Is the third pillar of electricity delivery preventing the building of the first two?

Utilities and distributed energy resource advocates agree the grid needs new technologies to serve 21st century demand, but they differ over what upgrades should come first and what they should cost.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 13, 2018

Batteries will boost yearly solar plant output by 500 MWh, FPL says

The utility's Citrus Solar Energy Center was completed in 2016, but now has a 4 MW/16 MWh storage system that will allow the plant to continue sending out electricity after the sun goes down.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 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

APS to install 50 MW, 135 MWh solar-shifting battery

The contract with developer First Solar will allow APS to use the battery to deliver solar power when electricity use is at its peak, 3-8 p.m. each day.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

The 'small miracle' that may lead to California's net metering successor

Sooner or later, retail rate net metering must go, stakeholders agree. But solar advocates say later, while utilities say sooner, and therein hangs the tale.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 8, 2018

EIA: Low prices, rising production to boost gas generation through 2050

While natural gas grows the most on an absolute basis in EIA's projections, reaching 39% of U.S. energy production in 2050, nonhydroelectric renewable energy grows the most on a percentage basis.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

New York could be headed for the country's most ambitious energy storage goal

With a new energy storage bill and the governor's recent announcement, New York could set a goal above 1.5 GW by 2030.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

Tesla to outfit 50K Australian homes with solar+storage for 250 MW virtual power plant

The electric car company wants to build what it calls the world's largest virtual power plant, harnessing 250 MW of solar power and 650 MWh of energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 5, 2018

Report: Trump budget seeks 72% cut to DOE clean energy research

Electric vehicle research would take an especially big hit, The Washington Post reports, cut to $56 million from $307 million. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 1, 2018

Energy storage has an upstream swim in the Pacific Northwest

The dominance of low cost hydropower in the region, along with policies that favor large power plant development over distributed energy resources, present challenges for the resource.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 30, 2018

Arizona regulator proposes 80% clean energy mandate, 3 GW storage target

The Clean Peak Standard from Arizona regulator Andy Tobin would require utilities to deliver an increasing portion of their renewable energy during peak demand hours. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 30, 2018

The best laid plans of state regulators are now aimed at building a better distribution system

Regulators are pushing utilities to plan for the rising penetrations of distributed energy resources, but they're doing it in many ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 30, 2018

S&C Electric to exit storage business

The company has been developing storage systems for a decade, but will now procure storage for its grid projects rather than building that component.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2018

'Year of the grid': DER management takes center stage at DistribuTECH

The distributed energy revolution hinges on the development of new software platforms that can help utilities make sense of a deluge of grid data.  

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 29, 2018

Will the country's first mandatory residential demand charge slow the Massachusetts solar boom?

Opponents of the charge, approved as part of an Eversource rate case, say it could harm the growth of solar and other distributed energy resources by significantly increasing costs for customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2018

Mercom: Battery storage dominated funding in grid edge technologies in H1 2017

A new report shows battery storage, smart grid and efficiency companies attracted $1.03 billion in the first half of last year, compared with $807 million the year before. Much of the increase, however, came from one large infusion of cash into a storage company.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2018

6 months after target adoption, Massachusetts sees energy storage growth, challenges

Hurdles remain in integrating the technology in the state and into the wider ISO New England.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 23, 2018

Audi and Nissan join ranks of automakers making energy storage mainstream

Automakers are looking to extend the life of batteries that are no longer useful in an electric vehicle but have enough juice left to store power for a household or provide residential backup power. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2018

There once was an energy storage system on Nantucket...

When the island's summer population swells, peak energy demand doubles. That's a recipe for disaster in a town dependent on tourism. But energy storage may be the answer.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2018

California regulators broaden rules for energy storage

The rules are interim, however, and delineate how to evaluate energy storage resources providing multiple services to wholesale markets, distribution grids and other venues. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2018

Begin with the end in mind: Used and useful utility-integrated energy storage starts with a program approach

The procurement process in an ESS program approach should be deliberately examined with step-by-step methodology to best balance both risk and cost for the utility.  

Jan. 17, 2018

Franklin Energy asks FERC to reverse Idaho decision on PURPA energy storage contracts

The company sought 20-year contracts for four storage facilities on Idaho Power's system, but state regulators said the projects qualify for the new shorter PURPA contract terms since the primary energy source is solar. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2018

Renewable plus storage bids in Xcel Colorado solicitation could set low-price benchmark

Preliminary results from the company's all-source RFP have been hailed as "really impressive." But a lack of details makes cost comparisons with current benchmarks challenging.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 16, 2018

AES-Siemens joint venture unveils new solar+storage platform

The new energy storage platform will enable solar facilities to sell up to 50% more energy per site, and helps eliminate solar production variability across the day.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2018

Puerto Rico Gov. Rosselló proposes overhaul of energy regulator

The new plan came only days after the Puerto Rico Energy Commission proposed new rules for microgrid development on the island.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • Jan. 10, 2018

Could Florida be the next hot spot for energy storage?

One of the best new markets for energy storage might be the Sunshine State, a bastion of traditional, regulated utilities.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 9, 2018