Energy Storage in the News
November 14, 2019
The state’s 2019 IRP sees just over 11 GW solar power, and at least 11 GW – with up to 19 GW – of energy storage necessary to meet resource adequacy as part of the state’s legally required 60% renewable portfolio standard by 2030 as prices have fallen 50% since 2017.
Energy Storage in the News
November 14, 2019
Home battery systems can help during power outages. So can the battery packs rolling around in electric vehicles. Last month’s preventative power shutoffs in California highlighted the vulnerability of the electricity grid to threats exacerbated by a changing climate. In the wake of the forced outages, much has been written about the ability of solar PV arrays working in tandem with stationary battery storage systems to keep the lights on when the grid goes down. But what about the mobile battery packs carried in the hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles now on the road in California?
Energy Storage in the News
November 13, 2019
Ørsted announced today that following final investment decision from its Board of Directors it has commenced construction on the company’s first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, the 460megawatt (MWac) Permian Energy Center. The facility is located in Andrews County, Texas, and will come online in mid-2021. Upon completion of the Permian Energy Center, Ørsted will become the first energy company to operate the full spectrum of onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and storage solutions in the US market.
Energy Storage in the News
November 13, 2019
Mountain gravity energy storage could be a viable way to store electricity for longer durations and at larger scales than lithium-ion battery storage can, according to a study recently published in the academic journal Energy. The idea of gravity as a form of storage is an example of ongoing research into additional storage options beyond lithium-ion batteries. Despite large cost reductions over the past several years, some experts still view lithium-ion systems as not economically-efficient enough at scale to fully back up the amount of renewable energy expected to come onto the grid due to states’ long-term clean energy goals.
Energy Storage in the News
November 09, 2019
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) has finalized an agreement with Torch Clean Energy to purchase and develop two new solar and storage facilities for a total of 21 MW of additional solar capacity and 15 MW of storage capacity. With the completion of these installations, KCEC will surpass the 35 MW required to meet its goal of 100% daytime solar energy — originally set for the year 2022 — up to nine months earlier than anticipated.
Energy Storage in the News
November 09, 2019
Jackson-based Consumers Energy has announced a collaboration with California-based Sunverge to leverage the company’s energy storage technology for a Consumers Energy residential battery storage pilot. Consumers will take advantage of Sunverge’s distributed energy resources management platform, which will provide the company with real-time grid-edge visibility and management capabilities, helping to identify grid locations with the highest potential and value from energy storage, such as avoided energy and outage costs.
Energy Storage in the News
November 07, 2019
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the United States, has announced a groundbreaking new partnership with 8minute Solar Energy, LLC to provide storable, renewable, and affordable power to households throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley—at the lowest combined solar and storage prices on record. The project offers a glimpse of the future, with zero carbon sources providing energy cheaper than fossil fuels.
Energy Storage in the News
November 07, 2019
DNV GL has released an updated version of its battery performance scorecard, which ranks and evaluates of different types of batteries used for energy storage. DNV GL said the the results of its product qualification program, which tests a range of batteries, is included in the scorecard.
Energy Storage in the News
November 07, 2019
Home batteries proved their resilience value during Vermont’s Halloween blackout. A major rain and wind storm struck the state at the close of October, knocking out power to some 115,000 customers. Among those affected, 1,100 homes managed to keep the lights on thanks to pilot programs specifically designed to promote resilient backup power with energy storage. The battery backup service lasted nine hours on average, but the longest instance stretched to 82 hours.
Energy Storage in the News
November 07, 2019
French utility EDF has acquired UK battery storage firm Pivot Power, cementing its mulit-gigawatt bid to become a market leader in Europe’s energy storage market. EDF confirmed the transaction this morning, with Pivot becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF’s renewables arm. Pivot will immediately play a central role in EDF’s bid to deploy as much as 10GW of additional energy storage by 2035, bringing with it a 2GW+ pipeline of energy storage assets in the UK that are at various stages of planning.
