Sonnen leverages rooftop solar, financing partners to sell storage systems in US

German energy storage company Sonnen has formed two partnerships as part of is strategy to sell storage systems into the U.S.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 1, 2016

Inside the decision: California regulators preserve retail rate net metering until 2019

After months of intense lobbying and studying of proposals, California regulators handed the rooftop solar sector a vital win in its most important market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 1, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, are experiencing significant growth in the U.S. as the power sector evolves to a cleaner, less centralized future.

By Utility Dive staff

17% of Hawaiian Electric customers now have rooftop solar

Hawaii’s electric utility has now processed over 77,000 solar PV interconnection applications.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 1, 2016

Did solar lobbying tactics sow the seeds of the Nevada net metering controversy?

Aggressive efforts from the solar industry may have put off policymakers, some Nevada stakeholders say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2016

New Mexico House committee advances 10% solar tax credit extension

Without an extension, the 10% rebate for residential installations will expire at the end of the year, but the state's GOP governor refused to sign a similar proposal last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2016

Utility-backed Florida solar amendment nabs qualifying signatures for 2016 ballot

Florida's Supreme Court approval for the amendment's language is the final hurdle for the Consumers for Smart Solar to land a spot on the 2016 election ballot. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2016

Addressing DR Duality: Providers seek uniform policies in new strategy report

Just days before the Supreme Court weighed in FERC Order 745, a broad stakeholder group issued a report calling for a better understanding of the load management strategy and a broader integration alongside other distributed resources.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2016

How utilities and regulators differ in their approaches to distributed energy

Meeting customer demand for distributed generation will require more coordination between utilities and regulators, a recent survey found.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2016

Xcel proposes overhaul of its Colorado grid to include more renewables, smart meters

Xcel Energy this week is making a series of filings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, describing an extensive overhaul of how the utility plans to serve 1.4 million customers.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2016

What to expect from California utilities' new aggregated demand response offerings

Under a new auction, California utilities will meet grid demand with traditional demand response, stationary batteries and electric vehicles. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 26, 2016

Mississippi electric co-ops ask regulators for rehearing on net metering

The co-ops say their nonprofit, member-owned status means they should have the right to set their own solar net metering rates. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2016

Report: Global microgrid market will top $35B by 2020

The market is growing by more than 20% annually, according to analysis from Transparency Market Research.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2016

Can utilities learn to love distributed solar like central station arrays?

Utility-scale solar has become mainstream among U.S. power providers, but persisting questions around cost and valuation are masking further opportunties in the distributed generation space, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2016

REV in 2016: The year that could transform utility business models in New York

While utilities probably won’t shift to new revenue and business models under REV this year, just how they plan to meet the goals of the groundbreaking reform initiative could become much clearer in the coming months.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 20, 2016

DNV GL aims for energy storage 'global guide' with GRIDSTOR standards

Aligning standards across the storage industry will help 'create a level playing field' for providers, analysts say.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 19, 2016

New arrival Spruce ups game for 'trusted energy advisor' role

A new company offering both DER and efficiency financing can be a partner or a competitor to incumbent utilities looking to bolster their customer relationships. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

Global investment in renewables hit record $328.9B in 2015 as new markets opened

Opportunity in renewables kept investors away from cheap fossil fuels, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2016

Diary of a Grid Defector: Community solar, keeping warm and policy talk at the local bar

Struggles with heating drive Robert Walton to a local bar, where he meets officials from a local solar company whose business is taking off.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

Solar prices are stabilizing at new lower levels, but causation remains elusive

The factors that drive price differences in solar PV remain largely a mystery, but a new study provides some novel insights on the question and shows that costs are beginning to cluster at new, lower levels. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2016

Obama touts clean energy growth, promises fossil fuel extraction reform in State of the Union

The president took on climate change doubters in his final State of the Union address Tuesday night and promised to reform policies allowing for the extraction of fossil fuels on federal lands. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 13, 2016

How a new business model could get the Puerto Rico public utility out of debt

The only way PREPA can save itself is to find a path to lower cost electricity, but any restructuring deal is bound up in the politics of both the island and Capitol Hill.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Nevada regulator urges commission not to delay new solar net metering rates

The full Nevada commission will meet today to consider calls from the solar industry to stay a controversial net metering ruling, but one regulator has already made his opinion on the matter clear.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Tesla shifts production to its Gigafactory to accommodate Powerwall demand

As it begins delivering its stationary batteries, strong demand prompts Tesla to shift production to its Gigafactory.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 12, 2016

Oregon utility developing microgrids to bid into ISO markets, enhance reliability

The Oregon Department of Energy awarded Eugene Water & Electric Board almost $300,000 for a pilot project designed to show the benefits of microgrids and energy storage. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

Solar moves ahead of wind, hydro in California fuel mix, toward 10% of state's power

Huge growth in the sector, along with a hydro-hampering drought, means that solar now accounts for more generation than any other reneawble resource in California. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2016