Adding well-optimised energy storage to solar PV projects in the US state of Massachusetts can increase project revenues by up to 50%, Stem Inc has claimed, as the energy storage provider announced the completion of a front-of-meter solar project with 8MWh of storage.

This week’s roundup of news in brief from around the world in energy storage focuses on recent products and services launches.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has extended bid submission deadlines for a number of solar projects with battery storage co-location requirements.

The government of India has announced measures to promote new “Champion Sectors” of economic growth, including support incentives for advanced battery cell and solar PV manufacturing.

Massachusetts has issued an emergency regulation to its Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) programme, that includes mandating the addition of energy storage on projects over 500kW.

Energy storage developer GlidePath has announced that it is readying for construction on 80MW / 320MWh of standalone battery storage projects in New York State.

It’s by no means too late to introduce an effective Investment Tax Credit for energy storage, ESA CEO Kelly Speakes-Backman argues.

Tax provisions announced on 17 December in the US left out any mention of a standalone energy storage ITC.

The UK government has confirmed that energy storage systems will be eligible under the UK’s newly unveiled successor policy aimed at supporting the deployment of residential solar in the wake of feed-in tariff cuts, but only if co-located with a participating renewable energy generator.

Steven Marshall, the Premier of South Australia, has welcomed the start of assembly-line work at Sonnen’s new factory in Adelaide, while rival Tesla’s virtual power plant (VPP) in the state is beginning its second phase of development.