SolarCity selects Tesla batteries for Kauai solar+storage project

SolarCity, as widely expected, picked Tesla to suppy the batteries for its Kauai solar-plus-storage project, which it says will be the first fully-dispatchable solar PV project in the nation.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 18, 2016

That's the brakes: Utilizing stored energy from public transit for grid services

The Philadelphia region transit system, with industry partners, is pioneering a financial model for making regenerative braking economic.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 16, 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 to invest up to $2.5B to integrate DERs over 5-year span

Integrating distributed energy resources into the distribution network is not going to be cheap. Southern California Edison is preparing to spend up to $2.5 billion, including $500 million on new software, to prepare its grid for DERs over a five-year span.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2016

Sunverge Energy to roll out solar management system

Sunverge Energy says its next generation solar integration system will be available this summer.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 11, 2016

DistribuTECH 2016: Increasingly at home with DERs, utilities shift focus to controlling them on the grid

The big question for utilities in 2016 isn’t whether they will be able to integrate DERs — it’s how they will be able to manage them all on the grid.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 11, 2016

Navigant: Lithium-ion leads new storage systems

More than 85% of energy storage systems installed last year used lithium-ion batteries, according to a new report from Navigant Research.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2016

Boeing delivers fuel cell storage system for US Navy

Highlighting the military's growing interest in energy security and storage, the U.S. Navy is testing the first of its kind fuel cell energy storage system in conjunction with a microgrid in Port Hueneme, California. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2016

How Austin Energy is looking to manage solar-plus-storage on its grid

Austin Energy has been awarded a $4.3 million grant to implement a DERMS system aimed at integrating solar power into its grid.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 9, 2016

Sacramento muni cancels 400MW pumped storage project

Costs and environmental delays helped to scuttle SMUD's plans for a 400-MW pumped storage project in northern California.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 8, 2016

California ISO approves proposals to bolster storage and demand response

The California ISO has approved several proposals aimed at further integrating distributed energy resources into the states's wholesale power market.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 4, 2016

Tesla CEO Musk: New version of Powerwall is coming in summer 2016

The announcement came during a question-and-answer session with the Tesla chief last week in Paris.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 2, 2016

Should utilities be afraid of Sonnen's new community storage offering?

Community energy storage in the U.S. could ramp up with German storage developer Sonnen's entry into the market.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 2, 2016

Sonnen leverages rooftop solar, financing partners to sell storage systems in US

German energy storage company Sonnen has formed two partnerships as part of is strategy to sell storage systems into the U.S.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 1, 2016

Navigant: Revenue for utility-scale battery storage to grow 15 times by 2025

While revenues today are under $232 million, a new Navigant report forecasts them to hit $3.6 billion in less than a decade.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2016

Report: Storage market for solar systems to hit $8B by 2026

The market for combining storage with solar will become more attractive as the cost of solar installations declines.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 29, 2016

Stem partners with HECO to develop distribution platform for solar-storage systems

Stem and HECO will use DOE funding to develop an energy management platform to give the utility greater control over distributed resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2016

How MISO is reforming market rules to spur storage deployment

Developers are eager to develop MISO’s storage market, but it has a long way to go to catch up with other RTOs.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 26, 2016

What to expect from California utilities' new aggregated demand response offerings

Under a new auction, California utilities will meet grid demand with traditional demand response, stationary batteries and electric vehicles. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 26, 2016

Solar-storage system helps Hawaii aquaculture facility operate off grid

A lithium ion battery and solar panel system has enabled a Hawaiin nursery to opreate independently of high grid-connected utility rates.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 26, 2016

Energy storage developer Orison unveils plug-and-play residential storage option

Announced in August, the 2.2 kWh systems are now available for pre-order on Kickstarter.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2016

Philadelphia expands battery storage in public transport system beyond 10 MW

An innovative new storage project will utilize energy generated by braking trains to assist in PJM frequency regulation.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2016

World Energy Council report calls for shift in storage valuation

World Energy Council says storage valuations should be based on value, not costs as the levilized costs for storage are expected to drop. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2016

Can utilities learn to love distributed solar like central station arrays?

Utility-scale solar has become mainstream among U.S. power providers, but persisting questions around cost and valuation are masking further opportunties in the distributed generation space, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2016

VizN signs deal for its zinc-iron flow battery with Idaho National Laboratory

VizN Energy wins contract to test its zinc-iron flow battery at Idaho National Laboratory.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 20, 2016

DOE proposes $18M in funding for solar-plus-storage

The announcement builds on the Department of Energy's grid modernization effort announced last week.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2016