News in brief from around the world of energy storage.

California investor-owned utility (IO) Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has furthered its commitment towards the state’s mandated target for energy storage deployment by utilities, putting 165MW of contracts forward to regulator California Public Utilities’ Commission (CPUC) for approval.

Car marker General Motors says it will underpin its 2015 drive for 100% reliance on renewable energy sources with its expertise in energy storage, and its expansion of solar and wind installations.

Around 90 companies, including EDF, Enel and Engie, have expressed interest in financing and implementing research and development (R&D) projects relating to energy storage integration in Brazil, according the country’s energy regulator ANEEL.

Plans by Italy’s grid operator to allow for the interconnection of energy storage to the network have resulted in the country’s first grid-connected solar-smoothing storage facility being inaugurated.