Clean energy, gas generation in PJM may take longer to come online than expected: report

“Absent significant reforms or market innovations, most projects entering PJM’s queue today are unlikely to come online before 2030,” the report’s authors said.

By Ethan Howland • May 9, 2024

DOE requests public input on challenges with scaling energy storage manufacturing

A recent Department of Energy analysis indicates that up to 15 GW per year of manufacturing capacity will be needed by 2035 “to support mature technology deployment at scale for long duration energy storage.”

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2024

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Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

The U.S. energy transition is facing challenges around grid interconnections, project permitting and power system reliability, but state, federal and other solutions are emerging.

By Utility Dive staff

4-hour batteries best replacements for aging Maine peaker plants: study

An analysis by Clean Energy States Alliance found 4-hour battery systems more economical than a new F-frame gas turbine when considering the social costs of carbon and local pollution.

By Brian Martucci • May 3, 2024

CMBlu’s batteries competitive with Li-ion after 5 hours, but more data, experience needed: US head

After taking over as president of Germany-based CMBlu Energy’s U.S. subsidiary in January, Giovanni Damato aims to prove the company’s organic flow technology for utility and commercial/industrial users.

By Brian Martucci • April 30, 2024

Another hot summer increases the urgency for energy storage

Forecasts suggest this summer is likely to be just as hot or hotter, which means the demand for electricity will again be intense, and utilities will be looking for solutions.

April 29, 2024

15 questions to ask your energy storage or solar-plus-storage partner

As utilities evaluate partners to meet growing demand—it is important to ask key questions that will help you select the right folks to support the energy transition.

April 29, 2024

Energy storage for grid reliability can increase carbon emissions: University of Michigan study

Energy storage is often pitched as a way to make renewables more reliable and reduce the use of planet-warming fuels, but researchers at the University of Michigan found that it can encourage the use of coal over gas.

By Patrick Cooley • April 23, 2024

Corporate funding in energy storage rises 432% in Q1 driven by 2 deals: Mercom

Two battery manufacturers claimed 83% of the total funding raised in Q1, but the need for new long-duration storage technologies is fueling an overall upward trend, Mercom said.

By Emma Penrod • April 23, 2024

EV, battery projects lead clean energy manufacturing sector in March: E2

Last month showed over $2 billion in investments promising at least 1,660 jobs across five states.

By Joelle Anselmo • April 22, 2024

New England states seek federal funds for large-scale transmission, storage buildout

The funding “would be transformational for the development of renewable energy and grid resiliency across the entire Northeast region,” said Massachusetts Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2024

Democratic bill mandates FERC interconnection reforms to bring new resources online faster

The bill would help bring new power supply online to address surging demand growth and increasing grid reliability concerns, according to the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman.

By Ethan Howland • April 18, 2024

DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand

Rising electricity demand will require a portfolio of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2024

Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say

Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024

Equinor jumps into ERCOT market with 110 MW of merchant battery projects

The projects come as battery storage capacity in ERCOT could grow to 17,700 MW by mid-2025 from 6,300 MW in March, according to data from the grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • April 16, 2024

Grid interconnection queues jumped 27%, to 2.6 TW, in 2023, led by solar, storage: DOE lab

Solar, battery and wind projects make up 95% of the capacity in interconnection queues, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers said Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • April 11, 2024

Regulators: Don’t panic and rush to gas amid cries we’re out of power

Proposing new gas plants to serve growing demand does not occur in isolation. It is a decision that implicitly rejects alternatives as either infeasible, expensive or unconsidered.

By Mike O’Boyle and Eric Gimon • April 11, 2024

Battery manufacturing apprenticeships get a boost with new White House guidance

The guidelines are helping to standardize training in the sector as it leans into career paths that do not require four-year degrees.

By Kate Magill • April 10, 2024

Pennsylvania issues guidelines on using energy storage to boost distribution grid reliability

FirstEnergy, PPL and other utilities can use battery storage — and potentially own it — as a “non-wires” alternative to bolster reliability under the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission decision.

By Patrick Cooley • April 9, 2024

New York energy storage additions since 2018 approach 1 GW: report

The state’s annual energy storage deployment report shows uneven progress toward its 2030 goal, but experts say falling costs could accelerate the buildout.

By Brian Martucci • April 9, 2024

DOE taps 3 long-duration energy storage projects to receive $15M

New Lab, Battery Council International and CleanTech Strategies will each receive about $5 million for projects that address key research and development barriers in the domestic energy storage industry.

By Robert Walton • April 9, 2024

Sunnova expands virtual power plant accessibility in 6 states and Puerto Rico

The residential solar company’s announcement covers solar-and-storage customers in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Texas.

By Brian Martucci • April 5, 2024

Hawaiian Electric offers new incentives to customers with rooftop solar and battery storage

The company says it is streamlining programs for rooftop solar users to help the state meet its clean energy goals, but some customers could see smaller financial benefits.

By Patrick Cooley • April 3, 2024

Goldman renewables spinoff MN8 Energy secures $325M investment

MN8 has a solar fleet with a capacity of 3.2 GW, made up of more 875 projects in 28 states, and battery storage projects with a combined 270 MW of capacity.

By Lamar Johnson • April 3, 2024

DOE to invest $22M to improve planning, permitting of renewable energy, storage projects

The first round of funding, worth $10 million, will go to six state-based projects intended to provide training and technical resources to local governments evaluating large-scale renewable energy projects, DOE said.

By Patrick Cooley • April 2, 2024

CAISO proposes $6.1B transmission plan, mainly for offshore wind

The California Independent System Operator’s transmission plan — with $4.1 billion open for competition — would also support wind and solar imports from Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming.

By Ethan Howland • Updated April 2, 2024