Energy Storage

Dominion reaches agreement on South Carolina renewables + storage tariff to better integrate resources

The proposal reflects the fact that South Carolina's storage market is maturing, according to one stakeholder. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 07, 2020

Dominion asks Virginia regulators for interim storage targets as it moves toward 2.7 GW by 2035

Virginia's State Corporation Commission will establish regulations for Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to move forward in energy storage required under a new state law.

By Guy Burdick • Aug. 04, 2020

LG Chem refutes alleged cause of explosion at APS battery storage facility

LG Chem disputes APS's claim that a battery cell failure initiated an April 2019 explosion, alleging an external heat source is the root cause.

By Guy Burdick • Aug. 04, 2020

New Mexico approves 100% renewables + storage replacement for San Juan coal capacity

A full renewables portfolio, along with battery storage, was the only replacement option that fully satisfied the state's 100% carbon-free energy transition goals, according to regulators.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2020

APS says runaway thermal event caused 2019 battery explosion, outlines 4 steps to avoid a repeat

Abnormal lithium metal deposits likely led to the internal failure, according to a report authored for APS by Davion Hill, U.S. energy storage leader for DNV GL.

By Guy Burdick • July 29, 2020

Column

Taking Charge: How California's first CCA confronts wildfire risk and energy equity amid COVID-19

MCE CEO Dawn Weisz spoke to Utility Dive about the community choice aggregator's efforts to make its service area more resilient.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2020

IREC launches project to tackle storage interconnection challenges

The project aims to resolve regulatory and technical barriers to connecting storage projects to the distribution grid.

By Guy Burdick • July 23, 2020

Enel plans to deploy 1 GW storage capacity across renewable portfolio through 2022

The company started constructing its first North American utility-scale hybrid project in Texas.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 22, 2020

DOE unveils draft roadmap for US global energy storage leadership

The plan provides more details for the department's Energy Storage Grand Challenge and comes as the House Appropriations Committee approved a significant increase in DOE spending on energy storage.

By Larry Pearl • July 14, 2020

Largest US battery resource connects to CAISO grid, signaling next phase in California's storage growth

The project is "a turning point for storage on our system," according to California ISO President and CEO Steve Berberich.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 14, 2020

DC Circuit upholds landmark FERC storage order, rejecting claims it violates state authority

"I think 841 … [may be] one of the single most significant ... actions taken by a government agency to address carbon mitigation and the transition to a clean energy future," FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee told reporters.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 13, 2020

Sunrun buys Vivint Solar for $3.2B

With the acquisition of the residential solar provider, to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020, Sunrun seeks to consolidate costs and realize scale benefits, saving about $90 million annually.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 07, 2020

Quidnet leverages drilling tech to provide pumped hydro type storage at half the price

The Houston-based firm secured $10 million in Series B financing and a contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for a commercial demonstration of its technology.

By Guy Burdick • July 06, 2020

Deep Dive

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Consumer demand prompts aggressive shift toward renewables, storage at Tucson Electric Power

Solar, wind and energy storage systems will account for 70% of TEP's generation capacity by 2035, according to the utility.

By Emma Penrod • June 30, 2020

Deep Dive

COVID-19 propels microgrids in healthcare sector, but regulatory, awareness hurdles remain

"If we think this is the last time we’re going to be dealing with something like this, I think we’re being foolish," said an executive at a Southern Company distributed power subsidiary.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 29, 2020

Opinion

California's storage limbo: Over $300M in projects are stuck on a CPUC waitlist, but there's an easy fix

California has $600 million in idle funds that can be used to advance energy storage projects; reallocating them would be the shot in the arm the state needs now, the author writes.

By Ted Ko • June 25, 2020

Battery makers face looming shortages of high-quality lithium

The COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely affected financial markets that battery developers and producers rely on, according to developers.

By Guy Burdick • June 25, 2020

Amazon $2B climate pledge draws praise, skepticism as total carbon footprint rises

The venture capital announcement was welcomed by developers in the clean energy space, but Green America said the company's plans are overly vague.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: June 25, 2020 at 8:04 p.m.

8 Maryland utility storage pilots get vote of confidence, suggestions on safety, solar integration

Stakeholders weighed in June 19 on four utilities’ proposals to the Maryland Public Service Commission for eight pilot energy storage projects that could launch in February 2022.

By Guy Burdick • June 23, 2020

Xcel to speed up $3B in clean energy spending in response to Minnesota prompt on COVID-19 recovery

The utility plans to aid the state's economic recovery through a variety of programs, including energy efficiency, renewables and storage, that would create an estimated 5,000 jobs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 19, 2020

EnergyHub partners with Vivint Solar as utility incentives for residential energy storage ramp up

"We're seeing double-digit, month-over-month growth in the volume of customers and batteries participating in utility programs," EnergyHub CEO Seth Frader Thompson told Utility Dive.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2020

SCE, Sunrun partner on solar+storage virtual power plant pilot to drive down peak demand

The utility hopes to encourage greater buildout of residential solar+storage through the initial 300 customer program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 17, 2020

Fluence unveils intelligent, modular storage product with 800 MW/2,300 MWh of projects

The technology stack, which includes digital intelligence that can connect storage systems to energy markets and manage battery degradation, is being deployed by Enel, LS Power, SPower and Siemens.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 17, 2020

COVID-19 pushes energy storage leader out of market as competition intensifies

The energy storage market is both shrinking and growing, according to an analyst. As existing firms are swallowed by competitors, new ones emerge.

By Guy Burdick • June 16, 2020