California regulators approve PG&E, Energy Vault green hydrogen and battery microgrid

The microgrid’s planned use of green hydrogen fuel cells and batteries marks a departure from PG&E’s earlier practice of using diesel generators for backup power during outages.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 1, 2023

Let’s not forget about how renewables will impact the distribution grid

As many more zero-carbon generation sources connect to the grid, the urgency of grid modernization programs will continue to increase. Discover how the rise of renewables will drive the need for upgrades on our distribution systems.

By Luke Ezell, PE, Account Manager, Burns & McDonnell • May 1, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Xcel launches microgrid-based resiliency service for large Minnesota commercial, industrial customers

In Wisconsin, where the Empower Resiliency program was already offered, Xcel reached a deal to develop energy assets to power the Bayfield County jail and courthouse. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2023

NREL, UL publish requirements for a new distributed energy resource cybersecurity standard

UL Solutions has published testing and certification requirements that will be converted into standard UL 2941 after review by the company’s standard technical panel.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2023

North Carolina eases transition from fixed to variable net metering rates for some Duke Energy customers

Solar panel installers worried that the variable rate would discourage customers from installing solar panels because variable rates are less predictable.

By Patrick Cooley • April 21, 2023

DOE offers Sunnova $3B partial loan guarantee for low-income solar, storage

It would be the first time that the agency’s Loan Programs Office has guaranteed a collection of small assets, LPO Director Jigar Shah said. 

By Diana DiGangi • April 21, 2023

Sunrun, others adapt as California’s new net metering rules spur booming interest in energy storage

The attachment rates of storage systems to distributed solar in California are projected to increase from around 11% today to over 80% by 2027, according to Wood Mackenzie.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 20, 2023

With looming EV load spikes, PG&E, Duke, other utilities adopt new rate design and cost recovery strategies

New dynamic time-varying rates and demand charge adjustments from California to the Carolinas could align customer usage with utility costs to make EVs a system benefit, rate design experts said

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2023

North Carolina forges new path on net metering as other states cut rooftop solar incentives

State regulators partially accepted a deal worked out by Duke Energy and other stakeholders that includes a variable payment approach to net metering based on overall electricity demand on the grid.

By Patrick Cooley • March 31, 2023

California, CPower, Enel, AutoGrid, Voltus dominate virtual power plant market: WoodMac

Nearly a quarter of the virtual power plant projects in North America are located in California, according to a new report by Wood Mackenzie.

By Emma Penrod • March 31, 2023

A new era for smart meters: shifting intelligence to the Edge

The new generation of smart meters that are being developed by Gridspertise are the core of this innovation, since data management is performed both in the cloud and at the edge, closer to the source, enabling near-real time response.

March 20, 2023

Treasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say

Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023

CPUC poised to reject Sunnova’s plan to build microgrids in new residential communities

Sunnova’s proposal involves owning and operating microgrids as part of new, master-planned residential communities that would include up to 2,000 homes and some non-residential facilities.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 21, 2023

New power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say

Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023

Utility regulators must make smart decisions about smart meters: delays could be costly to consumers

For the first time ever, energy consumers and the technology providers that serve them have access to real-time energy data.

By Colin Gibbs, VP Energy Services, Sense • Feb. 13, 2023

US microgrid market to grow 19% annually through 2027, Wood Mackenzie projects

Microgrids continue to add capacity as green initiatives spur development, but high costs associated with renewable technology remain a challenge, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.

By Henrik Nilsson • Feb. 8, 2023

Quantum Edge® Device: the all in one solutions that provides unmatched benefits for Electric Utilities

Grid complexity is increasing, and DSOs are now facing new challenges such as unpredictable bidirectional power flow, MV harmonic pollution and grid management revolution. Thanks to its multi-purposes concept QEd is the keystone to merge OT and IT ecosystems to maximize the resiliency and efficiency of the grid while simplifying maintenance operations and improving network sustainability.

Feb. 7, 2023

Sunrun, PG&E to roll out 30-MW virtual power plant to support California grid in the summer

Sunrun will create the virtual power plant by enrolling up to 7,500 existing and new rooftop solar and battery systems in PG&E’s footprint.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 7, 2023

Sunrun partners with startup Lunar Energy to operate nationwide portfolio of virtual power plants

Under the terms of the deal, Lunar’s aggregation software will coordinate energy from assets installed by Sunrun to sell blocks of energy to utilities and on wholesale markets.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 3, 2023

Demand for Tesla storage products exceeds supply as Q4 deployments rise 152% to 2.5 GWh

Tesla deployed 6.5 GWh of storage in 2022, “by far the highest level of deployments we have achieved,” the company said.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2023

2023 US Power Sector Outlook

2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 25, 2023

As Puerto Rico moves to privatize generation, DOE study outlines 3 pathways to 100% renewables

By law, Puerto Rico must achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2050. “There is no space for building more natural gas assets,” a senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy said Friday.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2023

3 big advances coming as distributed energy resources take newer, bigger roles in 2023

Analysts foresee DER growth in 2023 at the wholesale market and retail distribution system levels as communities and local leaders demand more reliability and resilience.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2023

California PUC’s delay of microgrids program harms disadvantaged communities

This delay in community microgrid development means more vulnerability to heat waves, wildfires, power shutoffs and pollution, especially in frontline communities.

By Stephanie Doyle and Shina Robinson • Jan. 18, 2023