Distributed energy technologies such as solar and battery-based energy storage could save Australia AU$101 billion (US$75 billion) by 2050 and completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia (ENA).

A “first of its kind” collaboration between energy storage provider Sonnen and transmission system operator TenneT will integrate solar and batteries into energy networks in Germany using blockchain technology.

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is continuing its mission of funding priority development projects in emerging economies, this time by signing two grants that leverage US technology and investment to increase access to affordable, reliable electricity in Kenya.

The Department of Energy (DoE) of the Philippines has progressed solar projects with a combined total of 162MW of capacity, along with a 30MW battery energy storage project to grid impact testing (GIS) stages, according to consulting firm Enerdata.

NextEra Energy Resources will build a 10MW lithium-ion battery storage system paired with a 20MW PV installation for Arizona utility Salt River Project, with another battery system on the way.

Developer Anesco has continued to rack up utility-scale storage work after agreeing to retrofit 10 of Ancala Partner’s PV arrays in the UK with battery units.

Major utility firm E.on has announced its entrance to the UK’s solar and storage market with a new consumer-focused offering.

Queensland-based developer SolarQ is planning to build a 350MW(ac) solar plant combined with a ground-breaking 4,000MWh of lithium-ion battery storage in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia.

Clearly, renewable energy is now a viable alternative to traditional generation from a cost perspective. However solar and wind’s penetration of the grid is constrained by ageing infrastructure, high grid connection costs and their intermittent, weather-dependent nature. Scott McGregor looks at how long-duration energy storage on an industrial scale can help.

Solar Media’s Energy Storage Summit took place at the end of February and was attended by around 350 delegates and stakeholders, looking at energy storage markets in the UK and beyond. Collected here are seven interviews with leading figures at the event spanning utility-scale, commercial and residential energy storage.