Two large-scale battery storage systems which will help power iron ore mining operations in Western Australia have been commissioned.

German commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage system firm Tesvolt is investing €60 million in a new manufacturing hub at its headquarters in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

Sumitomo Electric will step up its VRFB business in the US, with plans to invest in local production and installation capabilities.

A flurry of activity observed in C&I energy storage, hinting that industry players spy potential in underperforming market segment.

Singapore-based VFlowTech has raised a US$10 million Series A to set up a manufacturing facility and scale up production of its 250kWh vanadium flow battery product.

Australia wants to leverage its position as a mining and minerals hub to capture opportunities in the battery industry.

Residential solar and battery installer Sunrun has partnered with California utility PG&E to create a new virtual power plant (VPP) combining up to 30MW of new and existing home PV and battery systems for grid reliability.

Some organisations consulted for a UK government study believe that the safety of second life EV batteries in residential energy storage “can never be guaranteed” while others believe an enabling framework is possible.

Peak Power, an Ontario-based C&I-focused energy storage and software firm, has secured a US$200 million financing agreement with Madison Energy Investments (MEI).

Government-backed energy storage announcements continue to roll out of Queensland, with the Australian state set to begin a ‘Neighbourhood Battery’ programme.