Energy Storage

Sponsored by ecobee

Do smart thermostats still save during a global pandemic?

The role of free thermostat optimization in navigating ‘the new normal’.

Musk promises to reinvent batteries as Tesla reports record Q3 solar and storage deployments

Tesla's CEO envisions “batteries that cost half as much” within a few years as the company's continued emphasis on manufacturing and cutting costs delivers a fifth consecutive quarter of profitability.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 22, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

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

Facebook, Carnegie Mellon leverage AI to enhance energy storage scalability

The project aims to enable researchers to screen billions of possible energy storage catalysts per year, a huge jump from the current number possible with typical computational methods.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 20, 2020

Deep Dive

To batteries and beyond: Lithium-ion dominates utility storage; could competing chemistries change that?

The industry is growing increasingly comfortable with lithium-ion, but its limitations open up a space for other technologies to compete in the storage mix.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 15, 2020

NYPA to consider swapping gas peakers for batteries in novel deal with environmental justice groups

The New York Power Authority will hire consultants, including technical experts, to represent the interests of local advocacy groups when analyzing the potential for energy storage to replace gas peaking facilities in New York City.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2020

Deep Dive

To batteries and beyond: Compressed air, liquid air and the holy grail of long-duration storage

Proponents of the technologies are looking to carve out a niche for themselves in the market. In both cases, a key draw is duration.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 14, 2020

Deep Dive

To batteries and beyond: In a high-renewables world, pumped hydro storage could be 'the heavy artillery'

Experts say pumped hydro is notoriously difficult to site. But as more renewables come online, the industry is eyeing new locations and fresh technologies.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 13, 2020

Deep Dive

To batteries and beyond: With seasonal storage potential, hydrogen offers 'a different ballgame entirely'

The ability to provide long-term storage could give power-to-gas technologies an edge as renewables grow on the grid, some experts say. But larger questions remain around the infrastructure and policies to support it.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 12, 2020

Arizona OKs home battery incentives as Green Mountain Power program shows millions in customer savings

The Vermont-based utility said its growing network of stored energy, including home batteries, has shaved $3 million off customer costs so far in 2020 by cutting electricity demand during peak hours.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 06, 2020

California's Salton Sea offers chance for US battery supply chain, despite financial, policy challenges

There are multiple advantages to building a domestic supply chain for lithium-ion batteries, including avoiding the risks of tariffs or restrictions on obtaining components from overseas, one expert said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 06, 2020

Global storage heading to 741 GWh by 2030, WoodMac projects, amid ongoing challenges

"[I]t would be helpful to the system if we could improve the price signals, the economics of [storage] installations and compensate them," one analyst said.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 05, 2020

Biden could pursue 'easy' climate solutions, elements of the Green New Deal if elected: experts

Renewable energy, storage and transmission projects will continue to face challenges even in "blue" states supportive of such development, according to speakers at the Society of Environmental Journalists' annual conference.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 02, 2020

Vistra to retire 6.8 GW coal, blaming 'irreparably dysfunctional MISO market'

The company plans to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, will retire all its Midwest coal by 2027 or sooner, and add almost 1,000 MW of solar by the end of 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 30, 2020

Opinion

6 practical steps to improve community safety near lithium-ion energy storage systems

Research and curricula for first responders on lithium-ion battery storage system fires is insufficient, leading to situations where the fire service must piece together limited information to address incidents, the author writes.

By Steve Kerber • Sept. 28, 2020

Deep Dive

Demand response failed California 20 years ago; the state's recent outages may have redeemed it

The West's recent heatwaves put California power users in the dark but showed how flexible demand response, including distributed storage, can keep the lights on.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2020

New York sets minimum 3-year term for new load management programs to drive more energy storage

The rules are "technology agnostic," but experts say longer contract terms for load management resources should help development of new battery projects.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2020

PJM action on valuation 'opens the door' to energy storage in its capacity market

The grid operator's move could offer a model for other regional transmission organizations and independent system operators, said Energy Storage Association Vice President of Policy Jason Burwen.

By Guy Burdick • Sept. 24, 2020

Sponsored by Armada Power

The real-world benefits of advanced load shifting

Though much of the electric-power industry has begun paying close attention to the importance of load shifting and demand response in recent years, Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (CEPCI), has been focused on their benefits for decades.

Pipelines, energy storage among 60+ projects expedited by Trump order waiving environmental regulations

Newly released documents provide details into some of the infrastructure projects that have been sped up by the Trump administration to help hasten the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Jenn Goodman • Sept. 21, 2020

Hawaiian Electric asks regulators to approve nearly 2 GWh storage, 300 MW solar contracts

One project will "help facilitate the retirement of the last coal plant in Hawaii," said its developer.

By Guy Burdick • Sept. 18, 2020

Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond

Welcome to "Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond," a podcast series dedicated to further understanding how the utility industry can overcome the several challenges brought out by COVID-19 with technology and smart planning. 

By Utility Dive's Brand Studio • Sept. 18, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • UPDATED: Sept. 28, 2020 at 9:46 a.m.

Sponsored by Powerley

Home energy management is a lifeline

The adoption of mobile home energy management apps surges as residential customers take control of increasing energy bills and higher energy burdens.

Virginia regulators propose Dominion path toward 2.7 GW storage by 2035

The state's solar industry pushed back on the proposal, saying regulators "pretty much copy and pasted" utilities' proposals.

By Guy Burdick • Sept. 15, 2020

FERC reverses 40 years of PURPA precedent in ruling on small solar definition, punts on storage question

The commission upended precedent that found a facility's net solar capacity must be no larger than the 80 MW threshold.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 14, 2020