How the coming boom in electric and self-driving vehicles will transform the grid

A new BNEF report imagines a world where fleets of autonomous electric vehicles provide services to the grid, but getting there requires utilities to be proactive. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2016

Amid IPO rumors, Sonnen secures $85M in equity capital

The German storage company announced a new round of funding as Bloomberg reported it is considering an IPO filing in the next two years.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 18, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Storage

The proliferation of energy storage in everything from utility-scale batteries to electric vehicles is a driving force in the transition to a cleaner, more distributed power system. This trendline includes the best Utility Dive reporting on this dynamic sector.

By Utility Dive staff

SolarReserve proposes 2 GW concentrated solar plant with storage in Nevada

The CSP project would be the second in the U.S. with molten salt energy storage and would sell power into the California market. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 17, 2016

Sonnen taps AutoGrid software to broaden uses for its battery systems

The systems can be used as a virtual power plant and help customers participate in demand response programs.  

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 14, 2016

Massachusetts town to build New England's first utility-scale battery storage project

NEC Energy Solutions will develop a 2 MW, 3.9 MWh battery for the Sterling Municipal Light Department to boost grid resiliency. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2016

Siemens project to test heated rocks for large-scale, low-cost thermal energy storage

A new demonstration project in Germany will employ a 5 MW, 36 MWh storage facility attached to a steam turbine, with larger projects slated for 2019.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2016

Fluidic Energy demos first long-duration residential zinc battery in Arizona

The company is installing its first residential storage system at the home of an Arizona resident, funded in part by Arizona Public Service Co. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2016

After a banner year, energy storage on track to best 2015's record-setting growth

Navigant Research's third-quarter report sees continued growth for storage and a growing role for residential installations.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2016

Spanish researchers explore molten silicon for more efficient solar energy storage

Molten silicon could be prove to be a cheaper and more abundant storage medium than the molten salt used in most CSP plants.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2016

Beer batteries: Colorado researchers use brewery wastewater to produce electrodes

Researchers at the University of Colorado-Boulder say their organic lithium ion battery electrodes could be cheaper than conventional alternatives. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2016

Borrego Solar launches megawatt-scale energy storage division

The company will offer both stand-alone and solar-integrated storage solutions to utilities and other large customers.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Stem connects Hawaii's largest behind-the-meter storage at theme park

Hawaii's plentiful solar generation and high electricity prices make storage especially appealing, but large BTM batteries are catching on in other states as well.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2016

GE, SCE partner on hybrid battery storage-gas turbine to mitigate Aliso Canyon shortages

Southern California Edison and GE are partnering on a 10 MW battery system connected to gas turbines.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2016

All hands on deck: Growing energy storage in Massachusetts needs holistic overview of grid, markets

The Department of Energy Resources wants ISO-NE to create a working group to advance storage integration. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2016

Massachusetts medical facilities net $14M in microgrid resiliency grants

First developed in 2014, the $40 million pool of money is set aside to develop community clean energy resiliency projects in the state. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2016

FERC to explore role of energy storage in wholesale markets

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled a Nov. 9 meeting to examine technical issues related to energy storage in RTOs/ISOs. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2016

HECO plans Hawaii's first flywheel storage project

Planned with Amber Kinetics, the first commercially-available 4-hour flywheel will be located on Oahu. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2016

Nevada task force recommends restoring net metering as PUC welcomes 2 new regulators

Part of a raft of reforms pushed by Gov. Sandoval's New Energy Task Force, the recommendation came just days before two new gubernatorial appointees started work at the state regulatory commission.

By Peter Maloney, Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2016

Tesla, AMS ink 34MWh storage deal with California water system

Water systems account for nearly 20% of the total electricity and 30% of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 29, 2016

In strong Q2 showing, non-traditional storage markets edge out California, PJM

After a White House initiative gave the sector a boost, GTM Research forecasts a record year for storage deployment.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 27, 2016

Ohio lawmaker seeks to make renewable targets voluntary

Ohio state Sen. Bill Seitz (R) is amending a proposal to bring clean energy standards back into force next year, but with no compliance requirement until 2020.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 27, 2016

NYC targets 100 MWh energy storage by 2020

The new energy storage target will help New York City reach its goal to cut emissions 80% by 2050.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 26, 2016

BMW to recycle used EV batteries into a 2.8 MWh grid stability project

Located in Hamburg, Germany, the project uses 2,600 used battery modules from 100 vehicles for frequency stabilization.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2016

Demand charges vs. TOU rates: The great Arizona rate design experiment

APS wants to be the first utility with mandatory demand charges for residential customers, but critics say time-of-use pricing provides similar benefits and is easier for consumers to adopt. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 26, 2016

Tesla Gigafactory to ramp up production after SCE battery project contract

Despite the company's optimism, only 14% of the Gigafactory is completed thus far. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 23, 2016