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)

Long-duration energy storage

Eos wins $400M DOE loan guarantee to build longer-lasting batteries

Long-duration energy storage is a tough business, but it's vital to decarbonizing the grid. Eos thinks its zinc-based batteries are the best candidate for the job.

By Jeff St. John . 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
Recycling renewables

Redwood Materials lands $1B to boost its battery recycling efforts

The startup founded by Tesla alum JB Straubel wants to spend $7 billion on recycling to supply a U.S. battery industry now dependent on China.

By Jeff St. John . 30 August 2023
Batteries

Vermont’s biggest utility dramatically expands home battery subsidies

Since 2015, Vermont's Green Mountain Power has helped a limited number of customers install home batteries each year. Now the program cap is gone.

By Julian Spector . 24 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
EV charging

Tesla bets $76M on wireless EV charging. Can the tech go mainstream?

Wireless charging could solve many of the headaches caused by EV charging today. But for it to even have a chance, automakers need to integrate it into mass production.

By Julian Spector . 9 August 2023
Electric vehicles

Chart: EV ranges are growing, but at a cost

Range anxiety is being replaced by materials anxiety as automakers roll out more powerful batteries that gobble up a greater volume of scarce minerals.

By Eric Wesoff . 4 August 2023
Energy storage

Tesla alum aims to build the power company of the future

Equilibrium Energy is live in Texas with an offering to rent grid batteries and make money with them in the ERCOT markets. But CEO Ryan Hanley says it's just the start.

By Julian Spector . 1 August 2023
Batteries

Can mobile batteries make dirty diesel generators obsolete?

Emissions-free mobile battery systems are taking on diesel generators as the power source of choice for movie sets, construction sites and disaster relief.

By Jeff St. John . 12 July 2023
Solar

Home batteries will help bolster Puerto Rico's grid in emergencies

Sunrun is launching a first-of-its-kind program on the island that will harness rooftop solar and battery storage systems to avoid rolling blackouts.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 June 2023