California proposes extending 4.8 GW gas capacity as bridge to 3.3 GW of new clean energy by 2023

The state's newly authorized procurement aims to have renewables-plus-storage and standalone storage compete well against other resources, along with energy efficiency and demand response resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 11, 2019

Renewables continue to get cheaper, just not as fast as before, Lazard analysis finds

The financial advisory firm released its latest levelized cost of energy report, showing the rate of cost declines for renewables is slowing as the industry matures.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2019

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

Incentives spur rapid storage growth in New York, outpacing distributed solar expansion: NYSERDA CEO

NYSERDA has been comparing the pace of its storage incentive program, aimed at bringing developers into the state, with the New York Sun program for distributed solar.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 8, 2019

Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy

Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 2, 2019

Bay area energy agencies launch distributed storage solicitation amid PG&E power shutoffs

The request for proposals by three Community Choice Aggregators and one municipal utility comes as local power providers increasingly look to local resources to meet the state's Resource Adequacy requirements.

By Larry Pearl • Nov. 5, 2019

Austin SHINES: A working model for managing solar from both sides of the meter

See how we're revolutionizing the way utilities view and utilize the influx of distributed energy resources entering the grid.

Oct. 31, 2019

Adding renewables and storage in LA is hard. Clean Power Alliance wants to change that.

Community choice aggregators like Clean Power Alliance are looking for local energy resources, but that has proven difficult in congested metropolitan areas where space is very expensive, such as Los Angeles County.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2019

Tesla earnings surprise includes storage, solar growth

A surprise profit sent shares soaring. Beyond vehicle sales growth and cost cutting, the company boasted record 477 MWh storage installations and rebounding solar in Q3.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019

Utilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say

Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019

EV charging promises a demand response bonanza for utilities, if they can handle it

Aggregated flexible load of high EV penetrations will be lucrative in demand response markets, but for now smaller EV demand gives utilities management practice.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2019

FERC OKs PJM, SPP storage plans, sets separate proceedings for minimum run-time requirements

PJM must implement Order 841 by Dec. 3 while SPP has nine months, although FERC opened separate dockets with the grid operators relating to their storage duration requirements.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 18, 2019

Let's kill 'utility-' or 'grid-scale' storage

"We're not calling for the end of the large-scale storage industry. We're saying that distributed, smaller-scale storage can provide all the same value to the grid that large-scale storage can," Stem's policy director said.

By Ted Ko • Oct. 17, 2019

California's new reliability requirements create short-term opportunity for storage, CAISO says

Solar's ability to qualify for resource adequacy is declining as peak demand shifts, and storage has a limited window to meet the resulting capacity needs.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2019

There once was a 48 MWh Tesla battery on Nantucket, which saved National Grid $120M in its budget

Pairing the eight-hour battery system with a 15 MW diesel generator, the utility avoided nearly $200 million in permitting and construction costs for an undersea transmission cable.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 10, 2019

PJM presses FERC to act by Nov. 3 on Order 841 filing detailing market participation for energy storage

The notice said the grid operator and its stakeholders need at least one month's notice to go live with a storage market participation model.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 9, 2019

Tech tip: Manage energy consumption with a Fronius smart meter

Determine how to optimize your energy production and make the most of your solar investment.

Oct. 8, 2019

3 state commissions upending the way utilities do business

Oregon, Illinois and Hawaii regulators are disrupting the traditional utility cost-of-service model to bring more distributed energy resources online.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 2, 2019

As Puerto Rico generators trip offline, PREPA relies on load shedding, looks to microgrids

The island utility faces resource adequacy problems as energy regulators consider a plan to reinforce resiliency through eight regional "minigrids."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 30, 2019

The future of energy storage is here: An inside look at Rocky Mountain Power’s 600-battery DR project

The 12.6 MWh Utah project uses solar and battery systems as a virtual power plant.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 30, 2019

Storage bill expanding utility rate recovery options for battery projects clears Senate committee

Top energy storage advocates are optimistic about the Better Energy Storage Technology Act's chances for a floor vote because of its bipartisan support.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2019

California wants a carbon-free economy by 2045: Can floating offshore wind help it get there?

New technology could bring ocean wind when there is no sun to recharge depleted batteries.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 25, 2019

Northeastern utilities aim to 'crush and flatten' system peaks as DERs boost grid efficiency

DER providers and utilities have found shared market interests in New England, leading to cooperative BYOD programs that provide a range of benefits for customers and the power system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 23, 2019

Ex-Tesla exec wants to increase utility control of DERs, and has a smart panel to do it

The new electric panel combines smart metering capabilities with remote control of energy use in residences, while easing installation of solar, energy storage and EV chargers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 20, 2019

Virginia Gov. Northam orders 100% carbon-free power by 2050

The governor's order also calls for the state to reach 30% renewable energy and reduce its power consumption 10% below 2006 levels by 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 18, 2019

Arizonans could save $3.5B with quicker coal to solar+storage transition, report finds

Research commissioned by the Sierra Club examined 11 coal units slated for closure in 2035 or later. Moving that timeline up to 2023 would result in significant savings, it found.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2019