FERC interconnection rule may not speed process in much of US: experts

Many transmission providers already use the just-issued rule’s central reform, dampening its effect in large parts of the U.S., lawyers and industry experts say.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 4, 2023

New York governor creates safety group to investigate fires at energy storage facilities

The move comes after multiple fires in recent months. As well as working to prevent fires, the group will help ensure emergency responders have the training to address them.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 3, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Virtual Power Plants

Virtual power plants and their ability to balance energy supply and demand are increasingly sought by utilities as electricity demand increases, but their lack of standardization remains a barrier.

By Utility Dive staff

NYISO warns FERC waiver for Hecate’s 650-MW storage project could set bad precedent

Hecate Grid said it will abandon the $300 million battery storage project on Staten Island if it doesn’t receive a one-year extension to meet some of the grid operator’s interconnection requirements.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 1, 2023

DOE makes $450M available for residential solar, battery systems in Puerto Rico

This summer, Puerto Rico experienced rolling blackouts 570 times more frequently than the North American average, according to the Department of Energy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2023

FERC issues rule to speed grid connections for storage, renewables, other generators amid 2-TW backlog

With generators facing years to complete interconnection reviews, the rule is a “significant” step in getting new power supplies online, but more work is needed, according to experts.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2023

Xcel Energy, Ambri liquid metal battery trial delayed to early next year

Originally slated for 2022, the project has encountered delays in spite of a booming market for energy storage projects, the battery’s manufacturer says.

By Emma Penrod • July 24, 2023

Hydrogen can fill a critical gap in decarbonizing, but can utilities make the business case?

As electric and gas utilities seek approval from regulators, they will need to address concerns about hydrogen economics, sustainability and safety.

By Leah Kunkel, Wesley Miller and Jessica Wright • July 24, 2023

AES Indiana plans 200-MW/800-MWh energy storage at retiring coal plant

The project would use existing interconnection rights. “As renewables proliferate, finding ideal interconnections is getting, and will continue to get, more difficult,” an AES official said.

By Ethan Howland • July 20, 2023

Tesla Q2 storage deployments increase 222% as company navigates ‘fractured regulatory environment’

The company’s solar deployments, however, declined year over year, which Tesla attributed to a high interest rate environment. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 20, 2023

Battery storage systems could face rapid asset degradation, especially with arbitrage: Fitch

Active management is required to implement arbitrage strategies, which involve purchasing energy when prices are low and selling when they increase, according to the analysis.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 18, 2023

3 top questions on the future of lithium, cobalt and nickel supply: report

The International Energy Agency is optimistic global supply of critical minerals can keep pace with demand, but is skeptical when it comes to diverse sourcing.

By Kate Magill • July 17, 2023

Transmission development pace ‘severely’ limits renewable energy, carbon reduction potential: report

Failing to speed up transmission expansion cuts possible greenhouse gas emissions reductions in half by 2035, the Princeton University-led REPEAT Project found.

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 2023

The meaning of an ‘optimal’ clean energy investment is changing as prices rise, analysts report

Inflation Reduction Act incentives and supply-demand imbalances have developers and off-takers recalculating the value of clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2023

DTE Electric agrees to speed Michigan coal plant retirements, renewable and energy storage buildout

DTE will add 3.8 GW of renewables and 780 MW of energy storage by 2030 under a settlement agreement released Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • July 13, 2023

Solar-powered ‘microgrids’ coming to San Diego public buildings as first of 8 projects breaks ground

Batteries will store the excess solar energy a site generates, with that energy powering the facility in the afternoons and evenings, when electricity prices rise.

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 12, 2023

DOE lab boosts flow battery capacity, life using starch derivative in breakthrough research

“We need to develop a sustainable approach with chemicals that we can synthesize in large amounts,” said Imre Gyuk, director of energy storage research at DOE’s Office of Electricity.

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2023

EV batteries can be repurposed as grid storage to reduce battery supply chain impacts: report

Doing so, however, would require better regulation around accessing battery management systems, as well as flexible liability frameworks for repurposed batteries, according to the report’s author. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 11, 2023

Minnesota PUC approves Xcel’s plan to install a 10-MW/1,000-MWh Form Energy battery system

The utility company expects the long-duration energy storage project will be operating by the end of 2025. It will be paired with 710 MW of solar at the site of a coal-fired power plant that is being retired.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2023

DOE selects 4 equity-focused organizations to receive energy storage assistance

The agency's Energy Storage for Social Equity initiative helps underserved communities install batteries to meet their energy goals.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2023

Greenbacker Capital expands battery fleet with purchase of 4-hour, 30-MW California storage system

The Holtville BESS project will be the largest standalone storage asset in GCM’s clean energy portfolio, the company said.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2023

Future-proofing large scale solar projects

Solar developers are adopting new strategies to de-risk large-scale projects, maximizing rewards with a prepare/plan/prevent framework.

By Omar Ahmed – VP of Systems Engineering, and Nate Robinson, Senior Vice President of Construction – DEPCOM Power • June 26, 2023

Cleantech M&A activity expected to grow, driven by ESG investing and federal funding: West Monroe

ESG is an “unstoppable long-term trend,” according to the report released Thursday. “Much of this wall of capital will be sunk into cleantech.”

By Ethan Howland • June 22, 2023

Four non-transmission solutions for clean energy with new power lines in the permitting ‘Valley of Death’

Smart technologies, storage, overbuilding and distributed resources can move the energy transition ahead until workable reforms bring new transmission online, stakeholders agreed

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2023

Energy storage growth stalled in early 2023, projected to bounce back: report

Researchers tracked a 26% decrease in new energy storage projects in the first quarter compared with the previous quarter.

By Patrick Cooley • June 20, 2023

California’s storage portfolio could provide grid benefits of up to $1.6B per year by 2032, report finds

Storage, particularly well-sited storage, can provide “flexible capacity and efficient reliability services to ratepayers,” said Sergio Dueñas, policy manager at the California Energy Storage Alliance.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 20, 2023