Duke Energy's commercial solar business to offer energy storage

The company plans to focus on the Southern California and Hawaii markets to offer commercial solar+storage in combination with an energy management platform. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 9, 2015

Is lithium-ion 'the safest bet' in the future of battery storage?

A maze of options leads to back lithium-ion batteries for plug-in cars, stationary storage, and advanced electronics until at least 2025, according to a new study from Lux Research. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 8, 2015

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

Why Australia is a 'proving ground' for solar-plus-storage

Changes in solar tariffs could lead to a boom in energy storage installations in Australia, which echoes similar patterns in the U.S.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 8, 2015

Vermont utility teams with Tesla to offer home battery installment plan

The system will cost $6,500 but the expense can be decreased by sharing the storage capacity with Green Mountain Power, the utility said.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 7, 2015

LG Chem teams up with SolaX Power to offer battery-inverter system

LG Chem and SolaX Power combine battery and inverter-controller technologies in a new partnership, following the lead of other companies offering consumers a bigger package of solutions to meet energy needs. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 4, 2015

PG&E contracts for 75 MW of energy storage on its way to 580 MW of capacity

The utility’s first storage buy is lithium ion and zinc-air batteries, plus a flywheel project. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 4, 2015

San Diego City Council readies 100% renewables mandate for approval

Under the city's proposed Climate Action Plan, community choice aggregation could take the place of utility power procurement.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 4, 2015

Smart city, smart utility: A formidable union for urban sustainability

In this guest post, officials from Black & Veatch highlight new opportunities for power sector players in building sustainable cities. 

By Jennifer James and Mike Bossom • Dec. 2, 2015

Canadian muni launches solar-storage pilot to shift generation to peak hours

Oshawa Power and Utilities Corp. in Canada and Japanese manufacturer Tabuchi Electric have launched a pilot program to test solar-plus-storage systems in 30 homes.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 2, 2015

5 drivers making 100% renewables possible

A new paper offers companies and governments a toolkit to implement five transformative opportunities and reach big renewables targets.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 2, 2015

How remote microgrid systems are driving capacity growth for the sector

Microgrids in areas far from the traditional utility grid are driving rapid growth in capacity. But while the value proposition behind the projects may be simple, execution is anything but.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2015

How NRG is testing the next step of energy storage: Vehicle-to-grid integration

NRG EVgo and University of California, San Diego are testing out electric vehicle batteries on UCSD's microgrid as an energy storage option. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 1, 2015

Tesla competitor Sonnenbatterie unveils community solar-storage system

The German company says its new solar-storage-control system will make conventional utilities obsolete.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 30, 2015

5 battery energy storage projects to watch in 2016

From New York and Hawaii to remote communities in Indonesia, these projects could change the way the power sector sees storage.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 30, 2015

IHS: Grid-scale lithium-ion battery storage prices will decline by half by 2019

Falling lithium-ion battery prices will drive the spread of commercial energy storage installations beyond the concentration in the current market leading countries.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 25, 2015

Some energy storage already cost competitive, new valuation study shows

A new report from Lazard breaks down the costs of 8 different technologies, finding some can already compete against traditional generation sources, and others are getting closer.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2015

12 charts that show the state of the US clean energy revolution

A new DOE report highlights deployment and price trends for five key technologies in the clean energy revolution.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 24, 2015

Despite green outcry, CPUC approves SoCal Edison gas & storage plans

The California Public Utilities Commission approves 57 of 63 of controversial SoCal Ed procurement contracts, but sees room for improvment in the "all-source RFO process."

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 24, 2015

Toronto utility unveils novel underwater energy storage system

Developed with Hydrostor, the grid-connected storage system two miles off the coast of Lake Ontario will now be assessed in a two-year pilot program.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2015

Duke Energy restyles retired Ohio coal plant into battery storage facility

Duke Energy has added 2 MW more to its energy storage system at its retired Beckjord coal plant in Ohio.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 20, 2015

The future of rate design: Why the utility industry may shift away from fixed charges

A focus on fixed charges is giving way to more comprehensive rate structures for utilities, but big questions loom on the horizon for regulators. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2015

How solar will grow through the ITC sunset and beyond

The ITC reversion is expected to deliver the first year-over-year downturn in the U.S. solar market, but brighter days will follow for the industry, according to a new GTM report.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 19, 2015

Oregon saddles up to implement trailblazing energy storage mandate

Oregon's mandate is the second in the nation, but novel in the guidance it gives to regulators on how to value storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 17, 2015

Remote Alaskan town turns to cold-weather battery microgrid as diesel alternative

The system, designed specifically for cold temperatures, will be used to reduce dependence on dirty generation and combat high electrical and fuel transportation costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 17, 2015

Smart EV charger tested by Michigan researchers can be mini-microgrid in outages

University researchers in Michigan are working on technology to transform an electric vehicle charging stations into an extension of the grid.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 16, 2015