A lot of dam potential: Renewables growth could drive massive hydro buildout

With pumped storage, hydropower can grow 50% by 2050 — if developers can get over the hurdles.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2016

ConEd awards 22 MW of demand response contracts in Brooklyn-Queens project

Battery provider Stem was among 10 auction winners, and expects to install as much as 850 kW of batteries in New York by 2018.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 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

Xcel Energy proposes $562M grid management system, smart meter upgrade

The new smart meters and support software would improve reliability, provide better renewables integration and help customers control their usage, Xcel said. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 5, 2016

Texas regulators to explore alternative utility ratemaking mechanisms

The Public Utility Commission of Texas will address a report on revisions to traditional cost-of-service ratemaking in their Aug. 10 meeting. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 4, 2016

Thermal storage developer raises $2.5M after completing 1st full-scale system

Axiom Exergy wants to install energy storage devices in grocery stores and other facilities using large amounts of refrigeration to shift cooling load away from peak hours.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2016

AEP subsidiary buys set of 5 Hawaii storage projects from EnSync

The deal, which includes one solar-plus-storage project, validates the power purchase development model in Hawaii, EnSync said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2016

Finding the flow: Harvard researchers tweak vitamin B2 to boost flow batteries

Building on their previous work, researchers at Harvard University are using organic chemicals to bring down energy storage costs.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2016

PG&E: California policies will boost its capital expenditures

The utility expects to spend $5.6 billion this year, including $2 billion on distribution, $1.2 billion on transmission and $700 million on generation,

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2016

SunEdison bankruptcy takes down flow battery developer

Imergy Power Systems had struck a deal with SunEdison to deploy 1,000 batteries in India, but in the wake of SunEdison's Chapter 11 filing, investors have pulled their support for the storage developer.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2016

Report: Growth of grid-tied storage to rival solar's recent trajectory in upcoming decade

Grid-tied energy storage will double in 2016, according to a new IHS Markit report.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 1, 2016

Tesla agrees to $2.6B price tag for SolarCity merger

The agreement also includes a 45-day "go-shop" period, during which SolarCity may solicit offers from other companies.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 1, 2016

Connecting the dots: PG&E DERMs pilot aims to manage multiple aggregator platforms

PG&E wants a distributed resource management system that can interact with any vendor's software.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 29, 2016

Energy advisor says Clinton is open to a carbon tax

Hillary Clinton's energy advisor said the presidential candidate is open to a CO2 tax if lawmakers bring it to her.

By Peter Maloney • July 29, 2016

Consumers Energy seeks to put 800 EV charging stations in Michigan

The utility has asked Michigan regulators for permission to put the cost of installing 800 EV stations into its ratebase.

By Peter Maloney • July 28, 2016

As costs fall, C&I energy storage economics become more attractive

C&I storage market is the fastest growing, but is confined to a handful of states with local incentives for now, said GTM report.

By Peter Maloney • July 26, 2016

Minnesota first to adopt 'value of solar' approach for community solar

The value of solar methodology incorporates external factors, such as avoided transmission investments and the health and environmental effects of clean energy. 

By Peter Maloney • July 25, 2016

NextEra merger dead, Hawaii turns to realizing a 100% renewables future

NextEra never convinced regulators they could follow through on their clean energy goals. Can Hawaiian Electric?

By Herman K. Trabish • July 25, 2016

AES to partially replace California gas plant with 300 MW of battery storage

The project cements the importance of energy storage in California, thanks to landmark legislation requiring the state’s investor owned utilities to procure 1.3 GW of energy storage by 2020. 

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2016

Maryland PSC rejects Baltimore microgrid proposal

Exelon's subsidiaries are having a hard time convincing policymakers to allow rate-based investments in microgrids. 

By Peter Maloney • July 22, 2016

Lyons Group to build 30 MW solar+storage project in Australia

Lyon Group plans a 30 MW solar + storage project as it expands into the Australian market.

By Peter Maloney • July 21, 2016

Elon Musk reveals part 2 of his 'Master Plan' for Tesla, defends potential SolarCity deal

Musk wants to network a fleet of home solar, storage and autonomous cars, allowing the assets to earn money for the consumer when not in use.

By Gavin Bade • July 21, 2016

LG Chem expands range of its residential battery offering

The company is introducing high and low voltage options for its residential batteries.

By Peter Maloney • July 19, 2016

Utility participation key to driving residential storage growth

A Navigant Consulting study said the global residential storage sector will be a 3,773 MW market by 2025. 

By Peter Maloney • July 19, 2016

Arizona regulators approve APS demand management, efficiency programs

Approval will allow APS to develop strategies to integrate storage into their demand management programs.

By Peter Maloney • July 15, 2016

Evolution of REV: New York PSC Chair Audrey Zibelman says 2016 is the year of execution

Consumers can expect to see the early tangible benefits from REV by the end of 2018, Zibelman told Utility Dive.

By Krysti Shallenberger • July 15, 2016