Kentucky utilities team up with EPRI for battery storage testing

A 1 MW battery sited at a Mercer County coal plant will allow the utilities to evaluate the potential benefits of utility-scale battery technologies.

By Peter Maloney • March 1, 2017

Primus Power begins production of 5-hour flow battery

The company says the flow battery will be used by Puget Sound Energy as an alternative to distribution system upgrades.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 28, 2017

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

Younicos to install 3 MW storage system on Kodiak Island, Alaska

The new lithium-ion batteries will replace a lead-acid system installed in 2012. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 28, 2017

FERC proposed storage rulemaking draws familiar concerns over jurisdiction, access

Sector players largely support storage in wholesale markets, but are wary of double compensation for batteries and creeping FERC authority.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2017

California regulators recommend approval of 1,040 MW gas plant from AES

The Alamitos gas plant will displace less efficient generation and help integrate more renewables, the California Energy Commission said in a proposed decision.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 27, 2017

NREL picks RES to test storage applications for wind power

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory will use multiple applications of RES’ 1 MW, 1 MWh RESolve system to test frequency regulation and renewable energy integration.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 27, 2017

SDG&E, AES bring world's largest lithium ion battery storage online in California

The 30 MW, 120 MWh storage facility in Escondido and a smaller, 30 MWh battery array were part of the utility's Aliso Canyon storage solicitation. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 24, 2017

Tesla expects to finalize plans for 2 Gigafactories in 2017

Tesla said in an earnings call that it could build up to three more Gigafactories as the company begins battery production at its Nevada site. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2017

Pushing for scalability, utilities look to new hybrid models for microgrid deployment

Utilities are searching for standardized microgrid models that allow both end users and the wider grid to benefit.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2017

Ohio universities test new software to optimize building energy use with solar, batteries

The University of Toledo and Case Western Reserve University will work with a DOE lab to automate energy management for campus buildings. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2017

Michigan, Utah researchers say new compound could extend flow battery life

University researchers say computer modeling has helped them find a promising candidate for the battery anolyte that is based on pyridinium.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2017

Updated: California lawmaker proposes to target 100% renewables by 2045

The bill would also set California's current 50% renewables mandate deadline at 2025, instead of 2030. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2017

Study throws cold water on residential solar-plus-storage economics

A Rochester Institute of Technology study says a customer must face high electricity bills and unfavorable net metering or feed-in policies for grid defection to work. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 21, 2017

Herding cats: California PUC President Picker on the new DER Action Plan

A new regulatory roadmap aims to guide the power sector into the distributed energy future, but is everyone along for the ride? 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 21, 2017

PG&E brings 2 MWh Tesla battery storage unit online at substation

The 22 Powerpacks will improve the management of peak demand and reduce the need to call on peaking power plants.  

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 21, 2017

Connecticut DEEP rejects two utility storage pilots as too costly

Eversource and Avangrid were sent back to the drawing board on two substation-sited storage projects. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 21, 2017

Sonnen to set up US battery manufacturing and research center in Atlanta

The German battery company, already a leader in its home nation, is moving further into the American market.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 17, 2017

Green Charge to install 2 MWh storage system at California college

Pacific Union College will use the battery system for demand charge reduction and participation in PG&E demand response programs.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 16, 2017

Delaware picks energyOrbit to track the state's energy programs

The company's cloud-based platform will track and report progress on efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2017

Xcel taps Sunverge, Northern Reliability to test solar+storage in Denver

Xcel Energy will run residential and utility-scale battery pilots to better understand how they can help integrate renewable energy.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2017

Harvard researchers say they've created a non-corrosive flow battery with exceptional duration

The new battery formulation only degrades 1% over 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, the researchers claim. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2017

Residential storage can undercut benefits of rooftop solar, says new study

A new study in Nature Energy finds storing rooftop solar can increase emissions and energy consumption.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2017

Virginia lawmakers pass bill for new utility pumped hydro storage facilities

HB 1760, passed nearly unanimously, would push for streamlined regulatory approval for one or more utility-owned pumped hydro projects.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2017

Navy developing 44 MW solar+storage facility on Kauai

The project would make the Barking Sands missile testing facility a net zero military installation, according to the Navy.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 13, 2017

DistribuTECH 2017: Why utilities are skeptical about transactive energy

Blockchain-based power trading on the distribution system has captured the imagination of many in the power sector — just not the companies at its center.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 13, 2017