Energy storage

Will this startup finally crack the code on flow battery tech?

Germany’s CMBlu just pulled in a 100-million-euro investment, is ramping up manufacturing and has contracts with major utilities. Can it succeed where others have failed?

By Julian Spector . 13 November 2023

A room full of large rectangular metal boxes attached to mechanical equipment — (CMBlu)

Clean energy

Kauai became a clean energy leader. Its secret? A publicly owned grid

Making the island’s utility a cooperative resulted in cheaper and cleaner power. It could hold lessons for communities around the country debating local utility control.

By Julian Spector . 7 November 2023
Long-duration energy storage

Why Energy Vault went from disrupting batteries to selling them

The buzzy startup raised a record $110M back in 2019 to transform grid storage with novel long-duration tech, but now it's embracing industry favorite lithium-ion.

By Julian Spector . 16 October 2023
Energy storage

Grid batteries have never been more abundant — or more useful

This summer, batteries bolstered the heat-battered grids of Texas and California, underscoring the tech’s value as a low-carbon way to keep the lights on.

By Julian Spector . 2 October 2023
Batteries

Is graphene a cleantech supermaterial? This startup thinks so

Lyten recently raised $200M to scale up production of batteries made with graphene, a material that’s light, strong, conductive — and elusive.

By Eric Wesoff . 25 September 2023
Batteries

Chart: The remarkable rise of California’s grid battery capacity

In 2020, California had 500 megawatts of grid battery storage. Now, just three years later, it has over 5,000 megawatts.

By Julian Spector, Maria Virginia Olano . 22 September 2023
Batteries

Looking for some home energy storage? You’ve never had so many choices

The once-tiny residential battery market is attracting dozens of new entrants, including recognizable consumer brands like Anker, Duracell and Energizer.

By Julian Spector . 21 September 2023
Solar

The fight over California community solar: 'It's everyone vs. utilities'

Α broad and unlikely coalition has united behind a proposal that would finally let community solar flourish in California. Utilities are trying to stop it.

By Jeff St. John . 5 September 2023
Clean energy

Hawaii quit coal one year ago. Here's how it's been going

The lights stayed on, but the state's experience offers some lessons on what can go wrong in the transition to clean energy.

By Julian Spector . 31 August 2023
Energy storage

Texas hooked up its first virtual power plants to help the grid

Select customers now have the power to participate in Texas energy markets with their own devices — and to get paid for doing so.

By Julian Spector . 31 August 2023
Batteries

New York is reeling from its hot battery summer

The state's ambitious clean energy buildout has hit an unexpected setback after three different grid batteries caught fire in the span of two months.

By Julian Spector . 21 August 2023