Developers wary as California prepares to open behind-the-meter storage to utilities

Two newly-passed bills seek to boost residential storage, but critics worry they could allow utilities to dominate the market.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

Enphase survey: Batteries don't fit the bill for most residential backup power needs

Customers are interested in backup power, a new residential survey found, but their demands are more suited to generators than solely batteries.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 20, 2016

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

SoCal Edison seeks 125 MW of clean energy resources for Orange County

Southern California Edison is running an experiment to see if a range of clean energy resources can power Orange County, California.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

Oil giant Total joins venture funding for DER software company AutoGrid

Total has been among the most aggressive fossil fuel companies taking interest in renewable and distributed energy.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2016

Massachusetts state report recommends 600 MW energy storage target

A report ordered by state lawmakers and released by the Department of Energy Resources says a storage target for utilities could help cut peak demand and reduce ratepayer costs.  

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2016

SCE taps Tesla for 80 MWh storage project to deal with Aliso Canyon gas shortage

For a time, the Tesla project is expected to be the largest lithium ion battery storage project in operation.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 16, 2016

Greening demand response: California mulls big changes for DR to meet climate goals

A new proposal at the CPUC would limit fossil fuel resources in demand response, but big questions remain about the utility's role in administering DR programs. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2016

Duke plans energy storage expansion for South Carolina hydro plant

The proposal follows a renewed focus on hydroelectricity, as the United States transitions to more renewable power. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2016

Solar Power Players: SEPA honorees look beyond the rooftop to manage dynamic grids

Distributed solar is just the first challenge coming to the grid edge. These utilities are tackling what's next.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 12, 2016

BNEF: India, China to lead global storage growth

Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts 45 GW of battery storage will be installed around the world in the next eight years.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2016

NEC unveils new battery system to compete with Tesla, Schneider Electric

NEC's system will be capable of alternating between cost-savings and a revenue-earning modes by providing system services to the grid.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2016

ConEd, Axiom partner for 2 MW of refrigeration battery storage

The West Coast storage company will work with grocery stores and other cold storage facilities as a part of Consolidated Edison's Brooklyn-Queens load management project.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2016

Uncle Sam's battery bank: ARPA-E spurs commercialization of innovative storage technology

The DOE is touting the success of its ARPA-E program for funding advanced technologies: $1.3 billion funded; $1.2 billion raised from private sources.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2016

After tariff changes, storage to play larger role in CAISO demand management

FERC's approval for storage and demand response tariffs highlights California's efforts to integrate more DERs. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2016

Southern California Edison proposes $2.1B capex for DER integration

SCE did not provide forecast ranges for total capital expenditures through 2020, saying it has no prior experience with rate cases related to DER integration. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2016

Facing stricter climate goals, California passes 4 bills to boost energy storage

The bills require the state to consider pumped hydro storage, add 500 MW to the state's storage mandate and double California's self-generation program.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 2, 2016

California targets clean transport, urban greening for $900M in cap-and-trade funds

After some lawmakers pushed back on an extension of greenhouse gas goals last month, Gov. Jerry Brown struck a last-minute deal to dole out funds from the state's carbon auctions. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 2, 2016

UK's National Grid announces winners of 201 MW storage solicitation

New storage deployments will target ultra-fast frequency response for the grid. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2016

Location matters: Utilities focus on charger placement to drive electric vehicle adoption

EV pilot programs from Avista and Kansas City Power & Light demonstrate that just building charging stations isn't enough.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

German researchers to test new underwater energy storage devices

The Fraunhofer Institute in Germany is developing an underwater storage system that works like a pumped storage plant.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 30, 2016

Public purpose microgrids: Mixed-ownership models spur utility investment in growing sector

Thinking of microgrids as public infrastructure — and financing them like it — could point the industry to new growth.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 30, 2016

Walking a tightrope: ACC Chair Doug Little looks for balance in Arizona's solar debate

Arizona's head utility regulator says the state's ongoing value of solar docket will be key in informing future rate design.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 25, 2016

FERC approves CAISO tariff changes for demand response, distributed storage

Federal regulators approved California Independent System Operator tariff changes that tweak how non-generator resources bid into markets.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2016

GTM: Germany's C&I energy storage market still lags behind residential

A GTM Research report highlights sharp divide between large and small energy storage systems in German, which can be a result from of the structure incentives and price signals specific to the German markets.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 23, 2016

SoCal Edison to build 20 MW storage project at Pomona gas plant site

Alberta-based AltaGas will construct the project, expected to be online by the end of the year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016