News in brief from around the world of energy storage.

GE has formed a strategic alliance with UK energy infrastructure company Arenko to develop grid scale batteries in the UK, starting with a 41MW system in the Midlands.

GE and utility Southern California Edison (SCE) unveiled the world’s first battery-gas turbine hybrid system this week in Norwalk, California.

Renewable Energy Systems ranks alongside US firm AES at the top of a new leader-board of energy storage systems integrators; its two new National Grid contracts will see it top the table, it says.

GE’s investment in Sonnen shows a shared belief in online trading of energy and other digitally-enabled services as the fastest potential drivers of a profitable energy storage industry, according to a Sonnen director.

GE’s intention to move into the energy storage industry is a further sign that the sector is maturing, a leading analyst has said.

Con Edison Development has purchased an 8MWh battery system from GE for installation in Central Valley, California.