[Podcast] Where's the energy cloud going?

Welcome to Beyond the Electron: The Energy Cloud podcast series. 

By Utility Dive's studioID • Updated Feb. 12, 2020

How can US utilities be ready when everything changes?

EY has modeled three critical tipping points for utilities on the way to a new energy system. In Europe and Oceania they're staggered, but in the U.S., they'll arrive in much quicker succession, Dana Hanson writes.

By Dana Hanson • May 4, 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

Solar at the crossroads: Is utility-scale, distributed or both the way to go?

Sunrun says solar's future is on rooftops, but solar advocates and utilities say an advanced power system with utility-scale and distributed energy resources is a better bet.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2018

HECO proposes 2 large battery projects to support renewables push

Proposals include 20 MW and 100 MW battery systems, which must be approved by state regulators.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

100-Hour storage? DOE launches $30M program to explore new technologies

The program is designed to address the needs of intermittent generation sources, such as wind and solar, by enabling a new set of applications that can provide long lasting backup power.  

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

Lithium-ion domination could block promising storage technologies, MIT finds

Li-ion batteries are good for transportation applications, less so for the grid. But their dominance is making it difficult for producers of alternative storage technologies to survive, much less innovate and scale up.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

Mercedes-Benz abandons residential storage ambitions

The expensive residential batteries intended to challenge Tesla's Powerwall were "overdesigned," the company said.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

Illinois energy law revives renewables while aiding nuclear

The Future Energy Jobs Act is also expanding energy efficiency in the state, but the nuclear subsidies are being challenged in court.

By Peter Maloney • April 30, 2018

Arizona utilities cautious over costs, reliability for proposed 80% clean energy mandate

Meanwhile, two competing ballot proposals would seek to amend the state's constitution to hit 50% renewable energy by 2050 — setting the stage for another political showdown in the state. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation

The law goes further than other performance-based efforts, directing the PUC to "break the direct link" between utility revenues and capital investments.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Pacific Power analysis shows storage pilot projects currently uneconomic

Based on its projections, the utility estimates that energy storage has the potential to become cost effective in 2029.

By Peter Maloney • April 24, 2018

Colorado Senate approves second storage bill, waits on House

The bill would "establish mechanisms" for investor-owned electric utilities to procure energy storage systems, though certain criteria would need to be met.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2018

FERC Order 845 opens door a little wider for energy storage

The commission's order on interconnection agreements makes it easier to combine storage with generation

By Peter Maloney • April 23, 2018

Report: Storage nabs biggest portion of $472M in Q1 venture funding

Investors committed $300 million in a dozen deals for battery storage, nearly double compared to the fourth quarter in 2017. 

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2018

FERC issues NOI seeking comments on gas pipeline evaluations

The NOI seeks comment on how FERC evaluates the need for pipelines, its use of eminent domain, the environmental impact of pipeline projects and the efficiency of FERC's permitting process. 

By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018

New York advances REV, moves to bring more energy storage online

State regulators took four actions on Thursday to advance New York's Reforming the Energy Vision, including experiments with allowing more storage on the distribution grid.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2018

New Hampshire governor's energy plan leans on nuclear, gas

The new plan by Gov. Sununu aims to diminish the cost impacts of renewable energy procurement by neighboring states, assuming those contracts will be above market rates.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2018

State-federal concerns could dim FERC's landmark storage order

Wider access to a variety of markets has been hailed as the basis for energy storage growth, but jurisdictional issues could thwart an overarching solution.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

New Jersey passes bills for nuke subsidies, 50% RPS, 2 GW storage target

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is expected to sign the measures, but proposed reforms to PJM's capacity market make the nuclear subsides' impact on wholesale power prices unclear.

By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018

US led surging global energy storage market in 2017, GTM says

While the U.S. remains the leader in energy storage deployments, with 431 MWh out of a global total of 2.3 GWh in 2017, China is rising quickly into second.

By Peter Maloney • April 13, 2018

Alternative Energy Now Has Alternative Storage

Thermal Energy Storage: More flexibility & longer discharge for storing intermittent renewables.

April 12, 2018

MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting

The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.  

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

BP partners with Tesla on oil giant's first battery storage project

Tesla will install a 212 kW battery at BP's Titan 1 wind farm in South Dakota. The project is expected to be online in the second half of this year.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018

Residential storage faces sunny prospects this year

Pairing storage with rooftop solar could boom if interest translates into action.

By Peter Maloney • April 10, 2018

Tesla's Australian battery project nabs praise from market operator

A report from the Australian Energy Market Operator concludes the large Tesla battery system can provide "rapid, accurate frequency response and control." 

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018