Energy Storage
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Salt River Project to install Arizona's largest battery system, helping to replace giant coal plant
The utility plans to develop two solar+storage facilities, with one featuring a 1 GWh battery system, which will help replace the lost power from the closure of the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 15, 2019 -
Deep DiveHow does AI improve grid performance? No one fully understands and that's limiting its use
"For 75% of what utilities are doing, outside of maybe forecasting or managing capacity, AI is at the infancy stage and there is no real use case," a data management specialist said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 14, 2019 -
OpinionNew battery storage on shaky ground in ancillary service markets
New battery storage systems will quickly overwhelm relatively finite ancillary service demand in regulated and deregulated markets across North America.
By Derek Sackler • Nov. 14, 2019 -
In search for cheaper, longer energy storage, mountain gravity could eventually top lithium-ion
Using mountains for storage could be combined with hydropower and prove to be economically attractive for microgrids, islands and areas with high electricity costs, a new study finds.
By Matthew Bandyk • Nov. 12, 2019 -
California proposes extending 4.8 GW gas capacity as bridge to 3.3 GW of new clean energy by 2023
The state's newly authorized procurement aims to have renewables-plus-storage and standalone storage compete well against other resources, along with energy efficiency and demand response resources.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 11, 2019 -
Renewables continue to get cheaper, just not as fast as before, Lazard analysis finds
The financial advisory firm released its latest levelized cost of energy report, showing the rate of cost declines for renewables is slowing as the industry matures.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 08, 2019 -
Incentives spur rapid storage growth in New York, outpacing distributed solar expansion: NYSERDA CEO
NYSERDA has been comparing the pace of its storage incentive program, aimed at bringing developers into the state, with the New York Sun program for distributed solar.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 08, 2019 -
Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy
Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 06, 2019 -
Bay area energy agencies launch distributed storage solicitation amid PG&E power shutoffs
The request for proposals by three Community Choice Aggregators and one municipal utility comes as local power providers increasingly look to local resources to meet the state's Resource Adequacy requirements.
By Larry Pearl • Nov. 05, 2019 -
SponsoredAustin SHINES: A working model for managing solar from both sides of the meter
See how we're revolutionizing the way utilities view and utilize the influx of distributed energy resources entering the grid.
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Adding renewables and storage in LA is hard. Clean Power Alliance wants to change that.
Community choice aggregators like Clean Power Alliance are looking for local energy resources, but that has proven difficult in congested metropolitan areas where space is very expensive, such as Los Angeles County.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2019 -
Tesla earnings surprise includes storage, solar growth
A surprise profit sent shares soaring. Beyond vehicle sales growth and cost cutting, the company boasted record 477 MWh storage installations and rebounding solar in Q3.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Deep DiveUtilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say
Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Deep DiveEV charging promises a demand response bonanza for utilities, if they can handle it
Aggregated flexible load of high EV penetrations will be lucrative in demand response markets, but for now smaller EV demand gives utilities management practice.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2019 -
FERC OKs PJM, SPP storage plans, sets separate proceedings for minimum run-time requirements
PJM must implement Order 841 by Dec. 3 while SPP has nine months, although FERC opened separate dockets with the grid operators relating to their storage duration requirements.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 18, 2019 -
OpinionLet's kill 'utility-' or 'grid-scale' storage
"We're not calling for the end of the large-scale storage industry. We're saying that distributed, smaller-scale storage can provide all the same value to the grid that large-scale storage can," Stem's policy director said.
By Ted Ko • Oct. 17, 2019 -
California's new reliability requirements create short-term opportunity for storage, CAISO says
Solar's ability to qualify for resource adequacy is declining as peak demand shifts, and storage has a limited window to meet the resulting capacity needs.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2019 -
There once was a 48 MWh Tesla battery on Nantucket, which saved National Grid $120M in its budget
Pairing the eight-hour battery system with a 15 MW diesel generator, the utility avoided nearly $200 million in permitting and construction costs for an undersea transmission cable.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 10, 2019 -
PJM presses FERC to act by Nov. 3 on Order 841 filing detailing market participation for energy storage
The notice said the grid operator and its stakeholders need at least one month's notice to go live with a storage market participation model.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 09, 2019 -
SponsoredTech tip: Manage energy consumption with a Fronius smart meter
Determine how to optimize your energy production and make the most of your solar investment.
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Deep Dive3 state commissions upending the way utilities do business
Oregon, Illinois and Hawaii regulators are disrupting the traditional utility cost-of-service model to bring more distributed energy resources online.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 02, 2019 -
As Puerto Rico generators trip offline, PREPA relies on load shedding, looks to microgrids
The island utility faces resource adequacy problems as energy regulators consider a plan to reinforce resiliency through eight regional "minigrids."
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 30, 2019 -
From the UD archives: An inside look at Rocky Mountain Power's 600-battery DR project
The 12.6 MWh Utah project uses solar and battery systems as a virtual power plant.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 30, 2019 -
Storage bill expanding utility rate recovery options for battery projects clears Senate committee
Top energy storage advocates are optimistic about the Better Energy Storage Technology Act's chances for a floor vote because of its bipartisan support.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2019 -
Deep DiveCalifornia wants a carbon-free economy by 2045: Can floating offshore wind help it get there?
New technology could bring ocean wind when there is no sun to recharge depleted batteries.
By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 25, 2019
