Breakthroughs in generation and system integration are driving the utility of the future, analysts say

The new technologies will reverse the supply-demand equation and bring competitive procurement and a transaction platform to merge the bulk power and distribution systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2022

Musk vows to accelerate Tesla solar and energy storage business in 2022

After the company's solar and storage business was "shortchanged" in 2021 amid production constraints, Tesla's CEO said the company is aiming for a "pretty vast" clean energy business. 

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 27, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Virtual Power Plants

Virtual power plants and their ability to balance energy supply and demand are increasingly sought by utilities as electricity demand increases, but their lack of standardization remains a barrier.

By Utility Dive staff

New York demonstration project to showcase potential of Zinc8's long-duration zinc-air battery

Zinc8 Energy Solutions will deploy a 100kW/1.5MWh battery system at a 32-building housing development in a project backed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 26, 2022

PG&E proposes 6.4 GWh battery storage plan in response to California's 11.5 GW procurement order

If approved by state regulators, the projects would boost the utility’s total battery storage capacity to over 3,330 MW by 2024.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 25, 2022

2022 Utility Dive Outlook

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, rate design and renewable energy — along with a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

Jan. 24, 2022

How smart chargers coupled with utility demand response programs can improve grid reliability and stability

Today, utilities and regulators are increasingly emphasizing electric vehicles (EVs) and other distributed energy resources (DERs) in their demand response programs.

Jan. 24, 2022

2022 Outlook: FERC expected to prioritize transmission, power markets and gas infrastructure

With a new Democratic majority, observers expect Chairman Glick will move quickly on an agenda that could facilitate the energy transition.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: A new recognition is coming of rate design’s critical role in the energy transition

More precise time-varying rates, technology-neutral rates for distributed energy resources, and new ways to use smart technologies could make for a cleaner, lower cost, more reliable power system, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: Top US power sector trends to watch

The Biden administration entered 2022 with some key strengths and significant challenges to implementing its clean energy agenda, but states, companies and others are continuing to advance the energy transition.

By Kavya Balaraman, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton and Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2022

Major energy storage deployment can balance load 24/7, cut emissions: NREL study

A model of a grid with significant storage finds little concern about meeting peak demand, even with the variability of solar generation.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 13, 2022

Hydrostor secures $250 million from Goldman Sachs amid rising investor interest in long-duration storage

The investment follows a $200 million fundraising round by iron-air battery firm Form Energy and a $150 million equity commitment to long-duration storage firm FlexGen from Apollo Global Management, among other deals.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 12, 2022

New York to double energy storage target to at least 6 GW by 2030

Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, said the goal will be paired with regulatory reform and new incentives along with cost-effective procurement mechanisms.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 7, 2022

Stem, ENGIE North America partner to integrate storage management and EV charging platform

The partnership reflects customers' growing interest in adopting EV charging, solar generation and storage all at once, according to Stem officials.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 6, 2022

Data centers, EVs drive PJM's long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines

However, the grid operator on Friday trimmed its forecast for its next capacity auction year by 0.5%, reflecting slower than expected load growth.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 4, 2022

Duke, SCE, other grid modernization proposals faced big cost questions, more regulator scrutiny in 2021

Regulators facing new climate and reliability urgencies and nearly 500 grid modernization proposals are more often favoring phased advances toward a smarter system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2022

Volta bets on space technology for battery storage fire prevention

The energy storage firm announced a three-year deployment order with KULR for batteries designed to prevent thermal runaway.

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 21, 2021

Democrats plan to press ahead with Build Back Better bill, despite Manchin opposition

The legislation threatens grid reliability and increases U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains, according to Sen. Joe Manchin.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 20, 2021

SCE's $1.2B grid reliability storage contract receives approval from regulators

The contract includes 537.5 MW/2,150 MWh of energy storage projects at three existing SCE substations that are scheduled to come online by August.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 20, 2021

Stem announces acquisition of AlsoEnergy as it looks to maximize potential of solar + storage projects

The deal will create a "one-stop shop" to manage solar-plus-storage projects, artificial intelligence-based energy storage company Stem says.

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 17, 2021

Shell, KKR invest in solar + storage as renewable market booms

The oil and gas giant is acquiring solar and storage developer Savion as part of a push into renewable energy. 

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 15, 2021

Fluence expects to bring in more than $1B in revenue in 2022, touts potential of energy storage market

Fluence, as a storage technology company and not a battery manufacturer, is well positioned to ride the market’s evolution, CEO Manuel Perez Dubuc said during its first earnings call as a publicly-traded company.

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 10, 2021

US storage market breaks records with 3.5 GWh of new deployments in Q3

California, Texas and Arizona led the front-of-the-meter segment, which deployed 998 MW/3,198 MWh of installments last quarter. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 9, 2021

New York’s landmark Reforming the Energy Vision framework remains both vital and unfinished, analysts say

New York's REV initiatives have given full value to distributed energy resources, but the utility business model transformation must be finished, regulators and other stakeholders agreed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 9, 2021

Nuclear and carbon capture companies seek $20B as DOE revives loan program

DOE loan office head Jigar Shah said he would like the office to issue at least $2 billion in loans for key emerging sectors, such as battery recycling and "green" hydrogen.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 8, 2021

Trends to watch in energy storage in 2022

By the end of 2030, the energy storage industry will break the 1 terawatt (TW) threshold. Wärtsilä's Vice President of Energy Storage and Optimization, Andrew Tang shares his thoughts on the trends we'll see unfold as a result.

By Andrew Tang, Vice President, Energy Storage and Optimization • Dec. 6, 2021