FERC issues storage, reliability orders, calls conference on aggregated DERs

The commission directed grid operators to design rules that allow storage to provide energy, capacity and ancillary services, as well as set wholesale prices as buyers and sellers. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2018

How solar owners' post-hurricane demand for batteries could impact utilities

Extreme weather is driving customers to solar-plus-storage as backup power, but they can use it to cut back on electricity use, too

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 15, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

California regulators first to allow multiple revenue streams for energy storage

The state has approved rules that increase the ways for energy storage systems to make money, for example, through frequency regulation, capacity or spinning reserve services.        

Feb. 13, 2018

Is the third pillar of electricity delivery preventing the building of the first two?

Utilities and distributed energy resource advocates agree the grid needs new technologies to serve 21st century demand, but they differ over what upgrades should come first and what they should cost.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 13, 2018

Trump budget would gut EPA, DOE renewables office

The budget would cut the DOE renewables office by 65% and eliminate ARPA-E and the agency's loan programs. EPA would be cut by nearly a quarter. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Is PURPA done? New bill takes aim at law's mandatory purchase obligation

The law has been under fire for much of its 40-year history, but changes proposed in November could be the most significant yet.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2018

Energy tax credits included in Senate budget deal

Tax credit extensions for nuclear plants and a number of natural gas and renewable energy technologies are in the Senate package, but are likely to face opposition in the House.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

EIA: Low prices, rising production to boost gas generation through 2050

While natural gas grows the most on an absolute basis in EIA's projections, reaching 39% of U.S. energy production in 2050, nonhydroelectric renewable energy grows the most on a percentage basis.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

How leading utilities are planning for distributed energy resources

DER growth can be a blessing or a curse. New software platforms can help with preparation. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 6, 2018

Tesla to outfit 50K Australian homes with solar+storage for 250 MW virtual power plant

The electric car company wants to build what it calls the world's largest virtual power plant, harnessing 250 MW of solar power and 650 MWh of energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 5, 2018

Grid complexity is increasing exponentially. Is blockchain the answer?

As more distributed resources are connected to the grid, the size of energy transactions is shrinking while the volume explodes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2018

Uncoordinated trouble? Electric vehicles can be a grid asset, but only with planning and investment

With more than 80% of vehicle charging done at the home, just a few vehicles on a street could cause issues for the power grid.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 31, 2018

Energy storage has an upstream swim in the Pacific Northwest

The dominance of low cost hydropower in the region, along with policies that favor large power plant development over distributed energy resources, present challenges for the resource.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 30, 2018

The best laid plans of state regulators are now aimed at building a better distribution system

Regulators are pushing utilities to plan for the rising penetrations of distributed energy resources, but they're doing it in many ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 30, 2018

'Year of the grid': DER management takes center stage at DistribuTECH

The distributed energy revolution hinges on the development of new software platforms that can help utilities make sense of a deluge of grid data.  

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 29, 2018

Will the country's first mandatory residential demand charge slow the Massachusetts solar boom?

Opponents of the charge, approved as part of an Eversource rate case, say it could harm the growth of solar and other distributed energy resources by significantly increasing costs for customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2018

Maine's governor puts the kibosh on new wind power in the state

Gov. Paul LePage's executive order puts a moratorium on new wind turbines and creates a commission to review past and future wind projects.  

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 25, 2018

6 months after target adoption, Massachusetts sees energy storage growth, challenges

Hurdles remain in integrating the technology in the state and into the wider ISO New England.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 23, 2018

Time-of-use rates can manage EV charging, new report says

Arizona utility Salt River Project recruited 100 electric vehicle drivers to study charging habits, and found that when its system usage peaks around 5 p.m., those vehicles drew about 1 MW.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2018

PG&E to install 7,500 EV chargers in Northern, Central California

The company's EV Charge Network program will place the devices at condominiums, apartment buildings and workplaces, including at sites in disadvantaged communities.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 18, 2018

There once was an energy storage system on Nantucket...

When the island's summer population swells, peak energy demand doubles. That's a recipe for disaster in a town dependent on tourism. But energy storage may be the answer.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2018

Why are the newest distribution system buzzwords 'hosting capacity analysis'?

To meet customer demand for distributed energy resources, utilities need to know what their systems can handle.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 17, 2018

SoCal Edison electric vehicle pilots focus on heavy-duty, fleet uses

To meet the state's carbon reduction goals, utility officials say California needs 7 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2018

CPUC approves Diablo Canyon retirement, 15 EV pilots, storage RFO to replace gas

Regulators allowed Pacific Gas & Electric to recover $241 million to retire California's last nuclear plant and directed it to consider how batteries could replace three natural gas generators. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2018

Could Florida be the next hot spot for energy storage?

One of the best new markets for energy storage might be the Sunshine State, a bastion of traditional, regulated utilities.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 9, 2018