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

How can we get enough minerals for EVs without trashing the planet?

Electric vehicle sales are ramping up — and so are bitter battles over the environmental impact of mining the minerals and metals needed to make them.

By Tim Lydon . 27 February 2023
Batteries

This EV battery recycling plant in Ohio is planning a huge expansion

Bolstered by federal funds, Cirba Solutions is growing fast to meet rising demand for recycled metals and minerals. Canary Media gets a firsthand look.

By Maria Gallucci . 22 February 2023
Grid edge

Inside the software running Sunrun's home solar-battery fleets

Virtual power plants are only as good as the software that controls them. Here's how Lunar Energy is making the most of Sunrun's grid potential.

By Jeff St. John . 21 February 2023
Grid edge

PG&E is testing different flavors of virtual power plant

What's the best way for home batteries to help ease summer grid stress? This California utility is trying out two different models with Tesla and Sunrun.

By Jeff St. John . 20 February 2023
Batteries

Nomad's mobile batteries deliver utility-scale power where it's needed

The company sources lithium-ion batteries from parent Kore Power, then stacks them in reinforced truck beds for portable grid storage.

By Julian Spector . 16 February 2023
Batteries

Redwood Materials wins $2B DOE loan to recycle EV batteries

The U.S. needs a robust domestic supply of recycled materials to get EVs on the road. Federal support will be a big help in kick-starting the nascent industry.

By Jeff St. John . 9 February 2023
Fun stuff

This billion-dollar-selling toy was inspired by heat pumps

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson talks to Canary Media about the toy's origin story and what he's working on now as a climatetech entrepreneur.

By Mike Munsell . 31 January 2023
Grid edge

Texans can now sign up for virtual power plant to help grid, make money

Tesla, Octopus Energy and other power retailers are offering customers compensation to use their solar and batteries to make the grid more efficient and clean.

By Julian Spector . 27 January 2023
Air travel

A giant solar microgrid is coming to New York City’s JFK airport

Some 13,000 solar panels will cover a new terminal being built at JFK, giving the airport a clean power supply that can keep operations running even in a blackout.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 January 2023
Batteries

Here's a plan for cutting US demand for lithium by up to 90%

A new report says smaller EV batteries, more battery recycling and less driving could curb the amount of lithium needed as the country shifts to clean energy.

By Lylla Younes, Blanca Begert . 26 January 2023