COVID19 and energy storage: Live updates
While we have avoided risking the spreading of false information or reacting too hastily to an ever-changing situation, here are some of the latest developments. This blog will be updated as and when new information or views arrive.
After bushfires, batteries seen as wise investment in Australia
“The bottom line is that this is a good business decision. We will get back our money in eight to 10 years at the current price of power. As the price of energy goes up, we’ll pay it back even quicker.”
High safety level, ease of recyclability makes flow batteries ‘very promising’ in circular economy
When lithium-ion’s dominance of the energy storage market begins to wane, redox flow batteries are well positioned as a strong competitor, emerging technology market research and business intelligence group IDTechEx has said.
ENGIE EPS: Revenue guidance unconfirmed, ‘still too early to asses COVID-19 impact’
Microgrid and energy storage project technology provider ENGIE EPS has said it cannot commit to a 2020 earnings target, although 2019 revenues showed a 29% increase on the previous year.
Joined at the hip: A hybrid future for onshore renewables
With industry heavyweights eyeing up developments of solar-wind-storage projects, Liam Stoker uncovers what’s really driving hybrid power plants, and the regulatory and financing hurdles that must be surpassed to deliver them.
Australia’s new community solar, solar-storage, ‘solar hydro’ and solar hydrogen projects
In the past couple of weeks, national and state government organisations in Australia have announced various stages of development for solar projects with a range of advanced and innovative storage solutions attached.
COVID-19: Solar and storage installs considered ‘essential services’ in locked-down California
Installing and maintaining renewable energy resources can be viewed as an “essential service”, according to the California Solar + Storage Association (CALSSA).
‘Immediate and potentially devastating’ to US projects: Hard truths emerge from ESA COVID-19 survey
The energy storage industry in the US is experiencing delays and could be staring in the face of potential job losses, according to a poll conducted by the national Energy Storage Association (ESA).
Energy storage in Europe: Big things expected despite 2019 slowdown
With many climate protection advocates as well as the industry itself calling on Europe’s lawmakers to recognise the importance of energy storage, a “significant slowdown” in 2019 is expected to be countered with a more positive outlook going forwards.
Battery storage at US$20/MWh? Breaking down low-cost solar-plus-storage PPAs in the USA
In this article, experts at consultancy Apricum examine with some simple “reverse engineering” how recent low solar-plus-storage PPAs in the USA were achieved, yet another example of the competitiveness of energy storage and new market opportunities emerging via storage-plus-renewables projects.
Sonnen: Latest German VPP’s use of blockchain ‘proves energy storage can solve grid congestion’
Blockchain technology and a digital trading platform enables sonnen’s latest virtual power plant (VPP) project in northeast Germany to store wind energy that would otherwise be curtailed and ‘lost’.
Pumped hydro electricity storage is making a comeback in India, and the world is taking notice
While most conversation around energy storage focuses on batteries, a recent Solar Energy Corporation of India tender achieved the lowest tariffs for renewables with storage using a much more 'old-fashioned' technology, writes Kowtham raj VS of NITI Aayog.
‘Landmark’ 100MW UK battery project could see 50MW extension
A 100MW UK energy storage site being developed in England by Penso Power looks set to get a 50MW expansion.
US clean energy groups call on Congress for help during COVID-19 pandemic
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Energy Storage Association (ESA) are among a group of six clean energy trade groups that have called on Congress to help the sector to ride out the worst economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
California pilot plant could be churning out ‘sustainable’ lithium as early as 2023
Controlled Thermal Resources and Lilac Solutions are creating facilities for lithium extraction and chemical processing at a geothermal plant at Imperial Valley’s shallow, saline Salton Sea.
Nevada becomes sixth US state to adopt energy storage target
Just over one in 10 US states now has a deployment target in place for energy storage, with Nevada now aiming for 1,000MW by 2030.