Solar market limits pandemic's ill effects, but states with strict restrictions see big installation drop

A solar market report for the second quarter of 2020 shows the sector's 'resilience' in the face of COVID-19 as it adapts to new realities, though challenges from the current pandemic remain.

By Thomas Gresham • Sept. 17, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • Updated Sept. 28, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Utilities' traditional reliance on large power plants is shifting to a model that includes distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage and even electric vehicles.

By Utility Dive staff

Duke-solar industry breakthrough settlement aims to end rooftop solar cost shift debates

A collaboration among Vote Solar, Sunrun, Southeastern environmental advocates and Duke Energy has produced a rate design that could be a new paradigm for pairing and growing rooftop solar and demand response.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 16, 2020

7 investment priorities for a green COVID-19 recovery: report

The Coalition for Urban Transitions analyzed how the allocation of stimulus funding across a number of environmental sectors can aid the international COVID-19 response.

By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 14, 2020

California proposes $41M Shell grant for hydrogen fuel cell EV infrastructure

Shell said it has partners in Toyota and Honda, which have agreed to expand fuel-cell electric vehicle sales in the state to support the stations.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 14, 2020

Adding it all up: Counting the capacity contribution of variable and duration-limited resources

The failure to properly count the quantity of capacity available to meet load during extreme weather events, like wildfires, can lead to inadequate power supplies and rotating blackouts, the authors write.

By Nick Schlag, Zachary Ming and Arne Olson • Sept. 10, 2020

Alabama's increase of residential solar charges will slow installations, advocates say

Solar proponents say Alabama Power's monthly charge has stymied rooftop solar development, but commissioners argued for an increase in the fee.

By John Funk • Sept. 2, 2020

As utility collaboration with charging companies rises, emerging differences could impede EV growth

To accelerate EV charging infrastructure deployment, former competitors are working together, but new questions threaten to lead to dissension.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 31, 2020

Wasatch Group, sonnen plan 24 MW, 60 MWh virtual power plants in California for $130M

The companies are beginning the first of seven retrofit projects in September in a Fresno apartment community, planning to add 3,000 batteries and solar power to homes.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 27, 2020

Energy consulting groups value Southeast RTO potential at $384B savings by 2040

A seven-state RTO, including Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas, would phase out coal generation and add more storage and renewables into the mix, according to analysis from Vibrant Clean Energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 25, 2020

Ensuring DER inclusion in capacity markets may require a rethink of resource adequacy

The growth of customer-owned resources is forcing system operators and aggregators to see their value as reliability tools and rethink the concept of resource adequacy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2020

5 technologies propelling the energy transition

Utility Dive's latest series focused on electric sector innovations that could strengthen the grid, increase reliability and expand clean energy.

By Utility Dive Editors • Aug. 24, 2020

A pivotal moment for microgrid policy – What California is getting right and where it's heading from here

The California Public Utilities Commission's microgrid regulatory proceedings could be a bellwether for microgrid development across the country, the author writes.

By Jonathan Kevles • Aug. 20, 2020

Propelling the transition: Green hydrogen could be the final piece in a zero-emissions future

Green hydrogen beats renewables plus batteries at fueling heavy transport, serving industry and long duration storage — if it can be delivered affordably.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 17, 2020

Xcel Energy unveils plan to serve 1.5M EVs by 2030

The utility is anticipating a 30-fold increase in the number of plug-in vehicles across its service territories, in hopes of saving customers billions in fuel costs.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2020

Sunrun posts Q2 loss but anticipates storage boost as battery prices fall, blackouts persist

Sunrun has developed a pipeline of deals to provide grid services, such as virtual power plants, in half of the regions it operates, CEO Lynn Jurich said during the company's second quarter earnings call.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 12, 2020

Doubling down on energy efficiency in our fight against climate change

Energy saved today affords more climate value than energy saved later. So why make energy efficiency trade-offs?

By Marisa Uchin, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Oracle Utilities • Aug. 12, 2020

GM, EVgo to triple fast charging network

The companies announced plans to add more than 2,700 new fast chargers in "highly visible areas" across 40 undisclosed metropolitan areas.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 3, 2020

Taking Charge: How California's first CCA confronts wildfire risk and energy equity amid COVID-19

MCE CEO Dawn Weisz spoke to Utility Dive about the community choice aggregator's efforts to make its service area more resilient.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2020

DC regulators consider 'light touch' when it comes to microgrid rules

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is considering the development of a regulatory framework for microgrids, hoping to encourage deployment of more renewable energy and storage.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2020

Construction begins on Pittsburgh International Airport microgrid

The microgrid will completely power PIT by next summer, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative among major U.S. airports.

By Chris Teale • July 24, 2020

2019 was a bumper year for microgrid deployment, but COVID-19 could slow progress: WoodMac

While distributed fossil fuels accounted for a majority of microgrid capacity installed in 2019, WoodMac analyst Isaac Maze-Rothstein expects the share of renewables and storage to increase over the next five years.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 23, 2020

UK-based DER company enters North American market as US sits 'on the cusp' of mass transition

As the costs of battery storage drop in North America, a technology company focused on virtual power plants crosses the Atlantic to launch two new projects.

By Emma Penrod • July 21, 2020

New York investor-owned utilities to fund $701M make-ready EV infrastructure program

State regulators have authorized a cost-sharing program to encourage utilities and charging station developers to install 50,000 Level 2 charging plugs and 1,500 direct current fast charger stations.

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2020

FERC shuts down petition to upend net metering, McNamee signals issue could return

Though all four commissioners voted against the petition, Commissioners James Danly and Bernard McNamee issued separate concurrence statements.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2020