Hawaii regulators ease up on 'nearly impossible' conditions for HECO's Kapolei storage project

While the Public Utilities Commission reversed course on many conditions, it also signaled it would handle some in other dockets, said Kylie Wager Cruz, staff attorney with Earthjustice. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 19, 2021

FERC rejects MISO's bid to extend storage order compliance deadline, dismissing reliability concerns

Regulators say MISO failed to show "potential reliability impacts that warrant further delay" and will mandate storage policy adjustments in 2022. 

By Jason Plautz • May 19, 2021

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

Where should batteries be put to manage wind and solar power?

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researchers found that batteries sited separately from renewables, in a nearby high-value location, added greater value to a project than tandem siting, particularly in constrained areas.

By Will Gorman • May 19, 2021

Tesla shifts battery chemistry for utility-scale storage Megapack

The move to cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate batteries for the 1 GWh product could signal supply chain shifts. 

By Jason Plautz • May 18, 2021

FERC denies MISO request to extend Order 841 compliance deadline to 2025

FERC said MISO had "not shown good cause" for granting its request, which cited potential conflicts with its members' decarbonization goals under the current deadline.

By Jason Plautz • Updated May 18, 2021

Flow battery manufacturer ESS goes public via SPAC acquisition

The move will fund 16 GWh of manufacturing across three continents. 

By Jason Plautz • May 13, 2021

Agilitas Energy $1.4M Rhode Island storage project to avoid up to 8.6X costlier transmission line fix

Installing the battery will cost $1.4 million, compared to transmission line repairs that would have cost between $6 million and $12 million, according to the local utility.

By Jason Plautz • May 12, 2021

Hawaii PUC reconsiders conditions placed on HECO's Kapolei energy storage project

Conditions in the original regulatory approval would have made it "nearly impossible" to move forward with the project, the utility said

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated May 18, 2021

DTE, Consumers Energy urge Michigan to not allow dual participation for storage projects

As the state seeks to boost storage, utilities warn that retail and wholesale market participation could prove too complex and costly. 

By Jason Plautz • May 10, 2021

HECO chafes at Hawaii PUC's conditions on new battery project, saying they could deter deployment

"[T]he order imposes such unprecedented conditions that the company and the developer may be prevented from moving forward with this innovative and cost-effective project,” a Hawaiian Electric spokesperson said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 5, 2021

Hydrostor building up to 1 GW compressed air storage to meet California's shifting resource needs

State regulators recently recommended procuring 1 GW of long-duration storage, along with other resources, to meet system needs after the planned closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in 2024 and 2025.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 4, 2021

As utilities match CCAs on price, aggregators increase climate action, grow economies of scale to compete

With stranded costs and other charges keeping CCA bills and utility bills comparable, municipal and community aggregations are challenging utilities on renewables and climate targets to grow their customer base.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2021

CAISO launches stakeholder process to optimize market for storage

The ISO is continuing its push to overhaul a market designed for fossil fuels.

By Jason Plautz • April 30, 2021

Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing

The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2021

Musk touts Tesla's move to only sell home solar and storage together, admits mistakes with solar roof

The combination will streamline installation by ensuring that all the power generated goes to the battery system before reaching the house's circuit breaker, while also making strides to shore up the grid, Musk said.

By Jason Plautz • April 27, 2021

GE, others see hybrid storage as 'the future' of grid reliability but face technology, optimization challenges

Interconnection rules and regulations also remain a barrier, but advocates see massive potential for pairing renewables and batteries.

By Jason Plautz • April 26, 2021

Americas poised to lead storage market by 2025, with global investment hitting $86B: WoodMac

Analysts expect the Americas to outpace the Asia Pacific region on storage capacity by the middle of the decade.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 23, 2021

NextEra sees hydrogen as key to deep decarbonization, takes small steps for now

Incorporating hydrogen into the company's analysis of decarbonization "substantially changes the value equation for customers to fully decarbonize in the electricity sector," NextEra CFO Rebecca Kujawa said.

By Larry Pearl • April 22, 2021

New York rejects 6 utilities' bid to own storage projects, extends next deployment deadline

The Public Service Commission said there was "no compelling reason presently to modify its stated preference for third parties to develop" storage projects in the states.

By Jason Plautz • April 22, 2021

Corporate funding for solar surges in Q1, but venture capital eyes are on storage, Mercom finds

"Everyone expects positive outcomes" in renewable energy based on the Biden administration's policy support and the recent economic recovery, said Mercom Capital CEO Raj Prabhu.

By Emma Penrod • April 21, 2021

Pennsylvania regulators take 'first key step' to identify storage-boosting strategies

The Department of Environmental Protection released the Pennsylvania Energy Storage Assessment, which recommends setting an energy storage target and using public funding for storage projects, among other steps.

By Jason Plautz • April 21, 2021

Clean energy jobs 'hit hard' by COVID-19 in 2020: report

Research from Environment Entrepreneurs found the sector shed 307,000 jobs but rebounded in the second half of the year — and could be set for a major recovery in 2021.

By Chris Teale • April 20, 2021

As Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables

A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2021

Hawaii top regulator fears potential clean energy project delays could slow closure of HECO oil-fired plant

Hawaiian Electric representatives, however, say the utility is trying to balance a variety of concerns, including from local communities. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 15, 2021

Following California and Texas blackouts, experts see potential for energy storage and better grid planning

Regulators will need to deploy storage across multiple time spectrums, Steve Berberich, former president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator, said April 13 during the BNEF Summit. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 14, 2021