Microgrids in the service territories of California’s main investor-owned utilities (IOU) could get a wider opportunity to help solve the state’s challenging energy situation with wildfire season approaching.

Major US utility company Duke Energy has announced the first grid-scale battery energy storage project to be built in the service territory of Duke Carolinas, in Anderson County, South Carolina.

The US’ two leading states in solar and energy storage, New York and California, have taken steps towards valuing the locational and time-of-use value of distributed energy resources and other states should follow, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has said.