California ISO tests flow battery tech that could decrease bulk storage costs

CAISO is assessing "the most profitable operation practices of flow batteries in specific hours and seasons, under many scenarios in the energy trading market."

By HJ Mai • May 14, 2019

Anbaric to flip Massachusetts coal plant site into offshore wind facility with 400 MW storage

The former Brayton plant site, symbolic of the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, will also have a 1,200 MW high-voltage direct current converter.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 14, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Florida's solar turnaround sparks concerns over limits on community projects

Many are asking how big this boom will get, but a better question may be how this growth will evolve as its impact sparks responses by utilities, solar developers and policymakers.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 9, 2019

Massachusetts' multipronged policy approach spurs distributed energy storage

Sunrun has credited the state's bedrock of distributed energy policies for enabling its participation in ISO-NE's capacity market with an aggregated solar-plus-storage bid.

By HJ Mai • May 7, 2019

Green Mountain Power pilots Tesla batteries as meters

The technology uses Powerwall battery packs to measure energy use for 18 months, with plans to test other systems as part of their vision to have batteries in every home.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 2, 2019

California utilities reject automated demand response incentives for battery storage controls

The state's three large investor-owned utilities say battery installers are more focused on value stacking than participating in existing demand response programs to qualify for Auto-DR incentives.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2019

APS storage facility explosion raises questions about battery safety

There are two schools of thought on increasing safety — keep working on lithium-ion and solve the remaining problems or ABL, "Anything But Lithium."

By HJ Mai • April 30, 2019

Moving beyond 'rules of thumb' for smart, cost effective storage deployment

Identifying the storage investments that provide the greatest value to the system, especially at higher penetration levels, will require significantly more sophistication than decision-makers currently employ.

By Nick Schlag, Dan Mullen and Kush Patel • April 30, 2019

Southern California Edison to add 195 MW of energy storage, DR by 2021

Southern California Edison has selected seven energy storage and demand response projects to meet customer reliability needs by 2021 and further decrease the state's reliance on gas.

By HJ Mai • April 30, 2019

AEE: Advanced energy industry revenues grew to $238B in 2018

Transportation electrification and building efficiency dominated revenue growth last year, increasing $25 billion over 2017.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2019

Utility buy of DER providers: A perfect match or a problematic combination?

A new white paper suggests the only way utility holding companies can keep DER providers from disrupting the power sector is to buy them.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 29, 2019

New York allocates $280M for energy storage projects as state targets 3GW by 2030

The state will provide $280 million in incentives for energy storage project in an effort to become the nation's leader in storage system deployment.

By HJ Mai • April 29, 2019

Massachusetts approves state's first offshore wind contracts for 800 MW

Before regulators approved Vineyard Wind's power purchase agreements for its project, the state's three investor-owned utilities issued a second request for proposals for offshore wind power.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 24, 2019

GE announces first solar+storage projects since renewable business restructuring

The company has partnered with Helios Energy to build the hybrid systems as part of the Lenox Solar/Energy Storage project in upstate New York. 

By HJ Mai • April 23, 2019

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

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