The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has launched an energy storage project for 42 households. The project will occur over the next 18 months and is intended to help determine what happens when a home is partially powered by a large battery. The $5.9 million demonstration project will determine how battery storage can help provide extra capacity during times of peak demand and is funded by a $4.3 million grant from the Department of Energy. The remainder of the funding will come from SMUD, the California Energy Commission and SunPower Corp. Under the program, 15 homes will pilot...