Consumers Energy begins to experiment with solar-plus-storage

The utility has rolled out the first solar-plus-storage project in Michigan, calling it a "critical part" of the state's energy future.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2019

DistribuTECH: Next-gen smart meter takes grid intelligence to new dimensions

Efforts to implement efficient billing has pushed smart meter innovations over the last couple of years. What will the next wave of smart meters bring the industry?

Jan. 24, 2019

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

Department of Energy commits $20.5M to spark lithium-ion battery recycling

Secretary Rick Perry recently announced plans for a new R&D center — as well as multiple innovation prizes — to drastically increase recovery rates.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 22, 2019

Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage

A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019

VC funding for storage, smart grid and efficiency companies almost doubled last year: Mercom

Companies raised a combined $2.8 billion across the three areas in 2018, compared to $1.5 billion raised in 2017, driven by a steep rise in energy efficiency interest.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2019

Navigating utility business model reform: A practical guide

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide a guide to modernizing the electric utility business model. 

By Dan Cross-Call, Cara Goldenberg and Mike O’Boyle • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

New Hampshire regulators approve utility-owned residential Tesla battery pilot

Liberty Utilities will have the nation's second utility-owned, customer-sited storage pilot, with Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries for 500 customers and a time-of-use rate.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2019

Global lithium-ion battery market expected to exceed $60B by 2024: report

The report tracks various li-ion chemistries, touting the batteries for their "better capacity, longer lifecycle, and improved efficiency when compared to available alternatives."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

'Unlayering' peak demand could accelerate energy storage adoption

A new approach to the peaker-storage debate could help energy storage better meet peak demand and lower emissions.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 15, 2019

2019 Power Sector Outlook: Top trends to watch

We talked to utilities, analysts and technology providers on what to expect in the year ahead for storage, solar, demand-side management and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

PUC order keeps Minnesota ahead of the curve on performance-based rates

The order, the culmination of a process that began in September 2017, establishes procedures and goals for developing metrics for performance-based rates by the fall.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 11, 2019

2019 Solar Outlook: Making ambitious state policy into a reality

Breakthroughs in interconnection and communication with stakeholders will help utilities and developers take advantage of the full solar tax credit.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 9, 2019

2019 Storage Outlook: Utility procurement will drive deployments, analysts say

Rules for energy storage in wholesale markets are being finalized, but deployments are more likely to be driven by utility resource plans.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 8, 2019

Hawaiian Electric submits 7 projects totaling over 1 GWh storage, 260 MW solar for regulatory review

Six of the seven solar+storage projects offer record-low prices for solar-plus-storage grid-scale developments in the state.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2019

El Paso Electric includes 100 MW storage, 200 MW solar in 2022 energy mix

The utility will also purchase 226 MW natural gas and an additional 50-150 MW of renewable resources "to provide for fuel diversity and energy cost savings."

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 3, 2019

Getting to 100% zero emissions in California: Beyond CAISO's eight-solution menu

The state's IOUs are on track for 50% renewables by 2020, but questions remain on how to reach the 100% clean energy goal by 2045.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 3, 2019

10 trends shaping the electric power sector in 2019

From coal bailouts to batteries and wind and solar growth, here are the issues that will define the year to come.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 2, 2019

Our 10 best stories of 2018

Our top stories of the year illustrate the decline of coal-fired generation and the numerous policy surprises that came out of the federal government this year.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 21, 2018

NV energy plan to add 100 MW storage, 1 GW renewables gets PUC approval

The proposal includes a half dozen new solar facilities that, combined with 100 MW of new battery storage, would add more than 1 GW of renewables to the state's portfolio.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2018

How many billionaires does it take to get a geothermal storage facility underway?

A clean energy fund led by Bill Gates has invested in the molten salt storage startup Malta, which raised $26 million in its first round of funding, spinning off from the private Alphabet X research lab.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 21, 2018

How policies can make or brake solar development in the Southeast

Third party financing can enable solar growth, but faces hurdles in several states. Some utilities are not compensating for solar's value on the grid and leveling charges specific to solar owners. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018

In major restructuring, ABB shifts from heavy electrical manufacturing to distributed energy

ABB is turning to distributed generation in Europe, stepping back from the Asian market for heavy electric equipment through the sale of its power transmission business to Hitachi.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2018

As grid mod accelerates and regulators push back, Duke and others retool proposals

Within this whirlwind of activity, some utilities are responding well and some are struggling to meet pressure from regulators and stakeholders to justify spending proposals.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018

New York Gov. Cuomo pledges 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

The announcement comes days after the state Public Service Commission approved the third phase of its clean energy standard as well as a 3 GW energy storage goal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2018