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03.12.21 News 43

Greentech Media in action at the 2019 Solar Summit, one of our last live events before the pandemic put us all behind screens.

Greentech Media Bids Farewell

A 14-year run covering an energy industry transformed — and just getting started.

by Jeff St. John

03.11.21 4

Shell hopes the battery-led ultra-fast charging pilot will lead to a wider rollout. The company wants to install 500,000 charging points by 2025. (Credit: Shell)

Shell Bets on Batteries for Ultra-Fast EV Charging

Shell and grid-equipment maker Alfen bet that VPP-connected batteries will be cheaper than grid reinforcements.

by John Parnell

03.09.21 Grid Edge 14

Decade-old startup Mainspring Energy is moving into commercial deployment via a $150 million deal with NextEra Energy Solutions. (Credit: Mainspring Energy)

Mainspring Energy Lands $150M Deal To Deploy Its Linear Generators With NextEra

The startup’s fuel-flexible systems offer the low emissions of fuel cells with the affordability and flexibility of engines and microturbines.

by Jeff St. John

03.04.21 Grid Edge 26

Duke Energy's plan to build natural gas plants is being challenged by groups accusing the utility of misrepresenting data to undermine cleaner alternatives.

Duke Energy Faces Challenges to Its Push for New Natural Gas Plants

Critics cite flaws in the utility’s analysis of winter peaks and offer up solar, battery and efficiency alternatives.

by Jeff St. John

03.03.21 Grid Edge 4

Huge solar and wind growth is on the way. The grid operator is hoping not to hinder progress toward the 2060 net-zero target.

New Plans Reveal How China’s Grid Is Prepping for Net-Zero Carbon

Terawatts of renewables and the world’s largest EV charging network will play a role as China eyes peak carbon emissions by 2030.

by John Parnell

03.01.21 Grid Edge 16

Siemens Energy's Silyzer electrolyzer is part of a green hydrogen technology line the company is hoping will gain market share in the nascent U.S. market. (Credit: Siemens)

How Siemens Energy Is Targeting the US Green Hydrogen Opportunity

The latest test at the Utah mega-project marks the third U.S. entry into electrolysis, storage and the use of carbon-free fuel.

by Jeff St. John

02.26.21 Grid Edge 75

As Texas lawmakers seek source of blame for last week's energy crisis, experts point to interconnected failures in natural gas, power grid and market constructs.

Texas Blackout Hearings Highlight Intertwined Risks of Natural Gas, Power Grid and Deregulated Market

Winter storms have revealed the threat of cascading system breakdowns, while the financial fallout looms ahead.

by Jeff St. John

02.24.21 Grid Edge 17

Dynamic line rating, advanced power flow control and

Report: ‘Grid-Enhancing Technologies’ Could Save $5B per Year by Boosting US Renewables Capacity

Grid groups and federal lawmakers cite the report’s findings to ask federal regulators to push incentives for transmission tech.

by Jeff St. John

02.23.21 Grid Edge 3

After raising money from Bill Gates, Khosla Ventures and 3M, Varentec has been acquired by a grid sensor subsidiary of Koch Industries' engineering services arm. (Credit: Varentec)

Grid Edge M&A Alert: Sentient Acquires Varentec for Dynamic Grid Control

The line sensor and software provider bought by Koch Engineered Solutions last year picks up a stalwart in distribution power electronics.

by Jeff St. John

02.19.21 Energy 4

Up to 30 percent of Ireland's power comes from interconnections with Great Britain. (Credit: SSE)

Ireland’s Energy Market Is Unexpected Brexit Victim

Supply swings have hit the Emerald Isle since the U.K. left the European Union.

by Jason Deign

02.18.21 Grid Edge 1

Understanding the Texas Grid Failure

This week on The Energy Gang: we dissect what went wrong in Texas.

by Stephen Lacey

02.17.21 Energy Storage 34

Not all lithium-ion batteries are created equal. Proponents of the less-fire-prone LFP variety think the technology's time has come.

Will Safer Batteries Finally Take Over the Home Storage Market?

Tesla and LG Chem rule the market with their NMC battery products, but the LFP battery contenders believe their technology’s time has come.

by Julian Spector

02.16.21 Grid Edge 48

The massive blackouts across Texas are pushing regulators and policymakers to consider the threat of winter demand peaks and power-plant-disabling temperatures.

Texas Energy System Faces a Winter Reckoning

Widespread power plant failures spur calls for better weatherization and an examination of bulk power market structures.

by Jeff St. John

02.16.21 Grid Edge 9

Demand charges are a big problem for EV fast-charging. Finding the right rates to replace them requires a careful balancing act. (Credit: EVgo)

Getting the Rates Right for a Public EV Charging Build-Out

Demand charges can tank the economics of early-stage electric-vehicle charging rollouts. Replacements must balance support for EV growth with fair cost-sharing.

by Jeff St. John

02.15.21 Grid Edge 87

A winter storm of historic proportions has shut down power plants and forced Texas grid operator ERCOT to cut off to power millions of utility customers.

