This edition of our news in brief from around the world focuses on novel technologies promising several hours or more of competitively-priced energy storage.

Emphasis has been placed once again on the importance of developing domestic battery supply chains for electric vehicles and energy storage by the administration of US President Joe Biden, with the country currently highly dependent on imports.

Nearly 12,000MWh of energy storage could be installed in the US during 2021 and the market will continue growing significantly over the next few years, according to research and analysis group Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables.

While much attention is paid to the need to recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries, stationary energy storage systems are also “playing a crucial role in the big picture of battery recycling,” Li-Cycle’s chief commercial officer has said.

Connecticut’s House of Representatives has signed off on a bill proposing a 1,000MW deployment target for energy storage by the end of 2030.

Southern California Edison (SCE), one of California’s three main investor-owned utilities, procured 1,360MW of battery energy storage during last year, according to an annual sustainability report for 2020 just published by parent company Edison International.

Commissioned at the start of this year, the Alamitos Battery Energy Storage System in California is a landmark project for the industry in having competed against natural gas to provide peaking capacity for the grid. Andy Colthorpe finds out the project’s backstory.

A company that pairs available energy capacity with the needs of electric utilities is preparing to put 288MW of flexible power onto the California grid in time for the summer peak in electricity demand that threatens energy security across the state each year.

Investment in energy storage in the US has gradually built up momentum, but what will really take it into the mainstream – and when? A panel of financiers discuss their opinions and experiences in this panel session.

Nevada utility NV Energy has proposed building two large-scale solar-plus-storage plants to replace a coal plant as part of the company’s triennial Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filing.