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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

03.03.21 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

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

02.15.21 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

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

01.22.21 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

01.14.21 2

A Vibrant Cleantech Startup Ecosystem Takes Root in India

India’s enormous talent pool is being tapped to tackle some of the country’s greatest challenges, including how to provide reliable clean power.

by Julia Pyper

01.13.21 Grid Edge 1

Pearl Street Technologies is applying integrated-circuit modeling techniques to planning a more optimal transmission grid.

Pearl Street Technologies: A New Way to Optimize the Transmission Grid

Carnegie Mellon spinout raises funds for integrated-circuit modeling tech adapted to model renewables-rich power grids.

by Jeff St. John

01.12.21 Grid Edge 8

Transmission upgrade costs are barring wind and solar projects from interconnecting to the grid, despite growing demand for clean energy.

Report: Renewables Are Suffering From Broken US Transmission Policy

Interconnection backlogs and excessive upgrade costs require ground-up reform to solve, grid advocates say.

by Jeff St. John

01.08.21 Grid Edge 6

New Jersey's first large-scale smart meter deployment comes on condition of giving customers access to data.

New Jersey Approves PSE&G’s $778M Smart Meter Rollout

The state’s first big AMI deployment comes with a demand from the regulator to share data and value with customers.

by Jeff St. John

01.08.21 Grid Edge 25

Cross-country transmission networks could drive down costs, reduce technology challenges, to reaching zero-carbon electricity, new study says.

MIT Study: Transmission Is Key to a Low-Cost, Decarbonized US Grid

Modeling shows a nationwide transmission network could tap existing solar, wind and battery tech to reach zero-carbon power.

by Jeff St. John

01.07.21 Energy 2

The Surprising Ways America Can Hit Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

On this week’s Interchange, Jesse Jenkins walks through the different ways America could zero out carbon dioxide.

by Stephen Lacey

01.07.21 Grid Edge 1

The project will help avoid or delay infrastructure investments and avoid system-balancing costs. (Credit: National Grid)

New UK DERMS Project Targets Flexibility Across Distribution and Transmission Grids

Smarter Grid Solutions to work with the regional DNO and U.K. system operator on the whole-system platform.

by John Parnell

01.04.21 Grid Edge 10

Renewable energy can weaken the inertia needed to keep power grid frequency stable, forcing grid operators to find new ways to measure and manage it.

Reactive Technologies: Pinpointing the Inertia of Renewable-Powered Grids

Accenture investment to expand the U.K. company’s active grid measurement tech for grid operators including National Grid and AEMO.

by Jeff St. John

12.30.20 Grid Edge 1

The grid edge in 2020 was driven by decarbonization and climate change pressures, and by policy and technology advances.

Greentech Media’s Must-Read Grid Edge Stories of 2020

Decarbonization, resiliency, distributed energy market policy and M&A in the year of COVID-19.

by Jeff St. John

12.15.20 Energy 23

Last-minute additions to omnibus spending bill could boost R&D spending for a wide array of clean energy technologies.

Clean Energy Funding Finds Its Way Into Congressional Spending Bill

A wide array of research and development funding for renewables, grid, nuclear and carbon capture could make it into the law.

by Jeff St. John, Emma Foehinger Merchant

12.14.20 Grid Edge 3

Distribution grids will need more visibility as distributed energy grows.

Research Finds Unknown ‘Critical Points’ in European Grids

Finding from Depsys highlights need for network intelligence to speed the energy transition.

by Jason Deign

12.10.20 Grid Edge 1

EV charging will account for gigawatts' worth of load on U.S. power grids, which could be both a threat and an opportunity for utilities. (Credit: Enel X)

Enel X and EnergyHub Team Up on Grid-Smart EV Charging

Enel’s JuiceBox smart chargers, plus EnergyHub’s distributed energy platform for utilities, take on EVs as the next grid frontier.

by Jeff St. John

12.07.20 Grid Edge 5

Dynamic line rating can find unused capacity and test the health of transmission systems — if utilities and regulators can set rules for using it and investing in it.

Dynamic Line Rating: Expanding Transmission Grid Capacity for Clean Energy

European and U.S. utilities and regulators are taking the next steps to boost renewable integration by tracking power line capacity in real time.

by Jeff St. John

Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

GTM Squared

Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

A new study argues against either/or visions for the renewables powering the future electricity grid.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | December 4, 2020

12.04.20 Grid Edge 8

Xlinks seeks government backing for an ambitious plan to carry Saharan solar power from Morocco to the U.K. via undersea cable.

Xlinks Revives Desertec’s Dream, With a Few Twists

This startup thinks the time is right to ship Saharan renewables to the U.K.

by Jason Deign

12.02.20 Grid Edge 4

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks has picked Oxfordshire for the next test of its grid market system for distributed energy. (Credit: SSEN)

How the UK Is Building Grid Markets to Reward Flexible Distributed Energy

Opus One and Scottish & Southern Energy take the next steps in the U.K.’s integrated-grid vision.

by Jeff St. John

12.01.20 4

An ongoing bribery scandal is leading to questions about a 2011 Illinois state law that's offered utility ComEd favorable regulatory treatment.

ComEd’s Favorable Regulatory Treatment for Grid Investments Comes Under Fire

Consumer watchdog blasts Illinois utility ComEd and parent Exelon for profiting from a 2011 law linked to the recent bribery scandal, and it demands changes.

by Jeff St. John

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

Greentech Media Bids Farewell

Shell Bets on Batteries for Ultra-Fast EV Charging

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

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

Winter Storm Forces Blackouts Across Texas

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

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

A Vibrant Cleantech Startup Ecosystem Takes Root in India

Pearl Street Technologies: A New Way to Optimize the Transmission Grid

Report: Renewables Are Suffering From Broken US Transmission Policy

New Jersey Approves PSE&G’s $778M Smart Meter Rollout

MIT Study: Transmission Is Key to a Low-Cost, Decarbonized US Grid

The Surprising Ways America Can Hit Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

New UK DERMS Project Targets Flexibility Across Distribution and Transmission Grids

Reactive Technologies: Pinpointing the Inertia of Renewable-Powered Grids

Greentech Media’s Must-Read Grid Edge Stories of 2020

Clean Energy Funding Finds Its Way Into Congressional Spending Bill

Research Finds Unknown ‘Critical Points’ in European Grids

Enel X and EnergyHub Team Up on Grid-Smart EV Charging

Dynamic Line Rating: Expanding Transmission Grid Capacity for Clean Energy

Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

Xlinks Revives Desertec’s Dream, With a Few Twists

How the UK Is Building Grid Markets to Reward Flexible Distributed Energy

ComEd’s Favorable Regulatory Treatment for Grid Investments Comes Under Fire