NSW launches residential solar-plus-storage guide
The provincial government of New South Wales has published a guide for consumers on residential solar-plus-storage.
Policy
Despite failure to pass rebate bill, California energy storage has ‘bright future’
Despite a bill to create a rebate programme for energy storage systems purchased in California being dropped from a recent round of legislative decision-making, the state’s industry still has a “bright future”, commentators have said.
India’s first major solar-plus-storage tenders cancelled
India’s first major large-scale solar-plus-storage tenders, tied with solar parks, have been cancelled by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
ESA prioritises value, competition & access in effort to spur energy storage market in US
The Energy Storage Association (ESA) unveiled a new document this month that offers a number of state policy suggestions designed to spur cost-effective energy storage across the US.
UN and EU fund Solarcentury to build solar mini-grid projects in rural East Africa
UK-based PV company Solarcentury is collaborating with the EU and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on a €5.7 million (US$6.56 million) electrification project in East Africa.
BBOXX to provide Togo with 300,000 solar home solutions
UK-based renewable energy company BBOXX announced Monday that it met with Faure Gnassingbé, the President of the Republic of Togo, to discuss the “CIZO” presidential initiative.
US utilities, tech companies make GridWise recommendations on front-of-meter energy storage
Market conditions are “artificially” restricting energy storage batteries from “leveraging and maximising their multiple capabilities” a US trade group which includes utilities, technology and service providers and grid operators among its membership has argued.
Guest blog
Europe’s electric bus market in transformational growth mode
In Europe the number of e-buses in circulation is far smaller than in China, which accounts for 98% of the world's fleets. However, the market is entering a period of rapid growth. This comes with significant challenges for batteries, Anil Srivastava of Leclanché writes.
‘Cannibalisation of revenues’ leads National Grid to slash UK energy storage expectations
National Grid has reduced its forecasts for electricity storage capacity in the UK down to just 10.7GW by 2050 in the most ambitious scenario set out within its future projections for the energy sector.
Indian tax reform uncertainty concerns energy storage industry
A lack of clarity around India’s recently enforced Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill has caused a PV tender delay in the state of Gujarat and prompted the nation’s energy storage alliance to write a letter of appeal to the government.
European Union energy storage and smart grid projects join cooperation network
32 separate projects in smart grid, energy storage and related technologies which received backing through a European Union innovation programme, will pool knowledge and expertise in a shared network.
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Multiple Indian ‘Gigafactories’ expected by 2019
At least two global technology leaders could set up Gigafactories to manufacture lithium-ion cells in India in the next couple of years, and most major Indian firms are setting up energy storage divisions, according to the head of the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA).
UK government backs vehicle-to-grid with US$26 million competition
Britain's government has thrown its weight behind vehicle-to-grid (V2G) by announcing £20 million (US$25.8 million) would be available for a competition to further the development of the bi-directional electric vehicle charging technology.
Analysis
Understanding the energy storage world leaders, anticipating the next big markets
While the global energy storage industry has continued its pace of rapid growth during the past year, well-established markets remain highly concentrated in specific regions of the world. Alex Eller of Navigant Research discusses many of the factors influencing growth trends for energy storage at both utility-scale and distributed levels.
South Australia takes Tesla up on ‘100 days or free’ energy storage promise
An offer from Tesla CEO Elon Musk to complete a large-scale energy storage project in South Australia within 100 days or deliver it for free has been taken up by the region’s government.
Interviews
Investment masterclass Q&A: Nancy Pfund, DBL Partners - Part II
Welcome to Part 2 of our in-depth talk with Nancy Pfund, managing partner at DBL Partners, a venture capital firm specialising in companies and start-ups that offer both rewarding financial returns and positive social impacts. As well as being one of the earliest backers to Tesla and SolarCity, to utility-scale solar tracker company NEXTracker to Off-Grid Electric, which deploys solar in rural Africa; to others in energy storage like Advanced Microgrid Solutions and Primus Power, Pfund is extremely well-placed to offer a quick Q&A ‘masterclass’ in energy storage investing.