James Johnston

James Johnston, Co-founder and CEO of Piclo, explains how their innovative marketplace connects buyers and sellers of distributed energy resources. He discusses the challenges of coordination in current markets and how Piclo's open platform addresses these issues, allowing utilities to procure flexibility easily. Johnston highlights the potential for data centers to speed up grid access by paying for flexibility, potentially unlocking billions in investment. He also shares insights on seller vetting, market transparency, and the long-term vision of marketplaces as a key layer in decentralized energy.

James Johnston, CEO and co-founder of Piclo, shares insights on local flexibility markets and their potential to address grid congestion. He discusses the pressing threat of grid constraints and how they hinder the energy transition. Johnston highlights innovative projects like ACE, where data centers fund virtual power plants, unlocking significant flexibility revenue. He emphasizes the importance of modular marketplace design and collaboration with distribution and transmission operators to enhance grid efficiency and visibility.