Energy Storage

CAISO approves hybrid storage policies as California preps to add 1.5 GW by 2022

The new policy provides market certainty around how hybrid resources are supposed to operate in the market, according to Jin Noh, policy manager at the California Energy Storage Alliance.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 24, 2020

Deep Dive

Why capital markets are continuing to finance utilities facing rising flood and other climate change impacts

In a sample of 18 utility disclosures on climate risks analyzed by Utility Dive, 13 stated flooding and heavy storms were a short-to-mid term threat.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2020

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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

Deep Dive

To batteries and beyond: The storage technologies poised to play a key role in the energy transition

At least 33 U.S. utilities are aiming to become carbon-free or reach net-zero emissions by 2050. These are some of the technologies that could help them get there.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 17, 2020

Maryland PSC greenlights Exelon pilots to guide future of utility-scale storage in the state

The commission also rejected a proposal from Potomac Edison, which the utility withdrew due to technical constraints that it discovered only after submitting the application.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 11, 2020

Virginia lawmakers say proposed rules violate spirit of state's clean energy laws, press for changes

The State Corporation Commission's proposed storage and other rules to implement the Clean Economy Act contain “unnecessary obstacles” that would hinder job growth, state legislators say.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 10, 2020

Opinion

California has the technology and know-how to meet its energy needs; it needs the right regulations

California energy agencies should make common-sense changes to maximize the value and market opportunity for energy storage and demand response, the authors write.

By Nick Chaset and Cisco DeVries • Nov. 10, 2020

Storage tax credit remains unlikely in divided government, but could pass in compromise bill: analyst

One analysis indicates the credit could lead to as much as a 16% upside for the U.S. storage market.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 10, 2020

Sponsored by Wartsila

Automated bidding is the next step in the evolution of energy storage

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the power industry has remained innovative in optimizing energy storage and renewable resources.

By Andy Tang, Vice President - Energy Storage and Optimization, Wärtsilä • Nov. 05, 2020

Deep Dive

Election 2020: Xcel Energy, municipalization advocates face off in Boulder

On Nov. 3, voters in the Colorado city must choose whether to trust Xcel’s commitments or the promise of a municipal utility.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2020

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

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