In mid-July, the 100MW / 100MWh Minety battery energy storage system (BESS) was completed in Wiltshire, southern England. Something of a landmark project for the UK and Europe’s battery storage industries, here’s what’s happened so far, as reported by our sister sites Current± and Solar Power Portal.

Hydrostor, a Canadian company with projects under development in North America and Australia using its advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) technology, has secured CA$10 million (US$7.99 million) growth capital.

Financing has been secured for two projects that will add nearly a gigawatt-hour of battery storage at California solar power facilities this year, by renewable energy company Terra-Gen and private asset management firm Capital Dynamics.

California’s government has issued a roadmap for the US state to achieve its long-term goal of 100% clean energy, while an immediate State of Emergency has been declared over concerns the electric system will struggle under heat waves this summer.

A “once-in-a-generation” commitment to invest in the US’ national infrastructure includes financial support for energy storage supply chains and renewable energy deployment, but not the investment tax credit for standalone energy storage.

As energy system modernisation and decarbonisation progresses, energy storage could represent between 10% and 25% of India’s total installed power capacity by 2050, while other countries in South Asia including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan also have “significant opportunities” for energy storage.

Battery storage could play the same role on the grid as a proposed 60MW natural gas and fuel oil peaker plant in Massachusetts and not only result in lower emissions but also in cost savings.

Energy storage activity grew during January to June this year for Wärtsilä, accounting for almost two-thirds of new-build order intake, the company’s VP for Energy Storage and Optimisation has said.

An agreement has been reached between the developer of a large-scale pumped hydro energy storage project in Ontario, Canada, and the Department of National Defence that could see the project built on federal land.

Recognising the multiple benefits and value streams that energy storage systems can bring, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has established a programme designed to spur 580MW of customer-sited storage deployment by 2030.