PODCAST: Batteries vs fossil fuels, US Secretary of Energy’s big challenges, SPACs and storage

March 16, 2021
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Inside Alamitos, a battery project recently inaugurated in California that uses 100MW / 400MWh of energy storage to reduce the local area’s reliance on burning natural gas for electricity. Image: AES Corporation.

The new episode of the Solar Media Podcast, sponsored by Honeywell, is now available stream, as we take a look at US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s in-tray and explain why solar module prices could be set for a short-term price increase.

We also reflect on last month’s energy crisis in Texas, brought about by a winter storm, and detail what the power market needs to learn about weather events and how to plan for them more appropriately.

There’s also discussion of the SPACs phenomenon and what it could mean for energy storage, we talk about how batteries and renewables are replacing fossil fuels – but not fast enough, the storage investment tax credit (ITC) and much, much more.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Alternatively, you can subscribe and listen to the podcast on the Solar Media Editor’s Channel, which is now on all popular audio channels, including;

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts

This episode of the Solar Media Podcast is brought to you by Honeywell.

6 October 2026
Warsaw, Poland
The Energy Storage Summit Central Eastern Europe is set to return in September 2025 for its third edition, focusing on regional markets and the unique opportunities they present. This event will bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore the latest trends in energy storage, with a focus on the increasing integration of energy storage into regional grids, evolving government policies, and the growing need for energy security.

Read Next

January 15, 2026
While coal and gas power plants grapple with cost increases, Australia’s battery storage sector delivers a different story, with costs plummeting across all durations.
January 14, 2026
Data centre developer CyrusOne and independent power producer (IPP) Eolian have announced the deployment of a 200MW data centre campus at a pre-existing grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) site in Fort Worth, Texas, US.
January 12, 2026
Curtailment of solar PV and wind continued to increase in Chile last year and passed 6TWh according to the Chilean renewable energy and energy storage association ACERA.
January 9, 2026
Jointly owned by Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, independent power producer (IPP) Terra-Gen’s Lockhart CL I and II battery energy storage system (BESS) projects have reached commercial operations in San Bernardino County, California, US.
January 7, 2026
A roundup of updates on BESS projects from SolarMax, Energy Vault, Engie, and Spearmint in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market.