Mercom: Smart grid, storage and efficiency firms raised $1.3B in VC funding in 2016

Funding for advanced energy firms appears to be moving toward debt and public market funding, with that figure topping $4.5 billion last year. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 24, 2017

As energy storage matures, leading system integrators embrace a flexible project approach

The best storage integrators do it all — from utility-owned turnkey facilities to merchant battery projects — according to a new report from Navigant. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 24, 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

What Australia's DER revolution can teach US utilities about the age of Trump

When federal support for clean energy faltered, states took the lead on the power sector transition. Sound familiar?

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 24, 2017

Why a program approach is key to making energy storage work for utilities

For electric utilities, approaching energy storage on a project basis can be shortsighted and costly. In this article, we propose a better way.

Jan. 24, 2017

Hydrostor seeks $1B in contracts to replace peaking plants with compressed air storage

Hydrostor and its construction partner AECOM hope to replace retiring coal plants with their underwater compressed air storage technology.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 24, 2017

Tesla batteries help power small North Carolina island

Ocracoke will use a solar-plus-storage microgrid to maintain reliability and cut demand charges.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2017

FERC policy statement upholds concurrent cost recovery for energy storage resources

FERC said it found little chance market competitors would be harmed by allowing storage resources to concurrently recover their costs through cost- and market-based rates. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2017

Third time's the charm? Inside Hawaiian Electric's new, new plan to get to 100% renewables

Stakeholders say the third edition of HECO's Power Supply Improvement Plan is a real improvement, but question its approach to DERs and $26.5 billion price tag.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 18, 2017

Italian utility company buys energy storage developer Demand Energy

Demand Energy focuses on behind-the-meter storage and has carried out two dozen projects thus far. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 18, 2017

Renewables, efficiency dominate robust job growth in energy sector

The solar and wind industries experienced the strongest growth, but the sector faces a number of workforce challenges — including retirements, skills gaps and a lack of diversity.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 17, 2017

Why surging lithium prices haven't stopped cost declines for battery energy storage

Lithium is one of the hottest commodities in the market today, but analysts see a muted effect on battery costs.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 17, 2017

Battery storage startup secures $6M for lead-acid development

Storage startup Gridtential is rethinking how traditional lead-acid batteries are structured for lower-cost storage systems. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2017

Samsung SDI unveils fast charging EV battery at Detroit show

Samsung SDI has introduced an electric vehicle battery with a 600 kilometer (372 mile) range that can charge in 20 minutes.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 11, 2017

Younicos finishes 2016 with 75 MW in storage contracts

But how many of those contracts are signed is unclear. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 10, 2017

A silver bullet? Inside FERC's landmark energy storage rulemaking

Federal regulators are tackling ways to open wholesale markets to energy storage. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 10, 2017

Hawaii co-op signs deal for solar+storage project at 11¢/kWh

AES will pair a 20 MW, 100 MWh battery system with a 28 MW solar array to deliver dispatchable generation to the Kauai Island Electric Cooperative. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 10, 2017

Nissan hints at release of EV with vehicle-to-grid capabilities

The automaker teased the release of a new Leaf plug-in EV this week at the Consumer Electronics Show, but offered few details. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 10, 2017

Navigant: Solar-plus-storage microgrid adoption 'more than just a fad'

The firm's most recent microgrid tracker identified nearly 1,700 projects worldwide, with more than half in North America. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2017

San Diego gauges interest in 500 MW pumped storage project

The City of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority issued a joint request for letters of interest for the project last week. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2017

In new QER, Moniz leaves path for Perry to follow at DOE

The new Quadrennial Energy Review lays out more than 70 recommendations for a cleaner, more secure energy system. How will the Trump administration respond?

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 9, 2017

Oregon PUC release guidelines for energy storage mandate

Under the law, utilities must have a minimum of 5 MWh of energy storage in service by 2020. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 6, 2017

Predictions 2017: 5 takes on what the new year will bring for renewable energy

More net metering debates and even higher corporate demand for wind and solar are on tap for 2017, according to sector insiders.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 5, 2017

Tesla Gigafactory begins mass battery cell production

By 2018, the Nevada factory will produce 35 GWh/year of lithium-ion battery cells.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 5, 2017

Predictions 2017: 8 sector insiders on what's next for power markets and regulation

Utility executives and analysts expect state clean energy policies and wholesale market changes to take center stage in the year to come.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 5, 2017

Predictions 2017: What the new year will bring for demand-side management

From mobile engagement to marijuana efficiency efforts and storage-as-a-service, sector insiders have bold predictions for the year ahead.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 4, 2017