Energy Storage

New York authorizes National Grid to serve retail, bid into wholesale market with upstate battery project

A utility-owned 3 MWh battery will bid into the New York ISO wholesale market as well as serve retail customers to demonstrate storage's role and potential.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 17, 2021

Gravity-based storage firm Energy Vault to go public in SPAC deal as market continues to boom

The Energy Information Administration predicted in August that large-scale battery storage installations could grow tenfold between 2019 and the end of 2023, with some 10,000 MW of new storage installed between 2021 and 2023.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 14, 2021

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Trendline

Wholesale Markets

Wholesale market operators' drive to ensure reliability continues to clash with state decarbonization goals, but new proposals are emerging to better integrate emerging resources and share them across borders.

By Utility Dive staff

Hyzon and Chevron-backed fuel company to make hydrogen in California

Two processing sites Raven SR plans to operate in the state could produce enough hydrogen to power an estimated 200 heavy-duty trucks per day.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 10, 2021

Generator manufacturer Briggs & Stratton acquires energy storage firm SimpliPhi Power

The acquisition "establishes a strong position for Briggs & Stratton in the high-growth energy storage system market," said CEO Steve Andrews.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 09, 2021

Vistra's 1.2 GWh Moss Landing storage facility remains offline after overheating incident

The facility in Monterey, Calif., experienced an overheating incident earlier this month, but no fire or injuries were reported. 

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 07, 2021

Sponsored by HSI

Utility provider shows why effective training is key to the energy transition

Utilities everywhere face challenges and demands that extend well beyond integrating and managing new technologies.  

Sponsored by Questline

Demand for interactive content is rising. Can utilities catch up?

In today's digital world of mobile video games and viral TikTok videos, interactive content is now an expectation for utility customers of all ages.

Time running out for Exelon's Byron and Dresden nuclear plants as Illinois Senate passes major energy bill

The state Senate's clean energy package, which still needs to pass the House of Representatives, would provide nearly $700 million over five years for the nuclear power sector.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Sept. 02, 2021

Duke explores shutting coal-fired plants by 2030 in South Carolina plans

The revised plans come after South Carolina regulators voted in late June to reject the utility's previous proposals and send the company back to the drawing board.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Sept. 01, 2021

California's growing storage fleet is beginning to impact energy markets as envisioned, says grid operator

Storage advocates, meanwhile, say California should move away from its "just-in-time" procurement cycle to account for processes like interconnection and permitting.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 31, 2021

DOE-backed battery technology promises much faster charging than lithium-ion devices

Conductive materials being researched at Tulane University could combine the rapid charging of supercapacitors with the density of lithium-ion batteries. 

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 31, 2021

As battery storage booms, investors spend big on startups

Long-duration energy storage firm Malta announced a $60 million fundraising round, while FlexGen notched $150 million in equity. 

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 27, 2021

Battery storage is on a growth spurt that's about to get even bigger, EIA says

Battery storage could contribute 10 GW to the grid between 2021 and 2023, a U.S. Energy Information Administration report concludes. But storage advocates say that estimate could be even bigger given recent industry growth.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 26, 2021

Generators, labor groups urge New York to develop incentives for nonrenewable generation

The effort could lead to investments in carbon capture and other low-emissions technology, but conservation advocates call it misguided and urge a focus on more renewables, transmission and storage.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2021

Deep Dive

Will hydrogen usher in a new era of collaboration between gas and electric utilities?

With hundreds of businesses from dozens of industries eyeing hydrogen as a key opportunity for future growth, gas utilities have started to make a case for their role in the clean energy economy. But not everyone shares their vision.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 19, 2021

UL, Hyundai to partner on evaluation of EV batteries for energy storage

The project will focus on second-life applications for electric vehicle batteries. The companies say their partnership could also offer valuable data on lithium-ion battery safety risks.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 18, 2021

As momentum for hydrogen builds, electric utilities chart multiple paths forward

Utilities interested in the hydrogen market are considering the fuel for carbon-free generation and for new business models on the horizon.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 18, 2021

Deep Dive

An ideal marriage? The battle to match US clean energy demand with excess Canadian hydropower

It would seem like the perfect match — a surplus of Canadian hydropower with a grid in the United States that is hungry for more renewable power sources. But moving that power is proving to be complicated.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 16, 2021

Michigan regulators push for utility pilots to test how energy storage benefits the grid

As the Midcontinent ISO crafts its storage rules, Michigan is encouraging utilities to test various uses of the resource in the wholesale and retail electricity markets.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 13, 2021

Sponsored by Southwire

[Podcast] Ensuring Grid Resilience in a Time of Change

This 3-part podcast series provides you with expert insights into the questions and topics utilities need to address to properly harden their systems for a future full of change.

By Utility Dive's studioID • Aug. 09, 2021

Dominion planning 'largest clean energy submission to date' in Virginia filing

In its second quarter earnings call, CEO Robert Blue said the utility is aggressively pushing forward clean energy solutions, spending $17 billion on zero-carbon generation and storage over the next five years.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 09, 2021

Deep Dive

The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say

Renewables led the power sector's recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to take the transportation, building and industrial sectors to net zero emissions by mid-century.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 04, 2021

California governor moves to free up electricity supply amid projected 3.5 GW summer shortfall

Gavin Newsom, D, is pushing regulators to expedite clean energy projects, but experts are skeptical that the state will be able to bring online more than a limited amount of additional clean energy this summer. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 03, 2021

Xcel plans to roll out 10,000 MW of renewable energy in Minnesota, Colorado by 2030

Xcel Energy is accelerating plans to cut its carbon emissions in Minnesota, the utility's home base, and is also gearing up for a major transition, with longtime CEO Ben Fowke slated to retire on Aug. 18.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 30, 2021

Murkowski highlights potential boost to US critical minerals ahead of bipartisan infrastructure deal

Senators voted 67-32 to advance the latest version of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, securing the support of 17 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 29, 2021