How the coming boom in electric and self-driving vehicles will transform the grid

A new BNEF report imagines a world where fleets of autonomous electric vehicles provide services to the grid, but getting there requires utilities to be proactive. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2016

Time & place: How a new locational DER metric helps utilities defer grid investments

Central Hudson is using a simplified valuation scheme to deploy pilots and integrate distributed resources into utility planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Virtual Power Plants

Virtual power plants and their ability to balance energy supply and demand are increasingly sought by utilities as electricity demand increases, but their lack of standardization remains a barrier.

By Utility Dive staff

Will FERC toughen standards for energy M&A? What's behind the agency's market power review

FERC wants to account for incentives to exert market power, not just companies' ability to do so.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 18, 2016

Amid IPO rumors, Sonnen secures $85M in equity capital

The German storage company announced a new round of funding as Bloomberg reported it is considering an IPO filing in the next two years.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 18, 2016

Report: Tesla needs $12.5B through 2018 to fund SolarCity deal

Shareholders will vote next month on the company's proposed acquisition of SolarCity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2016

Amid rancorous solar rate debate, APS first non-California utility to surpass 1 GW of solar capacity

APS says it has invested a total of about $2 billion in solar power.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2016

Solar split: How a new petition is dividing rooftop and utility-scale installers in SEIA

Rooftop installers want a bigger voice in the trade group, but leaders on both sides stress unity is still the priority. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 12, 2016

Spanish researchers explore molten silicon for more efficient solar energy storage

Molten silicon could be prove to be a cheaper and more abundant storage medium than the molten salt used in most CSP plants.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2016

Pew: Renewable energy enjoys wide support while fossil fuels divide national opinion

The overwhelming majority of Americans support development of more wind and solar energy, but less than half want new fracking, coal mining or offshore drilling.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Stem connects Hawaii's largest behind-the-meter storage at theme park

Hawaii's plentiful solar generation and high electricity prices make storage especially appealing, but large BTM batteries are catching on in other states as well.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2016

Report: Fuel cell maker Bloom Energy quietly files IPO

The company reportedly filed a private IPO under a process sometimes used to attract interest for an acquisition. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2016

Maryland's REV: How utility regulators plan to tackle business model, DER reforms

New York and California have begun broad reviews of how the utility sector operates, but both those states operate their own marketplace. Maryland must deal with PJM, potentially complicating its transformation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Report: RWE renewables spinoff Innogy targets US in global expansion plans

Innogy, listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange for the first time last week, is eyeing electric vehicle charging and grid modernization efforts in the U.S., according to a German weekly.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Solar group: Georgia Power not on track to meet 100 MW solar target by year's end

The Georgia Solar Energy Industries Association says the utility stopped evaluating and awarding projects last month.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 7, 2016

Hawaii solar sector on the 'brink of collapse' as employment dips 42%

Hawaiian Electric Co. has reached caps on the grid-supply program that replaced net metering, meaning new customers no longer have an option to sell excess capacity back to the grid. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2016

As the solar industry matures, business gets a little more complicated

While solar got a much-needed boost when Congress extended the 30% ITC, state policy changes are slowing down the residential market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2016

DOE: Electric, hybrid vehicles to make up 6% of auto sales by 2025

Combined, those sales will account for about 0.5% of U.S. energy demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2016

Power sector politics: 5 state energy races to watch this November

Solar incentives and consumer choice dominate down-ballot energy races this cycle. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2016

Nevada task force recommends restoring net metering as PUC welcomes 2 new regulators

Part of a raft of reforms pushed by Gov. Sandoval's New Energy Task Force, the recommendation came just days before two new gubernatorial appointees started work at the state regulatory commission.

By Peter Maloney, Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2016

DOE: Plummeting clean energy costs accelerating renewable 'revolution'

 According to a new report, wind and solar PV accounted for over two thirds of all new generating capacity installed last year.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2016

Tesla, AMS ink 34MWh storage deal with California water system

Water systems account for nearly 20% of the total electricity and 30% of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 29, 2016

National Grid to test first distribution service platform under REV

The utility paired up with Opus One Solutions to create markets, tariffs and operational systems for resources at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Following New York's lead, Maryland targets electric distribution transformation

Utility regulators plan to zero in on renewables and electric vehicle integration, rate design and affordability.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Massachusetts floats new solar tariff structure in incentive program redesign

The new program would replace current incentives with tariffs designed to reduce risk and provide more predictable revenue streams for developers.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 28, 2016

NYC targets 100 MWh energy storage by 2020

The new energy storage target will help New York City reach its goal to cut emissions 80% by 2050.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 26, 2016