California utility re-starts gas plant using battery system
Imperial Irrigation District says its use of a battery system to restart a combined-cycle gas turbine is the first such “black start” use of a battery in the United States.
Senator Chuck Grassley questions DOE grid reliability study
The Republican senator from Iowa has stepped in to the debate, expressing concerns about the study’s credibility and whether or not its conclusion has been pre-determined.
37 states take action on grid modernization during Q1
A new report series from NCCETC takes a look at the increasing state-level policy activity around getting U.S. grids ready for a clean energy future.
NREL develops controllable quantum dot systems
Researchers at the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new designer quantum dot system, which allows for greater control over optoelectronic properties of the materials.
Trump budget calls for 70% reduction in renewable energy spending
A leaked copy of U.S. President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal calls for a 70% reduction at the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), after these programs survived proposed 2017 cuts.
Energy trade groups send grid reliability reports to Energy Secretary Perry
SEIA, ACORE, AEE and AWEA express concerns that the former Texas Governor is starting his inquiry into grid reliability with a faulty premise by conflating coal and nuclear generation with reliability.
Renewables peak at 2/3 of California demand
As has happened many times in Germany, a week of high wind and solar demand coincided with a spring weekend day, and the result was record penetration of renewable energy.
Tesla, Green Mountain Power launch battery-aggregation program
The battery giant is partnering with one of New England’s most solar-friendly utilities to create an energy storage program that will provide a range of storage options for GMP customers.
Thin film solar hangs on as a niche
A new report by Lux Research finds that First Solar and Solar Frontier are holding onto a corner of the market, if not posing much of a threat to c-Si dominance.
Study: Solar micro-grids can help military fight cyber, physical threats
A team from Michigan Technological University is assessing the technical and economic viability of military microgrids run on solar power.
