Technology
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Sen. Murkowski teases prospects for storage as committee advances 22 energy bills
While the initiatives did not include energy storage-focused bills, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair said a second mark-up can be expected in September.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 17, 2019 -
Tendril targets utility customer care trend, merges into a new platform
The company shifted its strategy from acquiring market leaders to providing end-to-end service to customers through a more integrated load management platform.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2019 -
$1B Montana pumped storage hydro project secures funding
The 400 MW Gordon Butte project would integrate more renewables onto the Northwestern grid, and could be ready to start construction next year, according to developers.
By Robert Walton • July 16, 2019 -
Deep DiveDisputed ground: The future of landfill gas-to-energy
Gas capture at landfills creates electricity and revenue, but also has economic and environmental disadvantages.
By Max Witynski • July 15, 2019 -
Private equity investment in storage expected to increase as ECP buys Convergent
Experts say private equity fund Energy Capital Partner's acquisition of an energy storage developer is a validation for the sector and could lead to more investments going forward.
By HJ Mai • July 12, 2019 -
SponsoredGIS should be about digital transformation
Enterprise GIS can transform the business by lowering costs and hassles, greatly improving decision making and communicating to utility executives in ways they have never seen before.
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Sen Cassidy presses DOE to move natural gas beyond the 'stepchild treatment' for carbon capture
Senators are proposing a DOE program focused on carbon capture solutions for natural gas, as fuel-switching continues and coal retirements increase.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 10, 2019 -
Utilities press FERC to allow cloud-based storage to increase data security, reliability
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation is crafting a standard to enable utilities to use cloud-based solutions as opposed to onsite data servers.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 02, 2019 -
OpinionComparing America's grid operators on clean energy progress: PJM is headed for a climate disaster
The nation's largest grid operator is fueling a continued gas boom, despite growing data that such generation is perilous for the climate and unnecessary to serve customers, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
By Miles Farmer and Amanda Levin • July 02, 2019 -
Transitioning US to 100% renewables by 2030 will cost $4.5 trillion: Wood Mackenzie
Including existing nuclear plants would reduce the price by almost $500 billion, while other savings are possible with a longer time frame to allow for technological advancements, the consulting firm said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: July 1, 2019 at 7:34 a.m. -
OpinionBreaking through the hype – Neural networks and AI in the utility world
With more digital industrial companies leveraging an expanding, integrated AI/machine learning platform to drive network level optimization, we can now look to the future and ask new questions, the author writes.
By Peter Kirk • June 28, 2019 -
Arizona, New Jersey homes costliest to cool in summer, Sense finds
New data from the smart home energy monitoring company shows Arizona and New Jersey paid $476.83 and $326.65, respectively last summer, more than twice the national average of $147.82.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2019 -
Illinois directs Vistra to retire 2 GW coal by 2020
Under the recent orders, Vistra Energy will need to retire the units by the end of the year and NRG Energy's Midwest Generation subsidiary will need to address groundwater contamination at four Illinois plants.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 24, 2019 -
To compete in the global battery arms race, the US must spur its domestic market, analysts say
Industry experts say the United States has to create incentives for lithium-ion battery products to encourage manufacturers and decrease its dependence on Chinese imports.
By HJ Mai • June 24, 2019 -
FERC expands cybersecurity reporting standards to include non-disruptive incidents
The changes to cyberthreat reporting will provide "a more accurate picture of the rapidly changing cyber threat landscape" and secure the bulk power system, according to commission staff.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 21, 2019 -
Utilities are 'the new cyber battlefield,' as US ramps up pressure on Russia's electric grid
With utilities in the cross-hairs of malicious actors, experts say there are health, safety and economic risks for those who rely on the grid, particularly if escalation continues.
By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019 -
Study: Bitcoin mining has carbon footprint comparable to Kansas City, MO
Cities have embraced Bitcoin and other blockchain technology as a way to handle everything from real estate transactions to vehicle communications.
By Jason Plautz • June 17, 2019 -
SponsoredAutomating processes helps utility and service providers mitigate risk
Utilities must have rigorous record-keeping systems in place with safety-oriented operational procedures that are transparent, efficient, and timely.
By Ross Smith, Digital Utility Expert • June 13, 2019 -
SponsoredFronius Symo advanced inverter receives first SunSpec rapid shutdown certification
The SunSpec Alliance foundation was set by a large group of solar industry firms dedicating time to the development of a SunSpec open source communications interface to meet NEC 2017 requirements
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GE: Hydrogen trumps CCS in preserving gas turbines in a carbon-free grid
The company said its gas turbines are able to handle increasing amounts of hydrogen fuel, lowering the resulting emissions and moving the technology toward burning 100% carbon-free hydrogen.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2019 -
Utilities must address widening business-residential knowledge gap on clean energy: Deloitte
Both segments are concerned about climate change — and, as technology improves, success in the power sector will depend on who understands their customer best, Deloitte executives say.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2019 -
SponsoredUtility companies and service providers at a breaking point
Service providers must prioritize digitization to create a competitive advantage for themselves.
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OpinionNo more swivel chairs: Utility customer service goes modern
Customer relationship management vendors are embracing an "App Store approach" that allows utilities to consolidate customer data and integrate third-party solutions on a single platform.
By Brian Bowen • June 05, 2019 -
OpinionUtility networking options are growing, but with uncertainty and complexity for long-term planners
Utilities today face a complex array of possible strategies thanks to a variety of new networking technologies, purchasing models, and spectrum options combined with the legacy networks currently under management.
By Richelle Elberg • June 03, 2019 -
Utah lays claim to world's largest renewable storage project
The 1 GW project, being developed by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and Magnum Development, would utilize a range of technologies, including renewable hydrogen, large-scale flow batteries.
By Robert Walton • May 31, 2019
