Batteries

Long-duration energy storage

The biggest grid storage project using old batteries is online in Texas

Startup Element Energy set out to prove that second-life batteries could deliver cheaper energy storage safely and at scale.

By Julian Spector . 21 November 2024

Startup Element Energy installed 53 megawatt-hours of used electric vehicle batteries in West Texas earlier this year, the largest project of its kind so far. (Element Energy)

Batteries

An optimist’s guide to the EV battery mining challenge

The electric vehicle transition is going to require a lot of mining and materials — but possibly a lot less than everyone thinks, a new report argues.

By Julian Spector . 26 July 2024
Energy storage

Intersect Power to build $837M worth of grid batteries in Texas

The three Texas battery installations are expected to be up and running in 2024, helping provide more capacity to the state’s booming storage market.

By Jeff St. John . 17 July 2024
Batteries

Biden admin offers $1.2B loan to expand US battery supply chain

DOE's latest loan to boost U.S. EV and battery production will help Oregon-based Entek build a factory in Indiana that will make lithium-ion battery separators.

By Jeff St. John . 9 July 2024
Clean industry

In a first, a solar microgrid will directly power an industrial plant

Timet’s facility in West Virginia will use solar and batteries to make titanium products. The durable metal is used in everything from airplanes to pacemakers.

By Maria Gallucci . 9 July 2024
Energy storage

Chart: The US battery market is on track for its best year yet

Overall storage installations — meaning utility-scale, home, and commercial projects — grew 84 percent in Q1. Grid battery installations grew even faster.

By Dan McCarthy . 5 July 2024
Virtual power plants

California budget cuts could decimate key virtual-power-plant programs

Governor Gavin Newsom plans to slash funding for batteries and utility customers to help with grid emergencies — but money for fossil fuel generators keeps flowing.

By Jeff St. John . 5 June 2024
Batteries

Is adding a battery to your rooftop solar worth it? Here’s how to decide

Although expensive upfront, batteries can help you get through power outages and lower your utility bills. Federal and local incentives can sweeten the deal.

By Alison F. Takemura . 30 May 2024
Energy storage

How Texas became the hottest grid battery market in the country

Battery developers love the freewheeling ERCOT system, and all the new energy storage is helping to bolster the grid. But will the good times last?

By Julian Spector . 13 May 2024
Batteries

Batteries are taking on gas plants to power California's nights

California's record 10 gigawatts of grid batteries are finally pushing solar generation into post-sunset hours at a meaningful scale, new data shows.

By Julian Spector . 9 May 2024
Batteries

This California city is trading an old gas plant for a giant grid battery

Calpine’s billion-dollar, 680-megawatt project in Menifee will be one of the biggest batteries in the U.S. when it comes online this summer.

By Julian Spector . 4 April 2024