Batteries

Grid edge

Texans can now sign up for virtual power plant to help grid, make money

Tesla, Octopus Energy and other power retailers are offering customers compensation to use their solar and batteries to make the grid more efficient and clean.

By Julian Spector . 27 January 2023
Air travel

A giant solar microgrid is coming to New York City’s JFK airport

Some 13,000 solar panels will cover a new terminal being built at JFK, giving the airport a clean power supply that can keep operations running even in a blackout.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 January 2023
Batteries

Here's a plan for cutting US demand for lithium by up to 90%

A new report says smaller EV batteries, more battery recycling and less driving could curb the amount of lithium needed as the country shifts to clean energy.

By Lylla Younes, Blanca Begert . 26 January 2023
Batteries

Nevada lithium mine project gets $700M conditional loan offer from DOE

Federal loans for Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge lithium mining project could expand domestic supplies of a key material for EVs and batteries.

By Jeff St. John . 13 January 2023
Energy storage

What's next for grid storage after a booming but chaotic year?

Grid-scale batteries are finally taking off — but now supply can't keep up with demand. Here's a recap of what went down in 2022 and a preview of the year ahead.

By Julian Spector . 3 January 2023
Solar

California slashes payments to new rooftop-solar customers

A controversial decision to cut the value of power that homes export to the grid by up to 75% could kneecap the nation's biggest rooftop-solar market, critics say.

By Jeff St. John . 15 December 2022
Batteries

Element Energy raises $28M for grid storage powered by used EV batteries

The startup's granular charging controls can get more energy out of second-life batteries while also detecting and preventing failures that could start fires.

By Julian Spector . 14 December 2022
Solar

As California guts solar net metering, batteries emerge as a moneymaker

Rooftop solar alone will earn less under new California policy, but firms are developing programs to make it lucrative to add home batteries that help the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 13 December 2022
Solar

What to expect from California’s new rooftop-solar plan? More batteries

California is about to dump its net-metering regime and adopt a new system that emphasizes home batteries. Here’s how companies are preparing.

By Jeff St. John . 12 December 2022
Solar

Biden admin seeks $3B to fund rooftop solar+batteries in Puerto Rico

Geared toward low-income households, the federal funding could help avert future blackouts, but some question whether they'll ever see the money.

By Brett Marsh . 7 December 2022