Winter Storm Forces Blackouts Across Texas

Grid operator ERCOT has lost 34 GW of generation as extreme cold shuts down generators, leaving about 2.5 million customers without power.

by Jeff St. John

02.15.21 Grid Edge 5

FERC Chair Richard Glick has a long list of priorities for the key federal energy regulator. Many of them align with the Biden administration's energy transformation goals. (Credit: FERC)

New FERC Chair’s Focus: Environmental Justice and Climate Change Impacts

Glick’s priorities include fair treatment of new technologies and state policies, as well as transmission and interconnection reforms.

by Jeff St. John

02.10.21 Grid Edge 53

Grid-scale batteries and hybrid renewable-storage projects are growing in scale, and transmission grid operators are struggling to manage them. (Credit: Stem)

How US Grid Operators Plan To Tackle Energy Storage at Gigawatt Scale

Batteries and hybrid renewables-plus-storage projects will be a massive grid resource. Transmission grids and energy markets will need to adapt.

by Jeff St. John

02.05.21 Grid Edge 8

California regulators are planning a new approach to enlisting behind-the-meter batteries, solar, electric vehicles and other assets to replace grid upgrades.

California’s Plan: Crowdsource Distributed Energy to Replace Grid Upgrades

The Partnership Pilot could start to enroll solar, batteries, EVs and other behind-the-meter assets as non-wires alternatives later this year.

by Jeff St. John

02.01.21 Grid Edge 8

SPP's energy trading market expansion is one of several steps across the U.S. to grow electricity markets and interstate transmission for a renewable-powered grid.

Growing Energy Markets: Southwest Power Pool Expands Day-Ahead Trading to the West

The latest real-time energy market expansion underscores a growing appetite for sharing renewable power across regions.

by Jeff St. John

01.28.21 Grid Edge 8

Former FERC commissioners lend weight to new report calling for a major reworking of federal transmission policy.

Report Calls for a Ground-Up Overhaul of Federal Transmission Grid Policy

Seven former FERC chairs and commissioners agree: The U.S. transmission grid needs to expand dramatically to meet clean energy goals.

by Jeff St. John

01.26.21 Grid Edge 0

Span's smart electrical panel now offers Alexa voice control as part of $20 million investment round. (Credit: Span)

Span’s $20M Round Adds Alexa Integration to Its Smart Home Electrical Panel

Tesla alum’s startup adds voice control for batteries, EV chargers and household loads.

by Jeff St. John

01.22.21 Grid Edge 16

Booming rooftop solar installations are pushing utilities and solar inverter makers to integrate flexible export controls into grid operations.

Australia Looks to Smart Inverters to Cram More PV Into World’s Top Solar Market

South Australia tests a flexible-exports scheme this year in a bid to add rooftop solar to the grid.

by Jason Deign

01.21.21 Energy 13

New FERC chair Richard Glick, pictured with fellow FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee, will bring Democratic leadership to a federal agency core to President Biden's clean energy agenda. (Credit: FERC)

President Biden Names Richard Glick as FERC Chair

A new leadership role for a key Democratic opponent to Republican-supported policies at a vital federal agency.

by Jeff St. John

01.19.21 Wind 1

Mainstream has worked on a number of offshore wind projects, including the 3 GW Hornsea project in the U.K., later sold to Ørsted. (Credit: Ørsted)

Aker Horizons Buys Up Mainstream Renewable Power

The Norwegian firm acquires a 75 percent stake in Mainstream Renewable Power, an Irish developer.

by Jason Deign

01.18.21 Energy Storage 5

Swell will link batteries in 6,000 different homes to create a decentralized power plant for the local utility.

Hawaii Will Power Its Clean Grid With 6,000 Home Batteries Installed by Swell Energy

Swell’s largest contract yet comes after lining up $450 million to aggregate residential solar-battery systems to help the grid.

by Julian Spector

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Smart Grid Optimization

Greentech Media Bids Farewell

Shell Bets on Batteries for Ultra-Fast EV Charging

Mainspring Energy Lands $150M Deal To Deploy Its Linear Generators With NextEra

Duke Energy Faces Challenges to Its Push for New Natural Gas Plants

New Plans Reveal How China’s Grid Is Prepping for Net-Zero Carbon

How Siemens Energy Is Targeting the US Green Hydrogen Opportunity

Texas Blackout Hearings Highlight Intertwined Risks of Natural Gas, Power Grid and Deregulated Market

Report: ‘Grid-Enhancing Technologies’ Could Save $5B per Year by Boosting US Renewables Capacity

Grid Edge M&A Alert: Sentient Acquires Varentec for Dynamic Grid Control

Ireland’s Energy Market Is Unexpected Brexit Victim

Understanding the Texas Grid Failure

Will Safer Batteries Finally Take Over the Home Storage Market?

Texas Energy System Faces a Winter Reckoning

Getting the Rates Right for a Public EV Charging Build-Out

Winter Storm Forces Blackouts Across Texas

New FERC Chair’s Focus: Environmental Justice and Climate Change Impacts

How US Grid Operators Plan To Tackle Energy Storage at Gigawatt Scale

California’s Plan: Crowdsource Distributed Energy to Replace Grid Upgrades

Growing Energy Markets: Southwest Power Pool Expands Day-Ahead Trading to the West

Report Calls for a Ground-Up Overhaul of Federal Transmission Grid Policy

Span’s $20M Round Adds Alexa Integration to Its Smart Home Electrical Panel

Australia Looks to Smart Inverters to Cram More PV Into World’s Top Solar Market

President Biden Names Richard Glick as FERC Chair

Aker Horizons Buys Up Mainstream Renewable Power

Hawaii Will Power Its Clean Grid With 6,000 Home Batteries Installed by Swell Energy