2019 Solar Outlook: Making ambitious state policy into a reality

Breakthroughs in interconnection and communication with stakeholders will help utilities and developers take advantage of the full solar tax credit.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 9, 2019

2019 Storage Outlook: Utility procurement will drive deployments, analysts say

Rules for energy storage in wholesale markets are being finalized, but deployments are more likely to be driven by utility resource plans.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 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

Hawaiian Electric submits 7 projects totaling over 1 GWh storage, 260 MW solar for regulatory review

Six of the seven solar+storage projects offer record-low prices for solar-plus-storage grid-scale developments in the state.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2019

El Paso Electric includes 100 MW storage, 200 MW solar in 2022 energy mix

The utility will also purchase 226 MW natural gas and an additional 50-150 MW of renewable resources "to provide for fuel diversity and energy cost savings."

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 3, 2019

Getting to 100% zero emissions in California: Beyond CAISO's eight-solution menu

The state's IOUs are on track for 50% renewables by 2020, but questions remain on how to reach the 100% clean energy goal by 2045.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 3, 2019

10 trends shaping the electric power sector in 2019

From coal bailouts to batteries and wind and solar growth, here are the issues that will define the year to come.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 2, 2019

Our 10 best stories of 2018

Our top stories of the year illustrate the decline of coal-fired generation and the numerous policy surprises that came out of the federal government this year.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 21, 2018

NV energy plan to add 100 MW storage, 1 GW renewables gets PUC approval

The proposal includes a half dozen new solar facilities that, combined with 100 MW of new battery storage, would add more than 1 GW of renewables to the state's portfolio.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2018

How many billionaires does it take to get a geothermal storage facility underway?

A clean energy fund led by Bill Gates has invested in the molten salt storage startup Malta, which raised $26 million in its first round of funding, spinning off from the private Alphabet X research lab.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 21, 2018

How policies can make or brake solar development in the Southeast

Third party financing can enable solar growth, but faces hurdles in several states. Some utilities are not compensating for solar's value on the grid and leveling charges specific to solar owners. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018

In major restructuring, ABB shifts from heavy electrical manufacturing to distributed energy

ABB is turning to distributed generation in Europe, stepping back from the Asian market for heavy electric equipment through the sale of its power transmission business to Hitachi.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2018

As grid mod accelerates and regulators push back, Duke and others retool proposals

Within this whirlwind of activity, some utilities are responding well and some are struggling to meet pressure from regulators and stakeholders to justify spending proposals.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018

New York Gov. Cuomo pledges 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

The announcement comes days after the state Public Service Commission approved the third phase of its clean energy standard as well as a 3 GW energy storage goal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2018

As California looks to power shut-offs to prevent fires, Sunrun touts microgrids

As utilities are being directed to cut off power during high wind and dry conditions to prevent the start of deadly wildfires, state regulators opened a proceeding to look at unintended effects.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 17, 2018

New York sets 3 GW storage target, doubles efficiency goals for utilities

The Public Service Commission has set the most ambitious state energy storage target in the country, while also requiring investor-owned utilities to more than double their energy efficiency reductions by 2025.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 14, 2018

Long-duration energy storage R&D: An opportunity for American climate leadership

A U.S.-led international initiative to accelerate progress on this storage technology would bend the curve of carbon pollution downward toward zero.

By David M. Hart and Spencer Nelson • Dec. 14, 2018

'Voluntary demand' for renewables pushes utilities to new technology, business models: Deloitte

As renewable energy growth accelerates, utilities are taking a more active role in embracing the enabling technology.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 12, 2018

With US EV sales forecast to explode, Southern says grid will be prepared

A November power industry report projects a rise from 1 million EVs on U.S. roads now to 18.7 million by 2030, resulting in only about a 2% increase in energy sales.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 12, 2018

As grid operators file FERC Order 841 plans, storage floodgates open slowly

It will be at least a year before new rules for energy storage take hold for most ISOs and RTOs.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 11, 2018

JP Morgan enters $200M joint venture to fund solar+storage developer

8minutenergy Renewables received capital commitments from the investment bank and an affiliate of Upper Bay Infrastructure Partners to support its project pipeline of over 10 GW of utility solar and energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 11, 2018

C&I case study: 43% reduced consumption for 13 hours

Industrial warehouse drops 4,000+ kWh & 250+ kW over 13 hours daily with Thermal Energy Storage (TES).

Dec. 11, 2018

Schumer to Trump: For infrastructure deal, make storage and renewable tax credits permanent

To help fight climate change, the Senate Minority Leader also called for more investments in the electric grid, transmission and clean emissions technology.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 10, 2018

US storage market to reach 3.9 GW, $4.5B by 2023: Wood Mackenzie

More than 61 MW of energy storage was deployed in the third quarter, dominated by behind-the-meter installations, and the firm says the market will double in 2019 and 2020.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 7, 2018

North Carolina energy storage market could exceed 1 GW by 2030, says study by universities

The state currently has 1 MW of battery storage, and the new study mandated by state law laid out potential use cases for energy storage technologies.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 6, 2018

California utilities prep nation's biggest time-of-use rate rollout

Over 300 time-varying rates in 62 pilots have shown consumers can "understand and respond," but California’s three IOUs are dealing with more than 20 million people.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 6, 2018