Elon Musk’s unprecedented solar+storage vision for Puerto Rico moves forward
Puerto Rico is requesting ten 20 MW / 20 MWh batteries to be deployed strategically in the country’s power grid. The RFQ notes that sites should be upgradable to 40 MW / 160 MWh.
Kaua’i to near 70% renewables with massive solar + storage project
The 70 MWh energy storage system accompanying a 19 MW solar project is one of the largest batteries to be deployed in the United States, and is coming in at under 11 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Tesla and Panasonic to kill cobalt curse
Panasonic announced an aim to produce batteries for Tesla without using cobalt, much of which is sourced from the unstable and conflict-ridden Congo.
Panasonic and Pika up the pace
Pika Energy has increased its home battery capacity to 17.1 kWh – about half an average home’s daily usage. The units are powered by Panasonic lithium-ion cells.
Tesla Powerwall adds time-based control
A software update for the Powerwall 2 home energy storage system adds controls to allow owners to take advantage of time of use electricity rates in California and other states
100 hours and longer: ARPA-E seeks 5¢/kWh energy storage
The U.S. government’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy is offering up to $30 million in funding to build innovative technologies to enable long-duration energy storage, with the aim to provide reliable electricity from 10 to roughly 100 hours, and longer.
Musk hints at 1 GWh battery as Tesla solar power installations fall further
The company’s energy generation and storage division set a record of $410 million in revenue during Q1, but solar power fell to 2013 deployment levels.
Dynapower signs master supply agreement with Viridity
Viridity Energy Solutions has signed Dynapower to be its master supplier of inverters and fully integrated energy storage systems. Viridity also chose Dynapower to manage two 20MW/20MWh systems.
Cypress Creek launches solar+storage in North Carolina
Cypress Creek Renewables will couple 12 solar projects with Lockheed GridStart lithium ion batteries, and LG Neon solar modules for a North Carolina electricity cooperative.
UPDATED: World’s largest batteries hiding in Colorado bids
Xcel Energy’s December 2017 solicitation results contain bids for energy storage projects at least as large as the current world’s largest under construction, and far larger than the world’s biggest running batteries.
