Smart Grid Observer - Energy Storage

Energy Storage

CIT Leads $140 Million Financing for Utility-Scale Energy Storage Portfolio
February 25, 2020

The portfolio consists of more than 136 megawatts of energy storage units supporting eight energy projects in California. esVolta has long-term revenue contracts for all of the projects and is partnering with Southern Power Company on four of them. more

Greentown Labs and Schneider Electric Launch Bold Ideas 2020 to Accelerate Energy Storage Innovations
February 18, 2020

Bold Ideas 2020 is a six-month accelerator program housed at Greentown Labs in Somerville, Mass., and focused on fast-tracking entrepreneurs with the mentors, team members, and business and technical resources they need to launch or scale successful ventures with direct support from Schneider Electric. more

Capital Dynamics and 8minute Solar Energy Partner on Breakthrough 400MWac Eland Solar & Storage Center
January 24, 2020

The project features a 300MW/1200 MWh energy storage facility, making it one of the largest in the world and the record low-cost for this type of facility. Initial construction, which has commenced, will proceed in two phases with the goal of starting operations in 2022 and will reach full operational capabilities in 2023. more

A Virtual Power Plant For Every Home: Centrica and Sonnen Install a Network of 100 Domestic Batteries to Form the UK's Most Advanced Virtual Power Plant
January 20, 2020

The network of decentralized home energy storage systems has been approved by National Grid allowing the batteries to be aggregated in a cloud platform in order to provide Dynamic Firm Frequency Response (FFR) - selling storage space when the grid is overloaded or providing stored energy during periods of peak demand. more

NYPA Announces New Energy Storage Demonstration Project
January 20, 2020

Zinc8 Energy Solutions developed a patented zinc-air energy storage system that efficiently stores energy in the form of zinc particles and contains none of the traditional high cost battery commodities such as lithium, vanadium or cobalt. The technology allows for low-cost mass storage of energy and can be deployed into a wide range of scalable energy storage applications. more

U.S. Department of Energy Launches Energy Storage Grand Challenge
January 9, 2020

The Energy Storage Grand Challenge is a comprehensive program to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage. The Grand Challenge builds on the $158 million Advanced Energy Storage Initiative announced in the U.S. Fiscal Year 2020 budget request. more

Declining Renewable Costs Drive Focus on Energy Storage
January 6, 2020

Compared with the same period a year earlier, the United States saw a 93% increase in the amount of storage deployed in the third quarter of 2019. By 2024, that number is expected to top 5.4 gigawatts, according to a forecast by market research firm Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. more

Free of Heavy Metals, New Battery Design Could Alleviate Environmental Concerns
December 20, 2019

Using three new and different proprietary materials, which have never before been recorded as being combined in a battery, a team at IBM Research has discovered a chemistry for a new battery which does not use heavy metals or other substances with sourcing concerns. Young-hye Na, Manager, Materials Innovations for Next-Gen Batteries at IBM Research, reports on the recent development. view blog

NYSERDA Announces Battery Storage Project for Town of Ulster, Replacing Previously Planned Fossil Fuel Plant
December 19, 2019

Today's announcement is the State's latest milestone in its efforts to expand the energy storage sector since Governor Cuomo announced the release of the New York Energy Storage Roadmap in June 2018. In September, NYSERDA announced the completion of the state's largest battery installation, just north of Albany. The 20-megawatt system by Key Capture Energy will help balance electric load and generation by storing and discharging power based upon the changing needs of the grid. more

EDPR Installs a New Energy Storage System Connected to a Solar PV Plant
December 11, 2019

The energy storage system at the Bailesti plant is particularly relevant due to its DC coupling installation, reducing energy loss in the charging process and adding new functions that enhance performance, including the recovery from power cuts and the capture of energy at low voltages or on cloudy days. more

Enel X and Related Companies Install New York City's Largest Battery Storage System
December 10, 2019

