Energy Storage
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Deep Dive
Cheapest is not always best: Concentrated solar power could beat lower price PV with new market rules
With its zero-emissions mandate, California will need a diversity of renewable resources along with CSP, "particularly because of its long duration storage" potential, the state's Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild said.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2020 -
Massachusetts is 3 months from implementing nation's 1st clean peak standard
While the new standard is expected to reduce ratepayer costs from avoided or deferred infrastructure upgrades, utilities remain concerned about the cost of the program.
By Robert Walton • March 26, 2020 -
Permission granted by NextEra
Sponsored by SiemensNextEra's secret recipe for energy storage: Planning
With the current and expanding opportunities for battery storage, utility planners and investors require appropriate analyses, valuation approaches, and tools to assess project value for this rapidly evolving technology.
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Deep Dive
PG&E, SCE abandon big microgrid plans for temporary emergency measures as wildfire season nears
Regulators' push to implement a law requiring microgrid rollouts is being frustrated by the costs of traditional generation and clean energy complexities.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 23, 2020 -
Lead batteries make innovation push to better compete for energy storage projects
The Consortium for Battery Innovation believes more research can make lead-acid batteries cost-competitive for storage.
By Matthew Bandyk • March 19, 2020 -
New York taps developers for almost 1.3 GW of solar, wind and storage across upstate region
The 21 projects are expected to generate more than $2.5 billion in direct, private investments. Advocates say the announcement highlights the need for energy siting reform in the Empire State.
By Robert Walton • March 17, 2020 -
'An immediate and dramatic business concern:' How COVID-19 is disrupting the energy sector
The industry could face declines in demand, distracted regulators and disrupted supply chains, according to experts.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 17, 2020 -
Energy storage deployments to increase 7x between 2019 and 2021: WoodMac
Mega battery projects are driving quick growth in the storage sector, including a 182.5 MW, 730 MWh project from Pacific Gas & Electric.
By Matthew Bandyk • March 12, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Nuclear energy storage? Advanced reactor developers trying to expand nuclear power's selling points
Molten salt reactors have been trying to reach commercialization for several years, and developers are now emphasizing their potential storage capability. But that may not be enough.
By Matthew Bandyk • March 12, 2020 -
Blackstone buys NRStor subsidiary, as financial sector increasingly moves into energy storage
Battery storage is quickly becoming a more stable investment, particularly as demand for renewable energy grows.
By Matthew Bandyk • March 09, 2020 -
Adobe Stock
Deep DiveGreen Mountain Power's pioneering steps in transactive energy raise big questions about DER's value
Peer-to-peer energy transactions could meet policy goals and system needs, if software platforms resolve the complexities of value and reliable operation.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 04, 2020 -
Comprehensive Senate energy bill draws industry, bipartisan support, but lags on tax credits, efficiency
The bill would include 17 demonstration projects for advanced nuclear, carbon capture, long duration storage and geothermal, moving away from the Trump administration's more research-focused funding approach.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2020 -
'A Swiss army knife': How developers and investors are looking at the storage sector
The global storage market will expand from 4 GW of annual deployments in 2019 to more than 15 GW in 2024, according to analysts at Wood Mackenzie.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 03, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Green hydrogen gets real as utility business models and delivery solutions emerge
The fuel may be the only way to meet power system needs in zero emissions scenarios and the market signals to produce and use it are finally clear.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 02, 2020 -
'Beyond frustating' Senate dispute stalls bipartisan energy legislation
Adoption of the comprehensive package was disrupted over an amendment that would limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons.
By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: March 10, 2020 at 9:40 a.m. -
Spending more on renewables 'inappropriate,' as technology is already viable: DOE Secretary
Dan Brouillette defended President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to energy efficiency and renewables to a House committee as a pivot toward emerging technologies that have not yet reached market maturity, such as energy storage.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 28, 2020 -
Fotolia
CPUC proposes optimal 2030 system portfolio tripling battery storage, more than doubling solar
The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday proposed a 46 million metric ton greenhouse gas emissions target for the electric sector in 2030.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 27, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Utility Dive
State of the Electric Utility 2020
Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.
By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Dominion's first storage projects to test increased solar integration, fewer distribution upgrades
The utility plans to use the experience learned from operating four lithium-ion battery projects totaling 16 MW to meet new energy storage requirements, which could reach over 2 GW in Virginia by 2035.
By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Green Charge Networks
OpinionBeating China at the lithium game — can the US secure supplies to meet its renewables targets?
To meet its renewables targets, the U.S. needs to secure lithium supplies or find a different way to compete with Beijing’s mining and manufacturing prowess, the author writes.
By Teague Egan • Feb. 18, 2020 -
'This is going to be a very big deal' — coronavirus poised to disrupt storage, solar sectors
China's battery storage production could drop by 10%, or 26 GWh, from 2020 forecasts due to measures aimed at controlling the outbreak, according to Wood Mackenzie.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 18, 2020 -
Virginia approves 100% clean energy legislation, pushing state toward 2.4 GW storage, RGGI
Following a Senate push to get the Virginia Clean Economy Act to conference committee, the energy package is headed to the Governor's desk.
By Matthew Bandyk • UPDATED: March 6, 2020 at 10 a.m. -
Glick joins grid operators' call for storage hybrid market construct
The FERC commissioner wants to see action on the measure and suggested a technical conference on how to treat storage collocated with energy generation in energy markets.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Why is the utility industry less bullish on grid-scale storage?
This year, 27% of participants in the State of the Electric Utility survey said they expect their organization will significantly increase grid-scale battery storage in the next 10 years — compared to 34% last year.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Sustainability tops utility concerns, as SEU survey sees discrepancies on cybersecurity, stranded assets
Some 50% of utility respondents to Utility Dive's State of the Electric Utility Survey expect their organization to significantly increase the amount of grid-scale solar by 2030, a stronger forecast than for any other resource.
By Larry Pearl • Feb. 12, 2020
