Amid steady battery growth, Fluence sets sights on market share, transmission assets

Having proven itself on utility-scale projects, the company eyes behind-the-meter projects on the commercial-industrial side and opportunities at the "center of the grid."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 14, 2018

Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente add to boom in corporate renewable PPAs

As companies reach for emissions-free operations, renewable energy power purchase agreements are on the rise.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2018

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

SPI 2018: Celebrate the growth of green energy!

The cost of renewables and energy storage has become competitive with conventional thermal generation in many parts of the world. Which means our industry will be growing big time in the foreseeable future. 

Sept. 14, 2018

Renewables: As rooftop solar expands, states grapple with successors to net metering

Replacements to the controversial solar incentive have cropped up in Hawaii, California and elsewhere, but policymakers have struggled to devise a replicable model across the U.S. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2018

EMotorWerks provides CAISO with 30 MW of DR through smart EV charging

The EV chargers act as a virtual battery, providing up to 70 MWh of storage capacity to the California ISO market.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2018

APS rolls out 3 new customer-sited storage and efficiency programs

The new offerings for smart thermostats, batteries and efficient water heaters come as the utility fights against a 50% renewable energy initiative on the ballot this November. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2018

Arizona regulators approve lower rooftop solar credits for TEP, UNSE customers

Regulators did not cut solar compensation as much as the utilities wanted, but installers still worry the lower rates will hamper adoption. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 12, 2018

Battery material shortage pushes developers to shift li-ion chemistries

Demand for nickel manganese cobalt batteries is outstripping supply, so some storage developers are turning to the more "rugged" lithium iron phosphate chemistry.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 11, 2018

Pepco unveils $15M transportation electrification program for DC

Electric vehicle growth has been uneven in the District of Columbia, where two-thirds of residents are renters and have limited access to charging infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2018

California ISO board approves measures to propel energy storage, DERs

CAISO's Board of Directors approved changes to how behind-the-meter energy storage resources participate in the ISO and measures to facilitate the use of demand response resources in the wholesale market.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2018

In first, US residential energy storage overtakes front-of-meter installations

For the first time, residential energy storage outpaced front-of-meter deployments, according to a Wood Mackenzie-Energy Storage Association report.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2018

Sonnen aims to unify all aspects of the smart home

Through its new smart energy management system, Sonnen will unite home automation, residential solar and energy storage with intelligent load control.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2018

US residential storage capacity sees 317% growth

A survey compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance shows rapid growth in the deployment of residential storage resources, but relatively steady numbers in other storage sectors.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 5, 2018

EY: Global utility and power sector deals hit $180B in first half of 2018

Renewable energy continues to grow in importance, accounting for 46% of deal volume in the second quarter, EY says.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2018

California's BTM energy storage moves forward, but is it good for the climate?

Legislators extended the state's self-generation incentive program, but regulators want to improve its GHG reductions.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 4, 2018

California approves bill to limit utility liability for wildfires, but not CAISO expansion

The state legislature wrapped up the 2018 session by passing bills on electric vehicle infrastructure, battery storage and critical changes for utilities on wildfire liability laws.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 4, 2018

Energy storage gets a boost as California legislature extends SGIP

Extension of the Self Generation Incentive Program ​program could help the growth of rooftop solar in California.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2018

Exclusive: Ohio PUC details utility reform roadmap in PowerForward initiative

The plan, a product of a year-long business model investigation, aims to create a level playing field for innovation on the utility distribution system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 29, 2018

Colorado approves Xcel plan to retire coal, shift to renewables and storage

The plan will see the utility retire 660 MW of coal power and invest $2.5 billion in renewable energy, part of Xcel's "steel for fuel" strategy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

FERC says SCE can't treat storage customers differently in service

Southern California Edison sought authority to curtail electricity service to storage customers first during times of peak demand, but FERC said that would be "unduly discriminatory."

By Gavin Bade , Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

Face the heat: Should EV incentives be restructured for battery degradation?

A new study advocates scaling electric vehicle incentives based on how quickly batteries wear out, but critics say it misses the bigger picture. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 28, 2018

MISO previews storage changes, enacts five-minute energy market settlements

The Midcontinent ISO last week announced it implemented five-minute settlements across its energy market while also establishing details of how storage assets will be able to participate in trading.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Rhode Island approves National Grid modernization plan, rate increase

While gas and low income electric customers will see rate decreases, average residential power customers will see a 3.5% increase.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

PacifiCorp, Idaho Power agree to make CAISO their reliability coordinator

As the California grid operator draws closer to filing at FERC for approval of its Reliability Coordinator services, two more utilities have signed on following a commitment by the Balancing Authority of Northern California in July.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2018

Lithium-ion battery deployments to increase 800% from 2017 to 2022: GTM

Deployments will increase at a rate of 55% a year — from 2 GWh in 2017 to 18 GWh in 2022 — with most occurring in the United States, followed by China, Japan and Australia.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 23, 2018