What Is Synthetic Firm Power?
Synthetic firm power consists of contracts and certificates that make intermittent renewables behave like always-on capacity using storage, flexible load, and Layer 4 tokens.
The Components
- Intermittent Renewables: Wind and solar that generate power variably
- Storage: Batteries that time-shift energy from surplus to deficit periods
- Flexible Load: Bitcoin miners, VPPs, and industrial loads that can curtail on demand
- Tokenized Logs: Proof-of-Curtailment and other certificates that verify grid services
Why It Matters
Hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon need 24/7 carbon-free energy. But the world isn't building enough nuclear and geothermal (true "firm" clean power) to meet this demand. Synthetic firm power bridges the gap by combining renewables + storage + flexibility in ways that can be financially guaranteed.
2025 Pricing
Synthetic firm power bundles trade at $160–$280/MWh — that's 5–8× higher than traditional solar PPAs from 2023. This premium reflects the value hyperscalers place on guaranteed, verified clean power.
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energyrenewablessynthetic-firmpower