Community energy storage: What is it? where is it? how does it work?

IREC attorneys Joseph Petta and Erica McConnell explore the challenges and opportunities of this latest community energy model.

By Joseph Petta and Erica McConnell • March 7, 2018

All in or half there: Maryland Legislature debates two different RPS bills

Lawmakers are debating two bills that would raise the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% or 100%. Analysts say the 50% increase will likely muster more support than the other measure. 

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 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

The flip side of FERC's landmark storage order: A call for states to take action

State action will be essential to reach the full potential of FERC Order 841, The Brattle Group says in a new report.

By Peter Maloney • March 6, 2018

SolarCity, Salt River Project could settle lawsuit, opening door to residential storage

The settlement involves the public utility purchasing a 25 MW Tesla battery and developing an incentive program to encourage residential batteries. But demand charges would remain in place. 

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2018

SDG&E seeks 166 MW energy storage for emergency response sites

The utility would build seven projects that, if approved, should be up and running by 2024. 

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2018

IRS: Residential storage eligible for ITC when charged by onsite solar

The ruling applies only to an individual storage facility, but shows how the agency may interpret home battery eligibility for the 30% solar investment tax credit.

By Gavin Bade • March 5, 2018

Time-travel, utility-style: Outlines of the utility of the future appear

Rocky Mountain Institute experts identify price, data and interconnection as the keys to success for the utility of the future, whether it's an expanded monopoly or a distribution system platform.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 5, 2018

Do new rooftop solar price projections mean 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' for utilities?

A thought exercise from Department of Energy researchers suggests the price of rooftop solar could fall low enough to impact “the evolution of the U.S. electricity system.”

By Herman K. Trabish • March 1, 2018

Five energy industry trends of tomorrow impacting companies today

Energy is a long game, and all stakeholders have made a long-term affirmation that we are headed toward a more renewable future, REC Solar Senior Vice President Alan Russo writes.

By Alan Russo • Feb. 28, 2018

Stem touts savings from AI software in new Ontario storage project

The company says the 2.5 MWh project helps reduce peak demand and fees for a Japanese auto supplier based in Canada. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2018

Finance, not technology, could be the key innovation for flow batteries

To compete with lithium-ion, flow battery costs need to come down; insurance could help bridge that gap.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 27, 2018

SEU 2018 survey: Utilities shaken, not moved, by Trump policies

Utility Dive's fifth annual State of the Electric Utility survey shows a sector committed to the clean energy transition, but wary of policies coming out of Washington.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 27, 2018

New York PSC takes steps to expand energy storage

Regulators increased the size of projects eligible for compensation under the state's Clean Energy Standard and approved a ConEd plan to significantly expand the use of battery storage systems in its service territory.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2018

Brattle: US storage market could reach 50 GW if costs keep declining

Researchers say at least half of the total value that storage can provide would be achievable in wholesale electricity markets.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2018

Team of rivals: Utilities, enviros unite to push electric vehicles

Old adversaries from the rooftop solar fights are finding common ground on transportation electrification.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 26, 2018

Sonnen integrates EVs into virtual power plant in Germany

The new sonnenCharger will integrate with the company's sonnenCommunity battery network, which aims to utilize as much clean energy as possible.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

California energy agency predicts rising power demand

The California Energy Commission on Feb. 21 released its updated demand forecast, which sees higher consumption driven by electric vehicles and climate change. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2018

Florida PSC staff pushes approval of FPL gas plant over opposition

The commission will vote March 1 on whether to approve a 1,163 MW gas plant — far larger than opponents say is necessary to cover demand.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2018

FERC order opens 'floodgates' for energy storage in wholesale markets

The commission directed grid operators to develop rules that would allow storage to participate in the wholesale energy, capacity and ancillary services markets and could put it on equal footing with other resources.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 20, 2018

UPDATED: General Electric creates new unit for energy storage business

The unit will focus on commercial and industrial customers. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 20, 2018

New Arizona renewable ballot initiative could spark utility opposition

The measure would boost the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% by 2030, following a proposal from a state official to raise it to 80% by 2050. But the state's largest utility might not be on board.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 15, 2018

FERC issues storage, reliability orders, calls conference on aggregated DERs

The commission directed grid operators to design rules that allow storage to provide energy, capacity and ancillary services, as well as set wholesale prices as buyers and sellers. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2018

How solar owners' post-hurricane demand for batteries could impact utilities

Extreme weather is driving customers to solar-plus-storage as backup power, but they can use it to cut back on electricity use, too

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 15, 2018

Maryland is first state to launch energy storage tax credit

The Maryland Energy Administration is accepting applications for storage projects installed this year and will award up to $750,000 to residential and commercial customers combined.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2018

California regulators first to allow multiple revenue streams for energy storage

The state has approved rules that increase the ways for energy storage systems to make money, for example, through frequency regulation, capacity or spinning reserve services.        

Feb. 13, 2018