Batteries

Batteries

Carrier wants to pair batteries with air conditioners to help the grid

Utilities are struggling to meet demand as AI data centers surge. Equipping air conditioners with batteries could be an easy and hugely scalable way to free up electricity supply at peak times.

By Julian Spector . 29 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Did California just screw up the largest virtual power plant in the US?

Lawmakers axed funding for the state’s most promising effort yet to cut grid costs with solar-charged batteries and smart thermostats. Can the program be saved?

By Jeff St. John . 29 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Virtual power plants may soon provide more electricity to Illinois’ grid

The state has tons of solar, thanks to past laws. Now, legislators are weighing incentives for home batteries that can give the grid clean power in times of need.

By Kari Lydersen . 25 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Can virtual power plants relieve hot spots on neighborhood power grids?

PG&E, Sunrun, and Span are testing how rooftop solar, batteries, and other resources can ease stressed-out local grid circuits as a way to avoid expensive upgrades.

By Jeff St. John . 19 September 2025
Batteries

Tesla just launched the Megablock, a big, easy-to-deploy grid battery

The new storage product combines four Megapacks and a transformer in one handy package, aiming to pack in more battery cells and streamline installation.

By Julian Spector . 9 September 2025
Solar

Can utilities replace power lines with solar and batteries in remote areas?

Expanding the grid to reach far-flung customers can be a costly fire hazard. So utilities like PG&E are testing out microgrids using solar, batteries, and generators.

By Jeff St. John . 8 September 2025
Virtual power plants

California’s biggest virtual power plant may get a funding reprieve

Home batteries enrolled in the program can provide 700 MW of cost-effective grid support, new analysis finds — but only if state lawmakers preserve its funding.

By Jeff St. John . 21 August 2025
Batteries

Peak Energy's new battery is cooler than lithium-ion systems

The startup’s first sodium-based grid-battery project has a novel design that cuts costs by virtually eliminating the need for temperature controls.

By Julian Spector . 21 August 2025
Clean energy supply chain

Trump’s push to mine deep-sea battery metals draws ire from allies

At U.N. talks in Jamaica, allies blasted the U.S. bid to unilaterally mine the high seas. Some made an unusual move to side with America’s economic foe: China.

By Clare Fieseler . 12 August 2025
Batteries

NYC utility tests portable home batteries to dull AC’s impact on the grid

Con Ed connected power boxes to 65 customers’ AC units, allowing households to stay cool without plugging in during summer system overload.

By Samantha Maldonado, THE CITY . 12 August 2025