Enel X, the Enel Group's advanced energy services business line, and Related Companies, a global real estate firm, recently announced the launch of the largest battery storage system in New York City. The 4.8 MW/16.4 MWh in-front-of-the-meter battery system is located at Related's Gateway Center in East New York, Brooklyn community and will support Con Edison during periods of high peak demand, helping to keep service reliable. more

Nevada PUCN Approves PPA for $1 Billion Gemini Solar and Battery Storage Project
December 9, 2019

Gemini is believed to be one of the largest projects of its kind globally, with plans to host 690MW of solar PV arrays located on up to 7,100 acres, coupled with battery storage infrastructure. The Gemini project, expected to exceed $1 billion in capital expenditure, will capture and store solar energy during the day and dispatch it during the early evening peak period when power demand surges in Nevada. more

California ISO Outlines Vision For Energy Storage in Evolving Grid
December 4, 2019

The ISO collaborated with European counterparts to publish a comprehensive paper, released in November, on the barriers of deploying energy storage worldwide, and paths to create "adequate reward mechanisms" for commercial storage investments. more

Battery Pack Prices Fall as Market Ramps Up With Market Average at $156/kWh in 2019
December 3, 2019

Battery prices, which were above $1,100 per kilowatt-hour in 2010, have fallen 87% in real terms to $156/kWh in 2019. By 2023, average prices will be close to $100/kWh, according to the latest forecast from research company BloombergNEF (BNEF). more

Global New Power Capacity Additions of Utility-Scale Energy Storage Are Expected to Experience a 35% Compound Annual Growth Rate
November 27, 2019 | Navigant Research

"A key trend seen around the world is that the early stages of a market's development typically include projects that are smaller and focused on single applications, often grid stability services such as frequency regulation," says Alex Eller, senior research analyst at Navigant Research. "As markets mature, such as the US, Germany, and Australia, new projects tend to shift to target more substantial multi-revenue stream opportunities for capacity and reserve services, including combined renewables plus storage plants." more

SRP to Cut Emissions Through Major Solar + Battery Energy Purchase
November 20, 2019

As part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions and invest in 1,000 megawatts of new utility-scale solar energy by 2025, Salt River Project recently announced investments in two new solar energy + battery storage plants. The Sonoran Energy Center will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state and with the addition of these two plants will make SRP one of the largest investors in energy storage in the nation. more

Los Angeles Mayor Celebrates Final Approval of Largest Solar and Energy Storage Project in the U.S.
November 19, 2019

Located on 2,650 acres in Kern County, California, the project will include two large-scale solar facilities that will capture 400 megawatts of solar energy and store up to 1,200 megawatt-hours of energy - all of which can be distributed to meet peak demand. The site will hold enough energy to power 283,330 homes across Los Angeles. more

GCL System Integration and Powin Energy Announce Joint Venture to Deliver Energy Storage Solution
November 18, 2019

GCL System Integration and Powin Energy recently announced a joint venture, branded as G-Powin Energy Solution, to expand their energy storage business in the Asia-Pacific region. The solution contains DC battery racks, BMS, Containerization, DC collection/protection, PCS integration and EMS. more

Ørsted to Build Landmark Solar & Storage Project
November 14, 2019

The Permian Energy Center will comprise 420MWac of solar PV and 40MWac of battery storage located on a 3,600-acre site alongside existing oil and gas installations and will supply growing West Texas demand for electricity. In a region synonymous with traditional energy production, the project underscores the increasing cost competitiveness of renewable energy. more

Moixa Passes 10k Milestone With World's Largest Single Fleet of Smart Batteries
November 13, 2019

Moixa, the UK-based pioneer of smart battery and EV charging software, recently announced that its GridShare smart software is optimizing 100MWh of batteries across 10,000 homes in Japan. This is believed to be the largest single fleet of batteries under management in the world. more

Energy Storage Industry Puts Digitalization at the Core of Their Business Strategy
October 31, 2019 | DNV GL

