Finland targets investors after unveiling National Battery Strategy to develop manufacturing
Finland has launched a new battery development strategy and is touting for investors to build up its manufacturing industry.
Policy
AES switches on 400MWh California battery project alongside ‘modernised’ natural gas plant
Updated: Alamitos, a 100MW / 400MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) has begun operations in southern California, where it will help the state overcome electric system reliability issues as it pursues its goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.
European Commission gives green light to US$3.52bn battery storage funding
European member states are to bankroll dozens of projects to create new battery manufacturing solutions.
‘There’s no rational argument against having more battery storage in Mexico’
Mexico’s economy, international competitiveness and quality of power on the electric grid - as well as its environment - could be given a serious boost if battery energy storage systems were given a greater chance to contribute, a developer of projects based in the country has said.
Japan/California-funded flow battery used in tests ‘to help achieve zero-emissions microgrids’
A large-scale vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) demonstration project in California which has been providing grid services on a commercial basis will now also trial the use of the technology for microgrid applications.
Feature
US energy storage in 2021: Notes from a maturing industry
The US energy storage industry remained “remarkably resilient” during what most of us have found to be a difficult year - to say the least. Andy Colthorpe speaks with Key Capture Energy’s CEO Jeff Bishop and FlexGen’s COO Alan Grosse - two companies that made 2020 one of growth in their energy storage businesses - to hear what lessons can be learned and why economics rule.
French grid operator could award flexibility payments to batteries to ease congestion
France’s electricity transmission system operator, RTE, is exploring options to reduce congestion on the grid at four strategic locations around the country and could award long-term contracts to battery storage systems that can help.
Biden-Harris Administration picks Energy Storage Association CEO to join senior DoE leadership
Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO of the national Energy Storage Association (ESA), has been named in the newly appointed senior leadership team at the US Department of Energy (DoE).
California opens up opportunities for microgrids to play role in boosting reliability of energy mix
Microgrids in the service territories of California’s main investor-owned utilities (IOU) could get a wider opportunity to help solve the state’s challenging energy situation with wildfire season approaching.
Feature
Analysis
Britain’s sky high power prices: how could batteries capitalise on the volatility?
Following a dramatic start to the year, Energy-Storage.news takes a look at what is driving price volatility in Britain and what battery energy storage could do about it.
Energy storage potential in Spain’s upcoming renewables auction as country targets 2.5GW by 2030
The first of Spain’s new renewable energy auctions is set to take place next week, as the country offers the possibility for bidders to include energy storage in their offers.
Canada’s national ‘Growth Plan’ could invest in 250MW / 1,000MWh Ontario battery storage project
A plan to invest CA$2.5 billion (US$1.97 billion) in the clean energy economy by the Canada Infrastructure Bank could lead to involvement in one of the world’s biggest battery energy storage projects so far.
‘Great Western Battery’ 1,000MWh project proposed to aid reliability in Australia’s post-coal age
Renewable energy developer Neoen last month published its plan for a new project in New South Wales, Australia, called the ‘Great Western Battery’ which will be among the country’s largest battery energy storage system facilities to date.
Engie, Neoen building subsidy-free 1GW solar project with storage, electrolyser in France
Multinational utility Engie and renewables developer Neoen are to invest €1.2 billion (US$1.46 billion) in a large-scale solar-plus-storage project in south eastern France, which includes a 1GW solar system and 40MW of battery energy storage.
US$47m funding from US Department of Energy for disruptive tech mostly goes to batteries, smart grid
The lion’s share of new funding announced this week to help scale-up potentially disruptive technologies by the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) of the US government Department of Energy (DOE) will go to battery and smart grid technologies.
Virginia enacts regulations to enable US’ largest procurement target for energy storage
Virginia’s clean energy policies introduced during 2020 included the US’ biggest state-level target for deployment of energy storage - and the state’s regulator has now introduced the rules intended to enable achievement of that target.