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

This NASA tech might just spur a major grid battery breakthrough

EnerVenue’s still got plenty to prove, but it already has a pipeline of orders and more than $100M in funding. A factory in Kentucky is on the way.

By Julian Spector . 17 April 2023
Recycling renewables

One of the biggest battery recycling plants in the US is up and running

Ascend Elements’ new recycling plant in Covington, Georgia is processing used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap into useful materials for the clean energy transition.

By Julian Spector . 10 April 2023
Energy storage

Taiwan's rapid renewables push has created a bustling battery market

The densely populated island is snapping up energy storage as it strives to meet aggressive clean-energy targets amid national security and climate concerns.

By Julian Spector . 6 April 2023
Energy storage

New York has a new plan to get all the grid batteries it needs

After a slow start to building much-needed energy storage, the state says new rules will help it reach its 6-gigawatt target.

By Julian Spector . 27 March 2023
Transportation

NYC adopts e-bike rules with focus on fire safety and equity

The new policies aim to make it easier for low-income residents to access high-quality models, without banning the zero-emissions devices many workers depend on.

By Maria Gallucci . 24 March 2023
Clean energy supply chain

New South Carolina plant could process enough lithium for 2.4M EVs a year

Chemicals giant Albemarle said it will build a $1.3B lithium plant — a big step toward the Biden admin goal of beefing up the domestic supply chain.

By Julian Spector . 23 March 2023
Clean energy

Puerto Rico's first community-led microgrid is ready to launch

The Adjuntas microgrid project is a high-profile example of how Puerto Ricans are devising solutions to the island's fragile and unreliable electricity system.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 March 2023
Clean energy

La primera microrred comunitaria de Puerto Rico está lista para conectarse

El proyecto en Adjuntas es un ejemplo de cómo los puertorriqueños están ideando sus propias alternativas al frágil sistema eléctrico de la isla.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 March 2023
Batteries

Itochu quietly assembled a gigantic home battery network in Japan

The conglomerate controls a 36,000-unit virtual power plant. Up next? Unleashing it to help the national grid decarbonize.

By Julian Spector . 9 March 2023
Batteries

More money for US battery recycling: DOE offers $375M loan to Li-Cycle

It's the second big federal loan this month to help build American facilities that process hard-to-recycle materials — and deal with the future flood of used EV batteries.

By Jeff St. John . 27 February 2023