Batteries

A Massachusetts town uses batteries to help its grid — and its schools

Batteries can serve double-duty, shoring up the grid and providing backup to buildings when the power goes out. This project shows how.

By Jeff St. John . 7 October 2024

A computer rendering of Wakfield Municipal Light & Gas Department's battery and generator 'energy park' — A computer rendering of the Energy Park battery-and-generator project being built in Wakefield, Massachusetts, to provide grid services and backup power for two local high schools. (Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department)

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
Air travel

United plans to electrify airport operations with sodium-ion batteries

United Airlines is making a strategic equity investment in sodium-ion battery maker Natron Energy as the aviation industry works to curb emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 November 2022
Batteries

Kore Power raises $75M to build lithium-ion battery cells in Arizona

Federal tax credits and incentives are driving a boom in U.S. battery manufacturing. This U.S.-based battery maker wants in.

By Jeff St. John . 30 November 2022
Grid edge

Swell raises $120M for virtual power plants to link solar and batteries

Getting networks of homes with rooftop solar and batteries to help balance the grid requires innovative tech and financing. L.A.-based Swell Energy is on it.

By Jeff St. John . 22 November 2022