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11.02.20 Grid Edge 48

Multiple factors explain why ever-falling costs for wind and solar power haven't translated into falling energy prices on Europe's grid.

Why Aren’t Falling Renewables Costs Cutting European Energy Market Prices?

Cheaper wind and solar aren’t lowering wholesale prices. New market constructs may be needed to realize their potential.

by Jason Deign

10.30.20 Grid Edge 1

Xcel is accelerating wind and solar investments to boost Minnesota's economy as it seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Xcel Targets $1.4B in Wind and Solar Investments, Outlines Broader Carbon-Reduction Goals

New renewables, EVs, a green hydrogen pilot and energy storage options will help the utility’s target of net-zero carbon by 2050.

by Jeff St. John

10.28.20 Grid Edge 1

There's hard work ahead to achieve Order 2222's vision for batteries, electric vehicles, smart buildings and virtual power plants.

4 Big Challenges Facing FERC’s Plan to Open Up Power Markets to Distributed Energy

Utilities and state regulators may struggle with the new federal mandate to allow behind-the-meter resources access to wholesale energy markets.

by Jeff St. John

10.22.20 Grid Edge 14

VPPs can include batteries, electric vehicles, smart appliances, flexible heating and cooling loads, on-site generators, and other grid-responsive assets.

So, What Exactly Are Virtual Power Plants?

GTM helps explain a growing grid resource that can mimic power plants without dominating the landscape.

by Jason Deign

10.21.20 Grid Edge 4

Distributed solar, batteries and flexible loads can replace the need for new power plants at lower cost, proponents say.

Why Build a Power Plant if You Can Make a Virtual One?

The Enel X deal in Taiwan shows how virtual power plants can outcompete thermal generators.

by Jason Deign

10.19.20 Solar 164

Customer economics for on-site renewables are compelling in California, the author writes.

Industry Perspective

I Fully Converted a Home to Electricity. Here’s How It Worked — and What It Cost

Currently available solar, battery and heat pump technology means every building under two stories with a sunny roof can be a net generator of energy.

by Barry Cinnamon

Batteries Can Defer Grid Upgrades, But It’s a Tough Business

GTM Squared

Batteries Can Defer Grid Upgrades, But It’s a Tough Business

Early successes with non-wires alternatives haven’t yet sparked a thriving market.

by Julian Spector | October 19, 2020

10.19.20 Grid Edge 2

DOE's funding seeks to combine solar, batteries and smart appliances to match building loads with grid needs.

Funding the Next Generation of Efficient, Electric, Grid-Interactive Communities

Department of Energy provides $65 million for “connected communities,” expanding projects to embed clean energy and grid services in new buildings.

by Jeff St. John

10.07.20 Grid Edge 9

A new report identifies the need to fix gaps in planning for extreme weather and post-solar net peak grid demand.

Behind California’s Rolling Blackouts: Planning and Market Failures

A long-awaited study confirms the state’s resource adequacy system and day-ahead markets weren’t ready for a regionwide heat wave.

by Jeff St. John

10.06.20 Grid Edge 44

Enbala’s DER software platform currently orchestrates around 600 megawatts of capacity.

Generac Acquires Enbala, Boosting Plan to Harness Behind-the-Meter Energy Resources

The deal puts Generac in the business of aggregating distributed energy resources as virtual power plants.

by Jeff St. John

Swiss Army Knife of Storage: How Frequency Regulation Launched an Industry, Then Tapped Out

GTM Squared

Swiss Army Knife of Storage: How Frequency Regulation Launched an Industry, Then Tapped Out

After several quiet years, some developers are finding new ways to capitalize on frequency opportunities.

by Julian Spector | October 1, 2020

09.30.20 Grid Edge 18

California is taking steps to unlock the flexibility of its growing fleet of solar systems, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.

California’s Interconnection Rules Open Doors to Flexible Solar-Storage, Vehicle-to-Grid Charging

Revisions to Rule 21 could allow distributed energy resources to play a more active role on the California’s grid.

by Jeff St. John

09.22.20 Grid Edge 10

Electric vehicle chargers, behind-the-meter batteries are a major untapped resource for balancing California's grid.

Unlocking California’s Gigawatt-Scale Distributed Energy Potential

California has nearly 5 GW of distributed energy resources today and may have 13.5 GW by 2025. How can they help stop rolling blackouts?

by Jeff St. John

09.21.20 Solar 22

Duke Energy opened its new 560MW Asheville combined cycle natural gas plant this year. (Photo: Duke)

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

There are big gaps between U.S. utilities’ net-zero targets and their plans for retiring coal and gas plants.

by Jeff St. John

09.17.20 Grid Edge 11

FERC allows full-scale market participation by batteries, EV chargers, smart appliances and more — but the rules for making that happen will be complicated.

‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources

A huge opportunity for solar, batteries, EVs and other DERs — and a huge challenge to integrate utility grid operations with bulk energy markets.

by Jeff St. John

09.16.20 Solar 7

South Carolina's Energy Freedom Act formed the basis for a new approach to net-metering for rooftop solar.

Duke Energy’s SC Net-Metering Replacement Won a Crucial Ally: Rooftop Solar Companies

The utility and installers both believe the plan can keep solar attractive while minimizing the costs imposed on non-solar ratepayers.

by Julian Spector

5 Lessons From the Battery Fire Investigations

GTM Squared

5 Lessons From the Battery Fire Investigations

A lot has already changed. But there’s more work to do to prevent another calamitous failure.

by Julian Spector | September 16, 2020

09.15.20 Grid Edge 1

Renewable developers say Midwest transmission planning needs fixes to unlock wind and solar capacity.

Midwest Grid Operators Seek to Unlock Clean Energy Transmission on the ‘Seam’

Power lines crossing the border of Midwestern grid operators could help bring gigawatts’ worth of stymied wind and solar to market.

by Jeff St. John

09.15.20 Energy Storage 9

Broad Reach Power switched on this battery in Odessa earlier this year for the Texas grid. (Photo: BRP)

The Race Is On to Build the Biggest Batteries in Texas

Energy storage developers once steered clear of the Lone Star State. No longer.

by Julian Spector

09.14.20 Grid Edge 4

Google is shifting to round-the-clock renewable power.

Google Pledges 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy by 2030

“We are the first major company that’s set out to do this, and we aim to be the first to achieve it,” says Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

by Jeff St. John

09.08.20 Solar 63

Winter-peaking electric heating and seasonally variable renewables make for Southeast-specific challenges.

How Duke’s Unique Energy Landscape Dictates Its Path to Net Zero

Duke’s director of integrated resource planning and analytics speaks to GTM about the utility’s options — and challenges — for getting to net zero.

by Jeff St. John

09.03.20 Grid Edge 3

Overstory's satellite-imagery-based forestry analytics can help utilities prevent and mitigate wildfires.

AI Startups Raise Funding to Help Utilities De-Risk Dangers of Climate Change

Google backs Myst AI and Overstory raises a seed round as utilities grapple with energy forecasting and wildfire prevention on a warming planet.

by Jeff St. John

08.31.20 Grid Edge 0

OSI provides DERMS software to 14 utilities in North America, including SMUD and PSE&G.

Emerson Acquires OSI for $1.6B as Grid Edge Software Landscape Consolidates

OSI is expanding its portfolio of utility software to the growing market for integrating distributed energy into the grid.

by Jeff St. John

08.28.20 Grid Optimization 6

Why Trump’s Energy Department Quashed a Supergrid Report

This week on The Interchange, we dig into an investigation of Trump’s suppression of clean energy.

by Stephen Lacey

08.28.20 Grid Edge 27

California's growing behind-the-meter energy resource mix could play a bigger role in solving grid emergencies, advocates say.

Distributed Energy Helped Fight California’s Grid Outages, But It Could Do Much More

Battery and demand response providers say policy and market reforms could turn emergency help into stable, consistent grid relief.

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 Optimization

Why Aren’t Falling Renewables Costs Cutting European Energy Market Prices?

Xcel Targets $1.4B in Wind and Solar Investments, Outlines Broader Carbon-Reduction Goals

4 Big Challenges Facing FERC’s Plan to Open Up Power Markets to Distributed Energy

So, What Exactly Are Virtual Power Plants?

Why Build a Power Plant if You Can Make a Virtual One?

I Fully Converted a Home to Electricity. Here’s How It Worked — and What It Cost

Batteries Can Defer Grid Upgrades, But It’s a Tough Business

Funding the Next Generation of Efficient, Electric, Grid-Interactive Communities

Behind California’s Rolling Blackouts: Planning and Market Failures

Generac Acquires Enbala, Boosting Plan to Harness Behind-the-Meter Energy Resources

Swiss Army Knife of Storage: How Frequency Regulation Launched an Industry, Then Tapped Out

California’s Interconnection Rules Open Doors to Flexible Solar-Storage, Vehicle-to-Grid Charging

Unlocking California’s Gigawatt-Scale Distributed Energy Potential

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources

Duke Energy’s SC Net-Metering Replacement Won a Crucial Ally: Rooftop Solar Companies

5 Lessons From the Battery Fire Investigations

Midwest Grid Operators Seek to Unlock Clean Energy Transmission on the ‘Seam’

The Race Is On to Build the Biggest Batteries in Texas

Google Pledges 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy by 2030

How Duke’s Unique Energy Landscape Dictates Its Path to Net Zero

AI Startups Raise Funding to Help Utilities De-Risk Dangers of Climate Change

Emerson Acquires OSI for $1.6B as Grid Edge Software Landscape Consolidates

Why Trump’s Energy Department Quashed a Supergrid Report

Distributed Energy Helped Fight California’s Grid Outages, But It Could Do Much More