Sonnen cuts battery system cost 40% to serve self-consumption market

Seeing an opportunity in changes to net metering policies, Sonnen has introduced a cheaper battery without backup power features.

By Peter Maloney • July 8, 2016

Come together? DER aggregation sparks more confusion than consensus in power sector

Utilities and DER providers have divergent opinions on how the aggregation of distributed resources will develop, according to a recent GTM survey.  

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 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

Anatomy of a nuke closure: How PG&E decided to shutter Diablo Canyon

In a policy environment that prizes renewables, PG&E saw no cost-effective route to keeping the giant nuclear plant open.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2016

New York Green Bank aims to grow portfolio by two-thirds next year

The bank aims to spur innovative reneweable energy projects that would otherwise have trouble attracting investment. 

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2016

New Mexico senator to roll out tax credit for energy storage

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) plans to introduce legislation next week that would create a tax credit for energy storage, modelled after similar credits for wind and solar. 

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2016

California dreaming: Utilities uneasy with regulator's vision to remake their business model

Commissioner Florio wants a fundamental rethinking of utility revenues and distributed resources, but his proposal has critics on all sides.

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2016

AMS, Opus One partner on software-storage grid solution

Advanced Microgrid Solutions will develop and manage distributed energy resources for commercial, industrial and large aggregated customers.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2016

Advocates push New York to pursue 4 GW of storage by 2030

To reach 50% renewable energy, the state should be sourcing a quarter of its peak usage from battery storage, they said.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2016

Inside the first municipal solar-plus-storage project in the US

The Village of Minster tackled a solar-plus-storage project to diversify its portfolio and now looks to build a microgrid to protect its key C&I customers from power outages. 

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2016

NextEra decision looming, Hawaii lawmakers consider suing Gov. Ige over PUC appointment

The governor appointed a commission lawyer to the regulatory post without legislative approval ahead of a decision on the largest business deal in Hawaii history. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2016

Vermont regulators implement rules for 75% renewables target

Vermont's Public Service Board has implemented rules for 75% by 2032 renewables target, stipulating at least 1% needs to come from distributed resources. 

By Peter Maloney • July 1, 2016

A FERC challenge: Opening up electricity markets to advanced energy technologies

Grid operators should allow distributed resources and demand response to be priced for their unique attributes in organized markets, Arvin Ganesan and Suedeen Kelly argue in this guest post.

By Arvin Ganesan and Suedeen Kelly • June 30, 2016

Tesla begins monetizing Nevada tax credits with $20M sale to MGM casinos

The sale allows the battery company to generate cash from the credits, which MGM uses to pay state gambling fees. 

By Peter Maloney • June 30, 2016

Virginia Gov. McAuliffe issues executive order to cut GHG emissions

The governor directed state agencies to find a way to cut emissions from the power sector that does not need approval from the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

By Peter Maloney • June 30, 2016

After Diablo Canyon: PG&E CEO Tony Earley on renewables, DERs and California's energy future

The same resources pushing the giant nuclear plant offline will be key to the utility's future in a low carbon economy. 

By Gavin Bade • June 30, 2016

Seeking more renewables, Kit Carson Co-op exits relationship with Tri-State G&T

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has exited its relationship with Tri-State Generation & Transmission and will buy renewable power from a private company instead.

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2016

District of Columbia Council unanimously approves bill for 50% renewable energy mandate

The bill would also provide for 1,500 MW of new local wind and solar power, advocates said. 

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2016

Energy storage slowdown in Q1 an 'anomaly' as sector expected to regain momentum

A dip in the non-residential market dented numbers for the beginning of 2016, GTM Research reports, but new growth opportunities are emerging.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2016

AMS will install 12 MWh of Tesla batteries at Cal State to cut usage, mitigate Aliso Canyon leak

California State University is looking to storage to cut peak demand and help mitigate for potential supply disruptions due to the nation's worst-ever methane leak.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2016

BMW to deploy used EV batteries in residential storage market

BMW announced plans to work toward deploying used EV batteries in the residential storage market.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

The new EV playbook: How utilities can gain from the coming boom in electric vehicles

Electric vehicles can offer power services at bargain prices if charging is done when and where utilities need it, a new RMI report notes. But getting the grid to that point is easier said than done.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 27, 2016

California PUC issues revised self-generation rules favoring storage

The California Public Utilities Commission has revised the rules for its SGIP program.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

Solar plus storage: With SolarCity deal, Tesla aims to speed clean energy transition

Elon Musk wants to create an all-in-one sustainable energy company to shape a "non-weird future." Will shareholders let him?

By Gavin Bade • June 22, 2016

How storage can help solve the distributed energy 'death spiral'

A new Navigant paper lays out three examples of how storage can facilitate the transition to a more distributed grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2016

ConEd virtual power plant shows how New York's REV is reforming utility practices

Usually thought of as a zero-sum game, the REV docket is finding ways to allow utilities, third parties and customers all benefit from the deployment of distributed resources. 

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2016