Managed EV charging can save utilities and ratepayers money: report

By optimizing electric vehicle charging around peak times, utilities can delay costly distribution grid upgrades while cutting per-vehicle charging costs by 25% or more, Brattle Group said this month.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 21, 2026

New Jersey governor orders state to accelerate solar, storage and virtual power plants

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who was sworn in Tuesday, also ordered regulators to study how to “modernize” the traditional electric utility business model, including by making utility profits “less dependent on capital spending.”

By Robert Walton • Jan. 21, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Storage

The proliferation of energy storage in everything from utility-scale batteries to electric vehicles is a driving force in the transition to a cleaner, more distributed power system. This trendline includes the best Utility Dive reporting on this dynamic sector.

By Utility Dive staff

Google sees CO2 batteries as large-scale way to store renewable energy

The tech giant is working with a Milan-based company called Energy Dome, which has built a model facility in Ottana, Sardinia, Italy. As part of the partnership, Google has made an equity investment in the company.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 20, 2026

The data center dependency crisis: When our grid can’t function without big tech

We're sleepwalking into a future where our electric grid depends on the voluntary cooperation of private technology companies because the short-term benefits are too attractive to resist, writes Mothusi Pahl of Hartwell and Loche.

By Mothusi Pahl • Jan. 16, 2026

America’s new power barons: Who will rule the AI-grade megawatt megasector?

The winning model will be hybrid: gas for firmness, renewables for optics and cost, and storage for stability, writes NOVUS Energy Advisors’ Emily Easley.

By Emily Easley • Jan. 15, 2026

PJM trims near-term load forecast on stricter data center vetting, economic outlook

However, the PJM Interconnection expects long-term load growth to surge past its estimates released a year ago.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 15, 2026

Xcel defends storage ownership in distributed capacity pilot

The Minnesota utility floated modifications to its Capacity*Connect proposal, but it maintained it should own the batteries as it builds out the program. Stakeholders argued for more competition.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2026

SolarMax Technologies to deploy three utility-scale BESS projects in Texas, Puerto Rico

The combined 400-MW/1-GWh deployments advance a strategic shift toward larger commercial installations amid regulatory and policy changes, the company has said.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 13, 2026

Illinois sets 3-GW energy storage target, requires utilities to develop virtual power plants

Electricity bills in Illinois rose 15% last year. A new law aims to reduce energy costs by incentivizing new resources, expanding solar and growing efficiency programs.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2026

Utilities under pressure: 6 power sector trends to watch in 2026

Facing rising demand and aggressive load growth projections, utilities are rolling out massive spending plans. Now they'll have to walk a fine line with regulators and ratepayers.

By Meris Lutz , Robert Walton , Ethan Howland , Diana DiGangi • Jan. 8, 2026

How VPPs can help data centers connect to the grid faster

Virtual power plants can be developed quickly to satisfy data center demand, but reaching the scale required to meet soaring load growth will require new commercial models, according to RMI.

By Jesse Cohen, Mark Dyson and Lauren Shwisberg • Jan. 8, 2026

Honda buying LG Energy Solution’s stake in Ohio EV battery plant building for $2.85B

LG Energy Solution said the deal is intended to “increase the operational efficiency” of its joint venture with Honda. However, press reports and company statements suggest a potential shift to energy storage systems.

By Eric Walz • Jan. 6, 2026

Programmatic alignment is key to scaling residential battery demand response

Utilities, battery manufacturers, technology providers and customers all operate under different incentive structures, writes Uplight’s Sneha Vasudevan.

By Sneha Vasudevan • Jan. 6, 2026

Hydrostor secures key permit for 500 MW, 8-hour California energy storage facility

The installation would be the Canadian company’s first grid-scale deployment of its “advanced compressed-air energy storage” technology.

By Brian Martucci • Dec. 23, 2025

Ford scraps EV plans, shifts to stationary energy storage

Ford will convert plants in Kentucky and Michigan to produce lithium iron phosphate batteries, including 20-foot DC container systems of the type used by data centers, utilities and large-scale industrial and commercial customers.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 17, 2025

2025 on track for record storage deployments: WoodMac

“Despite new federal policies and tariffs, the market fundamentals remain exceptionally strong,” said Allison Feeney, a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 17, 2025

SK On pivots to stationary energy storage after Ford joint venture ends

The manufacturer says it will continue to supply EV batteries to Ford. However, it plans to focus more on “profitable and sustainable growth” in the U.S. by selling to other customers as well, including stationary energy storage systems.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 16, 2025

Coordinating short-, ultra-long-duration storage unlocks maximum clean energy value

The United States needs to integrate short-duration energy storage with multi-day storage to build a secure, reliable grid, Noon Energy’s Aric Saunders writes.

By Aric Saunders • Dec. 16, 2025

Thermal batteries are ready. Our electricity rules aren’t.

Exposing thermal batteries to real-time market signals would help lower system costs and strengthen America’s manufacturing base and AI infrastructure, write Katherine Hamilton and Isaac Brown of the Thermal Battery Alliance. 

By Katherine Hamilton and Isaac Brown • Dec. 15, 2025

Smart growth, lower costs: How fuel cells support utility expansion

Utilities’ investments must deliver more capacity, uptime and efficiency. Fuel cells meet that need.

Dec. 15, 2025

Grid-scale battery energy storage systems face heightened risk of cyberattack

Experts warn that state-linked threat groups are actively searching for ways to disrupt the industry amid growing power demand in the U.S.

By David Jones • Dec. 12, 2025

NYPA adopts 5.5-GW renewables plan amid concerns over affordability, policy changes

Developers with major solar, wind and storage projects in the New York Power Authority’s updated plan include AES, EDF Renewable Energy, Forward Power and Orenda.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 10, 2025

Batteries to provide grid support in transmission-constrained Pacific Northwest: BrightNight

The 200-MW/800-MWh Greenwater Energy Storage Project near Tacoma, Washington, will help integrate renewables and alleviate grid congestion along the Interstate 5 corridor, its developer says.

By Brian Martucci • Dec. 9, 2025

Solving the AI power puzzle: Taming data center demand with flexible grid-scale storage

Data centers' demand poses a considerable challenge to utilities. Fortunately grid-scale storage and next-generation energy operating systems are rising to the challenge.

By Charlotte Johnson, General Manager of Generation Flexibility at Kraken • Dec. 8, 2025

California lawmakers say utilities must be accountable for interconnection delays

In a letter to state regulators, 18 legislators say that PG&E and SCE are “repeatedly missing state-mandated timelines to interconnect solar and storage.”

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Dec. 3, 2025