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)

Electric vehicles

Battery swapping: The killer app for electrifying India's millions of tuk-tuks?

Startup Power Global says modular batteries and swapping stations can cut the cost of transitioning to EVs in developing markets. It has a lot of competition.

By Jeff St. John . 27 October 2021
Video

Video: Hawaii turns to clean energy as coal power goes extinct in the state

The last coal plant in Hawaii will be replaced in part by Kapolei Energy Storage, a big new battery designed to store solar power and feed it back to the grid when it's needed most.

By Julian Spector . 25 October 2021
Video

Hawaii has a one-year deadline to ditch coal. Can it keep the lights on?

The Aloha State’s race to clean up its electricity sector makes it a real-world test case for rapid decarbonization.

By Julian Spector . 25 October 2021
Batteries

Newsletter: A play-by-play from the frontlines of Hawaii's race to replace coal

Plus, a new twist on our newsletter.

By Julian Spector . 25 October 2021
Policy & regulation

Don’t keep doing what you’re already doing

In climate policy and in business, sometimes you’ve gotta do things nobody has tried before.

By Julian Spector . 19 October 2021
Energy storage

Used EV batteries are storing solar power at grid scale — and making money at it

B2U Storage Solutions raises $10M to scale up site that sells solar power stored in Nissan Leaf batteries in California's wholesale markets.

By Julian Spector . 18 October 2021
Electric vehicles

Put some batteries on it

Innovators are finding hacks to get EV chargers built with fewer headaches. One: add batteries.

By Julian Spector . 18 October 2021
EV charging

Why EV fast-charging stations are going big on batteries

Batteries can keep grid costs and impacts in check — and earn money providing other services between charges.

By Jeff St. John . 15 October 2021
Grid edge

Make your house work for you (and the grid)

The untapped resource of home energy use is about to be tapped.

By Julian Spector . 13 October 2021
Utilities

Newsletter: Greed is good. Or is it?

Utility profit motives seem to clash with the public good in Louisiana.

By Julian Spector . 4 October 2021