PODCAST: Green recovery policy picks, ESS providers that aren’t Tesla, the solar panel arms race
Solar Media's Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe return for the July 2020 episode of the Solar Media Podcast.
Policy
European Union to end ‘double charging’ of grid fees on energy storage
The European Union (EU) has just published its Strategy for Energy System Integration, including pledges to support renewables and energy storage as the continent targets carbon neutrality by 2050.
Australia’s shortened electricity market settlement period to open up opportunities for batteries
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) announced today that five minute settlement windows for spot prices in the National Electricity Market (NEM) will be implemented from 21 October 2021.
US$1.3 billion funding proposed for US energy storage R&D, demonstrations, manufacturing
A subcommittee of the US House Committee on Appropriations has approved more than a billion dollars in support for developing energy storage deployment, research and manufacturing in a funding bill for the 2021 Fiscal Year.
Solar farm fitted with batteries to meet grid output control requirements goes online in Japan
One of the first large-scale solar farms in Japan so far to be equipped with battery storage in order to meet the requirements of a local grid operator and utility, has been completed on the island of Hokkaido.
European Parliament committee keen to boost role of energy storage in climate targets
A key committee of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has voted overwhelmingly to thrust energy storage into the heart of the continent’s decarbonisation agenda, while trade group EASE has urged the EU to raise its targets on 2030 emissions reduction.
Varta receives €300m funding to pilot large format Li-ion cells
Germany-headquartered battery manufacturer Varta will receive €300 million (US$338 million) of government funding to develop large format lithium-ion cells, which has been deemed a project of potentially strategic interest for Europe.
Energy storage ‘vital for carbon neutral Europe and Germany’s Green Deal’
Calls have been made across Europe for recognition and support for the vital role that energy storage can play in decarbonisation, reducing air pollution and contributing to a ‘green recovery’, both through legislation and industry sector activity.
US’ proposed Moving Forward Act stimulus bill includes standalone storage ITC
An ITC for standalone energy storage systems could finally become reality with its inclusion in a US$1.5 trillion infrastructure investment Bill, tabled by House Democrats.
Intelligent storage can add 50% to solar project revenues in Massachusetts, Stem says
Adding well-optimised energy storage to solar PV projects in the US state of Massachusetts can increase project revenues by up to 50%, Stem Inc has claimed, as the energy storage provider announced the completion of a front-of-meter solar project with 8MWh of storage.
Feature
Guest blog
Build back circular: Economic recovery and a sustainable lithium battery storage ecosystem
Global disruptions have always fostered booms in innovation and COVID-19 is no different. Now, the innovators at the forefront of energy and green technologies must create solutions faster than ever to help to solve this monumental global challenge and Build Back Better.
Feature
Interviews
The magnificent seven: US states with energy storage mandates, targets and goals
The US national Energy Storage Association’s policy director, Jason Burwen, spoke with Andy Colthorpe about the seven early adopter states of energy storage targets and whether this is likely to be a spreading pattern across the country.
Coal out for solar-plus-storage at Indiana utility Vectren, 8minute signs PPA with CCAs
Vectren, owner of utility firms in the US states of Indiana and Ohio, has unveiled plans to ditch more than 700MW of coal generation and partly replace it with up to 1GW of solar PV.
Europe’s next energy storage opportunities in a continent-wide energy transition
France, Italy, Spain and Belgium are among the regions of most interest for energy storage stakeholders in Europe, analysis firm Clean Horizon has told Energy-Storage.news.
‘Temporary mobile generation’: PG&E’s 450MW microgrid plan approved
With the continuing threat of wildfires in California, the state’s regulator has approved a plan to deploy distributed microgrids proposed by investor-owned utility (IOU) Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).
‘Suitable land secured’ for 3.6GW green hydrogen-from-solar complex in Australia
Yet another major green hydrogen initiative has seen the light in Australia, joining a recent flurry of activity in a year where countries are betting on the renewable gas as a COVID-19 recovery pillar.