For grid planners and operators working in today’s digital age, there are few words more frightening than cyberattack. In the energy sector, breaches by bad actors can cause infrastructure to shut down and quickly disrupt daily life, which occurred during the infamous cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline in May 2021 that cut off half of […]
Ed’s note: Signing up for solar power and distributed energy resources
Well, that is, in theory, partly correct – but only if you had included the hefty cost of battery storage. It’s the stored power that will safely see you through prolonged periods of outages as well as when the weather is uncooperative. Having spoken to several people who bought into a solar system, one common […]
Siemens and Macquarie Form Calibrant Energy to Tackle Distributed Energy Market
The two are joining up on a distributed energy venture to sell energy-as-a-service. Macquarie Capital and Siemens have formed a joint venture to finance and build distributed energy projects, joining an increasingly competitive landscape in the growing corporate renewables market, the two announced this week. The partnership, called Calibrant Energy, will initially focus its energy-as-a-service […]
Sonnen Brings Virtual Power Plants to California Apartment Complexes
The German battery system vendor and its real-estate partner Wasatch Group see grid services as key to multifamily solar-storage. Multifamily housing is a hard nut to crack for solar and battery developers. Sonnen and Wasatch Group say that bundling the value of solar and storage for tenants, property owners, outside investors, utilities and grid […]
With 2 Weeks to Go, Builders Brace for California’s 2020 Home Solar Mandate
An in-depth look at the preparations and lingering controversies around California’s landmark home solar requirement. One in five newly constructed California homes now comes topped with a solar installation. Starting in January, that needs to jump to five out of five. A year ago, California gave final approval to updated building codes that require all […]
Will Your EV Keep the Lights On When the Grid Goes Down?
Home battery systems can help during power outages. So can the battery packs rolling around in electric vehicles. Last month’s preventative power shutoffs in California highlighted the vulnerability of the electricity grid to threats exacerbated by a changing climate. In the wake of the forced outages, much has been written about the ability of solar […]
Massachusetts Grid Study Disrupts 1GW Distributed Solar Pipeline
Developers say National Grid’s “cluster study” could delay projects. The utility says it must weigh the impact of a rush of DG solar. A National Grid transmission study has ensnared nearly 1 gigawatt of distributed solar in Massachusetts, delaying progress on numerous projects as the federal Investment Tax Credit phaseout approaches and causing anxiety in […]
Joint Research Agreement for P2P Energy Trading Between Individuals Using Distributed Energy Resources
Tohoku Electric Power and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (hereinafter “Toshiba ESS”) have today entered into an agreement to conduct joint research on electricity trading between individuals (P2P* energy trading) using distributed energy resources. In this joint research, Tohoku Electric Power will mainly be configuring settings of the simulation conditions (solar energy generation, battery prevalence rate, […]
Navigant Research Report Shows Global New Capacity Deployments of Distributed Energy Resources Are Outpacing the Deployment of New Centralized Generation Capacity
Impact on incumbent utility revenue will become more pronounced as deployments of distributed generation, plug-in electric vehicles, and demand response gain more traction BOULDER, Colo.: A new report from Navigant Research provides capacity and revenue forecasts for 12 leading distributed energy resources (DER) technology markets globally. The global electric power industry is facing a transformation […]
Sunrun: Localized Solar and Batteries Reduce Grid Fire Risk
Distributed energy can decrease sag on distribution wires and provide local power if the broader grid goes down, the company argues. California is scrambling to prevent a repeat of deadly wildfires caused by the electrical grid, and Sunrun wants to help. The home solar and storage installer argues in a report out today that these […]