Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

The state has created more ways for solar-and-battery-equipped homes to get paid to help the grid — but not enough to save the crashing rooftop solar market.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024

An aerial view of a subdivision of single-family homes, many with solar panels visible on the roof — The Chatsworth neighborhood in Los Angeles, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Grid edge

Can customers' batteries, thermostats and EV chargers keep California's grid up and running?

AutoGrid and Clean Power Alliance are harnessing the full range of home energy devices for a new virtual power plant.

By Jeff St. John . 12 October 2021
Energy efficiency

BP acquires Blueprint Power to tap the grid-balancing capability of big buildings

The startup has 13MW of flexible energy in its NYC portfolio and is looking to expand.

By Jeff St. John . 7 October 2021
Grid edge

Google Nest thermostats will soon help you use more — and even buy — clean energy

Nest Renew can align home energy use with cleaner grid power and fund new wind and solar for $10 a month. Will consumers buy in?

By Jeff St. John . 6 October 2021
Clean energy

What's the trick to keep grids humming along on solar, wind and batteries alone?

A Department of Energy program is testing a new type of "grid-forming" inverter that could make it possible.

By Jeff St. John . 29 September 2021
Climatetech finance

Energy storage leader Fluence preps for old-school IPO, bucking SPAC trend

The grid-scale battery sector is poised for massive growth. Fluence is playing a major role — but it has a lot of competition.

By Jeff St. John . 28 September 2021
EV charging

New York City needs a lot of EV chargers. How can its power grid support them all?

Startup Revel's Brooklyn superhub is the first of many charging centers NYC will need to meet its EV goals. Can it be replicated at scale?

By Jeff St. John . 23 September 2021
Utilities

Alphabet's R&D hub is marshaling its computing muscle to model fast-changing electrical grids

X (formerly known as Google X) wants to virtualize power grids to speed clean energy adoption. Will utilities and grid operators get on board?

By Jeff St. John . 17 September 2021
Opinion

Making rural minigrid economics work for investors

CrossBorder Energy Access is bundling small-scale village power systems in Africa to unlock a multibillion-dollar electrification opportunity.

By Olubunmi Olajide . 16 September 2021
Energy equity

Newsletter: When lack of power turns deadly

In the U.S. and abroad, substandard grid infrastructure can be a life-and-death matter.

By Julian Spector . 16 September 2021
Opinion

Minigrids could bring power to half a billion people in Africa and Asia

Small solar-and-battery systems can reach communities without grid connections. Public-private partnerships are key to making it happen.

By William Brent . 15 September 2021

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Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

Can customers' batteries, thermostats and EV chargers keep California's grid up and running?

BP acquires Blueprint Power to tap the grid-balancing capability of big buildings

Google Nest thermostats will soon help you use more — and even buy — clean energy

What's the trick to keep grids humming along on solar, wind and batteries alone?

Energy storage leader Fluence preps for old-school IPO, bucking SPAC trend

New York City needs a lot of EV chargers. How can its power grid support them all?

Alphabet's R&D hub is marshaling its computing muscle to model fast-changing electrical grids

Making rural minigrid economics work for investors

Newsletter: When lack of power turns deadly

Minigrids could bring power to half a billion people in Africa and Asia