Batteries

Batteries

Is adding a battery to your rooftop solar worth it? Here’s how to decide

Although expensive upfront, batteries can help you get through power outages and lower your utility bills. Federal and local incentives can sweeten the deal.

By Alison F. Takemura . 30 May 2024
Energy storage

How Texas became the hottest grid battery market in the country

Battery developers love the freewheeling ERCOT system, and all the new energy storage is helping to bolster the grid. But will the good times last?

By Julian Spector . 13 May 2024
Batteries

Batteries are taking on gas plants to power California's nights

California's record 10 gigawatts of grid batteries are finally pushing solar generation into post-sunset hours at a meaningful scale, new data shows.

By Julian Spector . 9 May 2024
Batteries

This California city is trading an old gas plant for a giant grid battery

Calpine’s billion-dollar, 680-megawatt project in Menifee will be one of the biggest batteries in the U.S. when it comes online this summer.

By Julian Spector . 4 April 2024
Energy storage

Arizona just added its biggest grid battery yet, with another coming soon

The state is shoring up clean energy supply for a new Google data center during a record year nationally for energy storage installations.

By Julian Spector . 20 March 2024
Batteries

Utah developer quadruples battery storage to meet new electricity demand

As data centers and electrification increase power use across the country, it's a move that will likely become more common.

By Julian Spector . 18 March 2024
Batteries

Finally, a way to tell how clean grid batteries actually are

Batteries can’t distinguish between clean and dirty electrons — a complication for transitioning grids. A Texas battery project shows how software and standards can help.

By Jeff St. John . 18 March 2024
Energy storage

Texas will add more grid batteries than any other state in 2024

With cheap land and a competitive market irresistible to energy storage developers, the Lone Star State will even overtake California in battery deployments this year.

By Julian Spector . 26 February 2024
Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

The state has created more ways for solar-and-battery-equipped homes to get paid to help the grid — but not enough to save the crashing rooftop solar market.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024
Climatetech finance

Swell Energy acquires Renu to help build virtual power plants

The startup aims to combine privately owned batteries into grid resources. Renu, a regional battery installer, will help Swell access new markets.

By Eric Wesoff . 7 February 2024