Batteries

Recycling renewables

One of the biggest battery recycling plants in the US is up and running

Ascend Elements’ new recycling plant in Covington, Georgia is processing used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap into useful materials for the clean energy transition.

By Julian Spector . 10 April 2023
Energy storage

Taiwan's rapid renewables push has created a bustling battery market

The densely populated island is snapping up energy storage as it strives to meet aggressive clean-energy targets amid national security and climate concerns.

By Julian Spector . 6 April 2023
Energy storage

New York has a new plan to get all the grid batteries it needs

After a slow start to building much-needed energy storage, the state says new rules will help it reach its 6-gigawatt target.

By Julian Spector . 27 March 2023
Transportation

NYC adopts e-bike rules with focus on fire safety and equity

The new policies aim to make it easier for low-income residents to access high-quality models, without banning the zero-emissions devices many workers depend on.

By Maria Gallucci . 24 March 2023
Clean energy supply chain

New South Carolina plant could process enough lithium for 2.4M EVs a year

Chemicals giant Albemarle said it will build a $1.3B lithium plant — a big step toward the Biden admin goal of beefing up the domestic supply chain.

By Julian Spector . 23 March 2023
Clean energy

Puerto Rico's first community-led microgrid is ready to launch

The Adjuntas microgrid project is a high-profile example of how Puerto Ricans are devising solutions to the island's fragile and unreliable electricity system.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 March 2023
Clean energy

La primera microrred comunitaria de Puerto Rico está lista para conectarse

El proyecto en Adjuntas es un ejemplo de cómo los puertorriqueños están ideando sus propias alternativas al frágil sistema eléctrico de la isla.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 March 2023
Batteries

Itochu quietly assembled a gigantic home battery network in Japan

The conglomerate controls a 36,000-unit virtual power plant. Up next? Unleashing it to help the national grid decarbonize.

By Julian Spector . 9 March 2023
Batteries

More money for US battery recycling: DOE offers $375M loan to Li-Cycle

It's the second big federal loan this month to help build American facilities that process hard-to-recycle materials — and deal with the future flood of used EV batteries.

By Jeff St. John . 27 February 2023
Electric vehicles

How can we get enough minerals for EVs without trashing the planet?

Electric vehicle sales are ramping up — and so are bitter battles over the environmental impact of mining the minerals and metals needed to make them.

By Tim Lydon . 27 February 2023