Technology

FERC, NERC release vendor cybersecurity guide to help identify Huawei, ZTE chips

The joint FERC, NERC white paper gives grid security experts four methods for finding suspect components that may be installed on their systems.

By Guy Burdick • Aug. 12, 2020

NYPA, Siemens partner on new cybersecurity center as COVID-19-driven changes increase threats

"We're looking to create the blueprint for the next generation of security for substations, power plants, solar and wind turbines," said Leo Simonovich, head of industrial cybersecurity at Siemens Energy.

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2020

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Trendline

Cybersecurity of the Grid

While cyber threats to the power sector are expanding, so are the tools to address them. But a key question remains — are companies doing what's needed to reduce the risk?

By Utility Dive staff

Sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. – Battery energy storage solutions for utility-scale applications

Energy storage systems can be tailored to your project specifications and are designed to scale from 1MW to hundreds of MWs at varying durations from one to four hours.

Opinion

6 commonly misunderstood legal risks for smart grids

Utilities are increasingly turning to smart grids, which allow them to better gauge and meet the demand from consumers, reduce power plant costs and have "real time" customer demand and billing data to analyze.

By Jon Farnsworth • July 13, 2020

As COVID-19 surges, federal regulators worry about energy sector supply chain

The U.S. electric grid has held up reliably during the pandemic. But if the economic shutdown stretches months — or longer — regulators are worried about potential supply chain and reliability issues.

By Robert Walton • July 09, 2020

Deep Dive

Momentum grows for piloting Netflix-like fixed subscription rates, but not everyone's on board

For customers who want predictable bills, pairing automated smart distribution technologies with flat rates can resolve the overuse challenge of traditional fixed bills.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 07, 2020

Quidnet leverages drilling tech to provide pumped hydro type storage at half the price

The Houston-based firm secured $10 million in Series B financing and a contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for a commercial demonstration of its technology.

By Guy Burdick • July 06, 2020

Hitachi completes acquisition of ABB power grid business, launches joint venture

The new entity will use Hitachi's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to leverage data from ABB's grid operations while exploring opportunities in mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers.

By Guy Burdick • July 02, 2020

Deep Dive

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Late-stage changes to Vogtle nuclear construction activities are credit negative: Moody's

The ratings agency's decision comes as the Vogtle expansion grapples with a variety of unforeseen issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2020

Should the US beef up cybersecurity rules for distributed resources? FERC solicits public input

Regulators want to better understand the threat posed by a "coordinated cyberattack on geographically distributed targets."

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2020

Opinion

Fortune telling, utility style: Asset performance management drives costs down, reliability up

Having the right processes to infer insights from data is as important as the data itself, the author writes.

By Bryan Friehauf • June 26, 2020

Amazon $2B climate pledge draws praise, skepticism as total carbon footprint rises

The venture capital announcement was welcomed by developers in the clean energy space, but Green America said the company's plans are overly vague.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: June 25, 2020 at 8:04 p.m.

LF Energy announces open source substation project to better handle variable renewables, EVs

CoMPAS should enable grid operators to manage the transition to clean energy, handling fluctuations in supply from renewable resources and demand from electric vehicles, according to LF Energy and its partners on the project.

By Guy Burdick • June 24, 2020

NARUC, NASEO team up to tackle distributed solar cyber risks as vulnerabilities grow

As distributed solar grows more common — and more interconnected — the new partnership aims to identify and promote best cybersecurity practices.

By Emma Penrod • June 19, 2020

Rocky Mountain Institute, Emerald Ventures join forces to address funding drought for energy startups

The U.S. nonprofit and the Swiss investment firm hope to transcend competition and encourage innovation in pursuit of sustainable success for all parties through two new initiatives.

By Emma Penrod • June 18, 2020

Opinion

Toward a clean recovery: Rebooting the federal energy demonstration portfolio

The federal government should help fund projects that will demonstrate the real-world viability of large-scale, capital-intensive, zero-emissions technologies, an endeavor that is typically too risky for private companies to take on alone.

By Robert Rozansky and David M. Hart • June 17, 2020

Fluence unveils intelligent, modular storage product with 800 MW/2,300 MWh of projects

The technology stack, which includes digital intelligence that can connect storage systems to energy markets and manage battery degradation, is being deployed by Enel, LS Power, SPower and Siemens.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 17, 2020

Utility ransomware attacks becoming more sophisticated, new 'honeypot' operation finds

Cybereason created a fake industrial control network to study how hackers target utilities. "It is only a matter of time before a catastrophic event occurs," the Boston-based security firm concluded.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2020

As US reopens some pandemic responses may become permanent, public power CEOs say

After COVID-19 forced an unexpected experiment in teleworking, CEOs from multiple public utilities say some of their employees will continue to work from home — maybe permanently.

By Emma Penrod • June 11, 2020

Deep Dive

Trump's grid security order sows confusion in power sector — but don't expect a quick fix

The executive order limits the installation of bulk power system equipment sourced from foreign adversaries, but experts say the vague wording has the industry 'freaked out.'

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2020

Opinion

New waste-to-hydrogen processes could contribute to a carbon negative future

With the rise in production and sales of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and power generators, the technology is entering a new maturation point that could encompass both mobile and stationary storage options, the author writes.

By Jean-Louis Kindler • June 03, 2020

Sponsored by Aclara

Why sensors make sense for wildfire management

Fight fire with knowledge. Smart grid sensors deliver actionable insight.

By Kevin Corcoran, Senior Director of Product Management, Aclara • June 03, 2020

IRS clarifies carbon capture tax credit, but more policies needed to drive deployment, analysts say

Despite the proposed safety guidelines for the storage and utilization of captured carbon dioxide, some analysts say more incentives are needed for utilities to consider the new technology.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 01, 2020

Column

Taking Charge: Coronavirus has disrupted much of ComEd, but some things don't change, COO Donnelly says

As the utility’s workforce ages, the Exelon subsidiary can’t pause its hiring and worker certifications during the pandemic, says President and Chief Operating Officer Terry Donnelly.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 26, 2020