Almost half of all stakeholders from the energy storage industry confirm their organization defines digitalization as a core part of their business strategy, with 75% of respondents saying their organization proactively invests in digitalization to meet its goals. This is one of the key findings of the 'Digitalization and the Future of Energy Storage' published this week by DNV GL. The report assesses the current progress of digitalization and identifies the top priorities for and barriers to further growth and is part of DNV GL's series of reports on the impact of digitalization on the energy industry. more

Massive Investment in Battery Technology Accelerating the Energy Transition, Driving Exponential Market Growth
October 30, 2019

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) recently announced the release of its Breakthrough Battery Technologies report, which shows that exploding investment in battery technologies is revolutionizing the sector much faster than expected and setting in motion a seismic shift in how we will power our lives and organize energy systems as early as 2030. more

KORE Power Intends to Build 10 GWh Battery Manufacturing Plant in the U.S.
October 28, 2019

The new one million square foot facility will be used to manufacture and produce the company's Mark 1 Energy Storage System using fully automated battery assembly lines and processes. Once completed, the plant will have 10 GWh of highly scalable manufacturing capacity that will meet the rapidly growing market demand for customized industrial battery solutions. more

Consumers Energy Collaborates With Sunverge for a Distributed Battery Storage Pilot
October 24, 2019

"In this pilot, we are testing to understand the different values that batteries could provide to the overall grid, such as potential investment deferral, resiliency and reliability, while also providing backup of critical loads for pilot participants," said Ryan Kiley, executive director of product development for Consumers Energy. more

Battery Storage, Smart Grid, and Efficiency Companies Raise Over $2 Billion in VC Funding in 9M 2019
October 23, 2019

Global VC funding (venture capital, private equity, and corporate venture capital) for battery storage, smart grid, and efficiency companies in 9M 2019 was 54% higher with over $2 billion compared to $1.3 billion raised in 9M 2018., according to the report. more

Highview Power to Develop Multiple Cryogenic Energy Storage Facilities in the UK and to Build Europe's Largest Storage System
October 22, 2019

Highview Power notes that its CRYOBattery is the only freely locatable energy storage solution on the market today that delivers clean, reliable, and cost-efficient long-duration energy storage with grid synchronous inertia. According to the company, it can store energy for weeks, instead of hours or days, and at approximately £110/MWh for a for a 10-hour, 200 MW / 2 GWh system, the CRYOBattery offers the lowest levelized cost of storage for large-scale applications. more

FERC Approves First Compliance Filings on Landmark Storage Rule
October 21, 2019

"Electricity storage must be able to participate on an even playing field in the wholesale power markets that we regulate," FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee said. "Breaking down these market barriers encourages the innovation and technological advancements that are essential to the future of our grid." more

Siemens Launching a New Battery Storage for Private Homes
February 25, 2019

The Junelight Smart Battery coordinates the predictive charging and discharging procedures depending on the weather-related yield forecast of the photovoltaic system and the individual consumption profile of the household. more

APS Announces One of the Largest Battery Storage Initiatives in the United States
February 22, 2019

The recently announced initiatives will add 850 megawatts of battery storage and at least 100 megawatts of new solar generation by 2025, for a total of 950 megawatts of new clean-energy technology. The battery storage will come from two projects: a 100-megawatt battery provided by AES, and a 50-megawatt battery by Invenergy. more

Shell Agrees To Acquire sonnen
February 20, 2019

The agreement will accelerate the ability of the two companies to offer innovative integrated energy services and electric vehicle charging solutions, and the provision of grid services that are based on sonnen's virtual battery pool. more

Tata Power Collaborates with AES and Mitsubishi Corporation to Power Up South Asia's Largest Grid-Scale Energy Storage System in India
February 15, 2019

Tata Power, AES Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation recently (2/13) inaugurated India's first grid-scale battery-based energy storage system in Rohini, Delhi. The 10 Megawatt MW grid-connected system, owned by AES and Mitsubishi Corporation will pave the path for wider adoption of grid-scale energy storage technology across India. more

