Investors Harmony Energy and JLEN have energised battery storage projects in the UK, while the government is considering a VAT exemption for home battery storage.

Multinational energy firm RWE has started construction on two battery storage projects totalling 220MW/235MWh in Germany.

Renewable Power Capital has tied up with Greenfield to deploy 500MW of battery storage in the UK, shortly after a similar deal with Eelpower.

Developer Strata Clean Energy and utility Arizona Public Service (APS) have agreed a 20-year tolling agreement for a 255MW/1GWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

Energy optimisation software provider Peak Power has received US$35 million investment, while startup Financial Machines has launched its own platform, with both targeting the US energy storage market.

Developer BlueWave talked Energy-Storage.news through the opportunities for energy storage in ISO New England (ISO-NE), one of only a few markets where ancillary services are not part of the long-term value stack.

BMW has partnered with a California utility to test out vehicle-to-X technologies, while fellow carmaker Volvo has invested in a bi-directional charging solutions provider.

UK energy storage investor Gresham House and the clean energy arm of utility NextEra have moved forward with battery storage projects in California, US.

Energy firm EnBW has been given the go-ahead to start work on a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in Germany.

UK-based utility Octopus Energy will optimise UK battery storage projects for UAE-based Masdar, which has committed to investing £1 billion (US$1.25 million) in the country’s grid-scale market.