Duke, Eversource commit to create energy storage safety standards

The corporate social responsibility initiative launched by the Energy Storage Association seeks to establish best practices for potential hazards, end-of-life processes and recycling of storage systems.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 23, 2019

A brighter future: Why energy storage belongs in the investment tax credit

A proposed bill to include energy storage in the federal investment tax credit is imperative to the future of U.S. clean energy, writes Kelly Speakes-Backman and Heather Reams.

By Heather Reams and Kelly Speakes-Backman • April 16, 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

Green Mountain Power aims for 100% renewables by 2030 with up to 100 MW storage

Vermont's largest utility is 90% carbon free, but reaching 100% renewables will require the utility to increase its deployment of distributed resources and storage.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 16, 2019

EVgo adding 14 battery storage systems to spur EV fast charger deployment

The storage systems will provide relief to demand charge rate structures as well as offering load balancing and mitigating distribution grid upgrade costs, the company said.

By HJ Mai • April 12, 2019

Hawaiian Electric targets nearly 1.4 GWh storage, 135 MW solar equivalent in latest solicitation

If approved by Hawaii regulators, the second phase of the utility's procurement plans would compensate for the planned closure of two fossil-fuel power plants and bring the state closer to its 100% renewable energy goal.

By HJ Mai • April 11, 2019

Eversource advances Cape Cod battery project, defers 13-mile distribution line

Provincetown, Massachusetts, residents approved a lease for Eversource to develop a 38 MWh lithium-ion battery at the town's waste transfer station. "Clean energy at the dump" is a growing trend, according to the utility.

By Robert Walton • April 8, 2019

House Democrats roll out energy storage tax credit while pushing broader clean energy incentives

Amid a broad policy push for climate action and decarbonization, more than 100 House Democrats are pushing near-term action to boost the deployment of renewables and battery storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 5, 2019

States can grow battery resources with 'one simple step,' report finds

Citing Massachusetts as an example, Clean Energy Group recommends states redefine energy efficiency to include peak demand reduction, which could spur energy storage via access to additional incentives.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2019

Will FERC trample state and local authorities in DER rulemaking?

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may soon upset a long-standing balance among local, state and federal decision-making as it considers aggregating distributed energy resources in a way that eliminates local jurisdiction.

By Jim Matheson • April 5, 2019

NYPA initiative targets quicker commercialization path for storage, EV startups

A partnership between New York Power Authority and New York University's Urban Future Lab will support businesses pursuing technologies that can help the state reach its zero carbon power goal.

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2019

FERC asks grid operators for more detail on storage participation

Federal regulators on April 1 asked RTOs and ISOs to beef up their compliance filings for Order 841 after the energy storage sector raised concerns with their original proposals. 

By Gavin Bade • April 3, 2019

Maryland passes energy storage pilot program to determine future regulatory framework

The bill applies only to Maryland's four investor-owned utilities: Potomac Edison; Baltimore Gas and Electric; Delmarva Power and Light; and Potomac Electric Power.

By HJ Mai • April 2, 2019

Solar + storage projects to drive utility-scale deployment of batteries: Navigant

As storage-plus-renewable-energy project prices drop and adoption expands, a report finds storage-plus PPA prices are already able to compete with combined cycle gas plants.

By HJ Mai • April 1, 2019

Hawaii regulators approve HECO's $86M grid mod plan, 6 solar + storage projects under $0.10/kWh

Hawaiian Electric said the decisions, including the "largest and lowest-cost portfolio" of renewables assembled at one time in a state, will enable "foundational" changes on the electric grids of five islands.

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2019

FPL unveils plans for largest solar-powered battery in the world

The 409 MW/900 MWh storage center would be four times larger than the current record-holder: Tesla's 100-MW/129MWh system in Australia.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 28, 2019

ISO-NE files short-term fuel security plan to relieve gas constraints

The ISO's proposed Inventoried Energy Program would provide higher payments for resources that can store fuel onsite in the winters of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.

By Gavin Bade • March 27, 2019

Electricity costs from battery storage down 76% since 2012: BNEF

Renewable energy projects featuring battery storage could challenge fossil fuels in the area of dispatchable power as the cost of electricity from lithium-ion batteries has fallen by more than two-thirds since 2012.

By HJ Mai • March 26, 2019

Con Edison pilots new approach to increasing battery storage on its grid

The utility will leverage real estate lease payments and energy market revenues to develop more front-of-the-meter storage.

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2019

The biggest numbers game in the power sector: Data analytics and the utility community of the future

Data analytics are helping utilities improve operations and customer engagement, but a decentralized transactive energy network is in the works and will require additional computing advances.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 25, 2019

EPS Ep. 9: DOE renewables chief vows support for office amid proposed budget cuts

Assistant Secretary Dan Simmons used to work for an organization that advocated the elimination of the office he currently heads. Now he says he supports DOE's renewable energy mission.

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2019

Trio of federal energy storage bills avoid tax credits

The legislation comes amid rising interest in the technology, with an increasing number of state targets, a new House bipartisan storage caucus and increased funding in the President's latest budget request.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 19, 2019

NYSERDA targets retail and bulk storage incentives as state aims for 3 GW by 2030

The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority's plan allocates $130 million and $150 million to the retail and bulk storage markets, respectively.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 13, 2019

Insurer Munich Re offers 10-year warranty on battery storage performance

The company backed the flow battery developed by ESS with a decade-long performance guarantee, a first in energy storage technologies.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated March 13, 2019

Trump budget again seeks deep cuts to EPA, DOE renewables research

The budget would eliminate ARPA-E and cut the DOE energy efficiency and renewables office by more than two-thirds — proposals Congress has already twice rejected.

By Gavin Bade • March 11, 2019

Efficiency leads 2019 energy job growth prospects

Energy efficiency employers project a 7.8% growth rate for jobs this year, more than double the increase last year, in what the latest U.S. Energy and Employment Report deemed the "toughest hiring climate."

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019