Sterlite Power Forays Into Grid Connected Battery Storage
February 15, 2019

Sterlite Power has submitted bids for two storage projects in the recently concluded auction of Salt River Project utility. The bids submitted are for a cumulative capacity of 400 MW. This marks the first foray of Sterlite Power into grid connected battery energy storage systems (BESS). more

Nation's First Major Energy Facility Co-Locating Wind, Solar and Battery Storage
February 14, 2019

Portland General Electric Company and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC have announced plans to construct a new energy facility in Eastern Oregon combining 300 megawatts of wind generation with 50 megawatts of solar generation and 30 megawatts of battery storage. more

Ice Energy Completes First Phase of Largest Distributed Thermal Storage System Installation in U.S.
February 13, 2019

Ice Energy, a leading provider of distributed thermal energy storage solutions, recently announced that it has completed the first phase of what will be the largest installation of its Ice Bear systems in the U.S., under a 21.6-megawatt energy storage contract with Southern California Edison (SCE). more

Annual Global Market for Advanced Batteries for Critical Infrastructure Solutions Expected to Near 10 GW in 2027
February 8, 2019

"With society's high reliance on electricity and power, it is not a question of if a failure will happen but when," says Ian McClenny, research analyst at Navigant Research. "While still a new market, distributed energy storage systems with critical power-providing capabilities can help mitigate the effect of electrical service outages for mission critical facility operations by providing grid ancillary services and electrical demand charge reduction." more

California ISO Board Takes Action to Improve Interconnection Process Enhancements Designed to Help Generation and Storage Projects Come Online
February 8, 2019

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) Board of Governors recently (2/7) approved policy changes aimed at clearing the path for generation and storage projects as they move through the electric grid interconnection process. more

Puerto Rico Energy Plan Calls for More Solar Battery Storage than Rest of U.S. Combined
February 7, 2019

Puerto Rico's publicly-owned utility PREPA released a draft version of the 2019 integrated resource plan (IRP), a document that lays out the future development and continued recovery of Puerto Rico's electric grid over the next 20 years. While the complete version will not be released until February 12th, the plan outlined in the draft has dramatic highs and lows for clean energy and environmental advocates, containing both plans for by far the largest buildout of solar and battery storage in the U.S., as well as plans to build three new liquid natural gas (LNG) import terminals. more

NEC Completes Energy Storage System for Consumers Energy
February 4, 2019

The NEC energy storage solution, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, includes two independent 280kW/340kWh DSS energy storage systems and NEC's proprietary AEROS controls software. The energy storage system will enable Consumers Energy to investigate how energy storage can be used to avoid further system upgrades, smooth renewable energy production and support load/energy management. more

Consumers Energy Dedicates First Ever Solar, Battery Storage Systems on Grand Rapids' West Side
January 25, 2019
Nearly 1,800 solar panels atop the Bridge Street Market and adjoining buildings between Bridge and First Streets within the Circuit West district are accompanied nearby by a 500-kilowatt battery. It's the first such energy distribution setup in Michigan and one of the first in the country intended to make renewable energy increasingly reliable and cost effective. more

NYSEG and RG&E Test Energy Storage Technologies
January 16, 2019
New York State Electric & Gas along with Rochester Gas and Electric, subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc., have completed construction and deployed four energy storage pilot projects. These initiatives will test electric distribution system benefits, new technologies, and the capability to store energy, which could create opportunities for cost savings and provide environmental benefits. more

New Solar-Plus-Storage Projects Set Low-Price Benchmark for Renewable Energy in Hawaii
January 7, 2019
Hawaiian Electric Companies have submitted contracts for seven grid-scale, solar-plus-storage projects on three islands to the Public Utilities Commission for review. The projects are part of the largest and lowest cost portfolio of new renewable energy resources to be assembled in Hawaii. more