of locals are part of a massive, world-leading project that's changing how the country gets its power, all without leaving their homes.

They're helping to create the world's largest virtual power plant, a clever bit of tech from Octopus Energy that's making the energy grid greener and bills a bit friendlier.

So, what on earth is a virtual power plant?

It sounds like something from a science fiction film, but it's actually quite simple. Imagine a normal power station - a massive building with chimneys, churning out electricity for everyone. Now, a virtual power plant, or VPP, does the same job but in a totally different way. Instead of one huge building, it connects thousands of small devices in people's homes. Think of things like electric vehicles plugged in on the drive, home batteries, solar panels, and even heat pumps.

The tech platform, called Kraken, links all these separate devices together. It's a bit like a conductor of an orchestra, telling each instrument when to play. When there's loads of renewable power available - say, the wind is howling or the sun is blazing - Kraken tells these devices it's a great time to charge up. This collective of devices acts like one giant, flexible power station, which is why it's called a virtual power plant. It's a huge milestone for green energy and a clever way to manage the flow of electricity across the entire energy system.

Yorkshire's massive contribution

And it seems folk in Yorkshire are leading the charge. Right now, there are almost 20,000 green devices in the county connected to Kraken. These aren't just numbers; they represent a real contribution from local people. Together, these devices are providing a whopping 126MW of flexible energy storage. That might just sound like a big number, but what does it actually mean? Well, it's enough clean energy to make 4.2 million cuppas. That's a lot of tea. Alternatively, that amount of renewable power could keep all the lights on in a city the size of York for two solid hours.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for Octopus Energy. Reaching 2GW of managed energy devices across its global virtual power plant is a huge deal, and the locals in Yorkshire have played a massive part in that success. By using their devices flexibly, they are helping the grid soak up clean power when it's most abundant, which is a big win for everyone. This huge amount of energy storage is helping to create a more stable and resilient energy grid.

How it actually works day-to-day

This whole thing works because of clever technology and smart tariffs. People with electric vehicles, for instance, can sign up for a tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go. This isn't just a normal energy plan. It works with the Kraken platform to figure out the best time to charge the car.

So, instead of just plugging in your car when you get home from work (which is often peak time for energy use), the system waits. It looks for the moment when there's lots of cheap, green electricity on the grid - usually overnight when the wind is blowing. Then, it tells the car to start charging. The car is full by morning, but the owner has paid a much lower price for the electricity, and the energy has come from a renewable source. This is what's meant by using energy flexibly.

Martin Stables, an Octopus customer from Yorkshire, explained how it works for his family. He said, "I currently have two EVs on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, meaning I can charge my cars overnight at a really cheap rate. This has also encouraged me to set timers for my washing machine and dishwasher to work overnight when it's cheaper. Octopus, through the incentive of a cheaper tariff, has allowed me to make a contribution towards a greener planet and to do my part in helping the grid. Thanks Octopus!"

Why this is such a big deal

This isn't just about saving a few quid on charging the car, though that's a nice bonus. This approach has a massive impact on the entire energy system. When thousands of people allow their devices to be managed flexibly, it helps balance the national grid. The grid has the constant, tricky job of matching electricity supply with demand. By shifting demand for electricity to off-peak times, this virtual power plant takes a huge amount of pressure off the grid.

It means there's less need to fire up old, dirty fossil fuel power stations to meet demand during busy periods. Instead, the country can make better use of its homegrown renewable power. This makes the whole energy grid cleaner and more stable. And because it's more efficient, it helps to keep energy bills down for everyone, not just the people taking part.

Kieron Stopforth, who is the Head of Flexibility at Octopus Energy, put it perfectly. "Yorkshire is helping make history in the world of green tech," he said. "Every electric car plugged in, every battery installed by Yorkshire folk, is all making the whole energy system more resilient and cleaner by using renewable power when it's abundant. At Octopus, we're all about local people coming together to do their bit to balance the grid and make energy cheaper and greener for everyone."

From a Yorkshire cuppa to a global movement

Whilst this story focuses on the amazing contribution from the people of Yorkshire, it's part of a much bigger picture. Octopus Energy is a global company, and its Kraken platform is being used all over the world to manage millions of customer accounts. This isn't just an experiment; it's the future of energy, happening right now.

By bringing together lots of small-scale green devices, this virtual power plant proves that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. Every household that participates is helping to build a new kind of energy system - one that's powered by clean energy, controlled by smart technology, and built on the contribution of communities. It's a shift away from relying on a few giant power stations to a more democratic and resilient energy grid, where everyone has a part to play. And it all starts with simple things, like deciding when to charge your car or boil the kettle for one of those famous 4 million cuppas.