As utilities risk missing carbon reduction targets, analysts stress need for organizational change

Sierra Club and the Smart Electric Power Alliance published separate analyses on the shortcomings of utilities in their net zero emissions pledges, finding a common solution in new organizational approaches.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2021

The hydrogen molecule's 'moonshot' moment

Hydrogen has the potential to help enable "our generation’s moonshot" — economy-wide decarbonization, the author writes.

By Neva Espinoza • June 23, 2021

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

US grid needs overhaul to keep up with renewable revolution, says GE exec, Sen. Heinrich

The infrastructure package Congress is debating must include tens of billions of dollars to modernize the aging U.S. electric grid, a U.S. senator and industry experts said last week.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 22, 2021

As US aims to boost clean energy supply chain, critical minerals gap largely human-caused, analysts say

There's no shortage of rare earth minerals needed to transition to a clean energy economy, experts say. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.

By Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021

Stem becomes investment platform CleanCapital's preferred storage provider with new partnership

The partnership will inject more capital into the storage sector while giving investors more insight into the 'esoteric' market.

By Jason Plautz • June 17, 2021

As California steels for summer months, storage and demand response efforts could avert blackouts

High temperature forecasts have prompted CAISO to warn of the possible need to conserve energy, although it does not expect outages at this point. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 16, 2021

Texas adding energy storage ahead of risky summer months: S&P analysis

With nearly a dozen projects coming online this summer, Texas racks up battery storage amid reliability concerns. 

By Jason Plautz • June 16, 2021

Hybrid storage and renewable projects are popular. Are they the best for the market?

Using wholesale power market prices from 2012 to 2019 across the seven grid operators, researchers found that independently siting a battery could lead to a higher value in nearly all U.S. markets.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

Storage providers face bankability challenge as customers prefer Tesla, other tier 1 battery suppliers

Diversifying the energy storage supply chain means increasing trust in more manufacturers, industry officials and analysts warn.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

Incentives, interconnection rule changes needed to drive renewables + storage, Ørsted, DNV experts say

"More policy development and more incentives are needed for developers to be interested in this market," said Rocio Herrera, a project manager at engineering consulting firm DNV, during the Clean Power 2021 conference.

By Jason Plautz • June 9, 2021

Connecticut legislators approve 1 GW energy storage target for the end of 2030

A bill passed last week also establishes interim targets of deploying 300 MW of storage by the end of 2024 and 650 MW by the end of 2027.

By Jason Plautz • June 8, 2021

Storage investment tax credit: Giving standalone storage a seat at the table

The renewable energy industry and efforts for vast decarbonization this decade have the feel of serious momentum thus far in 2021.

By Andy Tang • June 7, 2021

'An unlikely alliance': US investor-owned utilities and NGOs partner to advance new carbon-free tech

The Edison Electric Institute and the Clean Air Task Force announce an initiative to support a slate of emerging carbon-free technologies.

By Ben Fowke and Armond Cohen • June 4, 2021

PJM reliability valuation proposal could boost energy storage in capacity market, group says

The proposal represents a "necessary and significant step forward," Energy Storage Association Interim CEO Jason Burwen said.

By Jason Plautz • June 4, 2021

Xcel's record-low-price procurement highlights benefits of all-source competitive solicitations

The utility's Colorado division showed how competitive bidding benefits customers if regulators protect the quality of the process.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 1, 2021

NREL details cost declines needed for long-duration storage to displace nuclear, gas with CCS

Current long-duration technology is not cost-effective enough to displace firm generation, but new models could help direct investments and research. 

By Jason Plautz • May 28, 2021

PNM seeks 700 MW to support reliability, facing delays with planned solar-plus-storage project

The New Mexico utility issued two new RFPs on Monday, including one to replace the already-approved Rockmont solar-plus-storage project, which will not be completed on schedule.

By Emma Penrod • May 26, 2021

Taking Charge: AES CEO Andrés Gluski on meeting the demands of the clean energy transition

Meeting ambitious climate goals will require a massive amount of electricity, and in turn, land, people, batteries, wind turbines and solar panels, Gluski said.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 25, 2021

Duke Energy, Malta to study converting coal plant for long-duration storage

The DOE-backed study will investigate the feasibility of installing pumped heat at a retired coal facility.

By Jason Plautz • Updated May 24, 2021

New York utilities update storage plans after missing initial deployment deadline

With a longer timeline to meet state goals, utilities have proposed a new bidding process for storage projects. 

By Jason Plautz • May 21, 2021

Hawaii regulators ease up on 'nearly impossible' conditions for HECO's Kapolei storage project

While the Public Utilities Commission reversed course on many conditions, it also signaled it would handle some in other dockets, said Kylie Wager Cruz, staff attorney with Earthjustice. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 19, 2021

FERC rejects MISO's bid to extend storage order compliance deadline, dismissing reliability concerns

Regulators say MISO failed to show "potential reliability impacts that warrant further delay" and will mandate storage policy adjustments in 2022. 

By Jason Plautz • May 19, 2021

Where should batteries be put to manage wind and solar power?

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researchers found that batteries sited separately from renewables, in a nearby high-value location, added greater value to a project than tandem siting, particularly in constrained areas.

By Will Gorman • May 19, 2021

Tesla shifts battery chemistry for utility-scale storage Megapack

The move to cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate batteries for the 1 GWh product could signal supply chain shifts. 

By Jason Plautz • May 18, 2021

Flow battery manufacturer ESS goes public via SPAC acquisition

The move will fund 16 GWh of manufacturing across three continents. 

By Jason Plautz • May 13, 2021