A large-scale pumped hydro energy storage project in Washington State has passed a key stage of approvals, while another in South Dakota has been dropped.

Wärtsilä has revealed details of fire testing its large-scale battery storage product was put through, which the company claimed went beyond commonly accepted requirements.

Energy optimisation software provider Peak Power has received US$35 million investment, while startup Financial Machines has launched its own platform, with both targeting the US energy storage market.

Senators in Maine are considering legislation to accelerate energy storage development, including a focus on who is allowed to own resources placed on transmission and distribution grids.

Sungrow has received a Certificate of Approval (COA) in New York City for its Powertitan battery storage solution, joining just a handful of other approved products on a list produced by the city’s fire department.

BMW has partnered with a California utility to test out vehicle-to-X technologies, while fellow carmaker Volvo has invested in a bi-directional charging solutions provider.

Masdar has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with the Uzbekistan government to develop more than 2GW of solar and wind projects.

Samantha McGahan of Australian Vanadium on the electrolyte, which is the single most important material for making vanadium flow batteries.

Japan’s Marubeni Corporation working with Vietnamese battery and energy-as-a-service provider VinES to develop energy storage facilities.

Another serving of news in brief from around the world in energy storage.