A flurry of BESS news from companies operating across Germany and the Netherlands, with utility Lichtblick launching construction on a 470MWh project in Saxony, Giga Storage inaugurating a project in Amsterdam, and cross-border BESS platform Return raising €300 million.

Wärtsilä Energy Storage’s new battery data analytics software platform aims to bring in-house what has until now been the domain of third-party providers.

Developer Eku Energy has submitted its 400MW/1,600MWh Monduran battery energy storage system (BESS) project for environmental assessment under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

The non-profit Energy Policy Design Institute (EPDI) has launched the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Convergence Project, with an advisory group that includes Jigar Shah, former director of the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.

Production has begun at a battery energy storage system (BESS) factory designated as a project of strategic importance by the European Commission (EC) due to its use of local supply chains.

US storage and solar developer-operator Lightshift Energy, along with KeyBanc Capital Markets, have closed a US$75 million credit facility.

Utility and power firm Naturgy has started building its first BESS projects in Spain, at four solar PV plants in Almeria and the Canary Islands.

European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), which represents 70 member organisations across the industry value chain, has undergone a rebrand.

Powerlink Queensland is seeking federal approval for transmission infrastructure connecting AGL Energy’s 2,000MWh Tuckeroo battery energy storage system (BESS) to the Western Downs Substation in Australia.

The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission has approved Ark Energy’s 3,148MWh Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage project in Australia.