Sunrise brief: Battery recycling is hot, but lightbulb moments lag
Also on the rise: SunPower will market a VPP offering for energy storage customers, and mPrest CEO Andy Bennett talks with pv magazine about the potential for DER under Build Back Better.
SunPower launches VPP offering for its energy storage customers
The company will manage charging and discharging the batteries, while keeping some electricity in reserve for backup power to the home.
In California and Hawaii, the benefits of smart inverters are just beginning
Smart inverters have opened up opportunities for people with smart inverters to be paid for providing stored energy on demand and other grid services.
Tesla Powerwalls in California join the movement to create virtual power plants
Made up of distributed residential energy storage, these “plants” stabilize the grid and often end the need for new fossil generation. Tesla customers in California are the latest to join the movement.
Virtual power plant project gets underway in Maryland demonstration
The 0.55 MW / 2.2 MWh capacity Elk Neck Battery Storage Pilot Program won regulatory approval even though its cost-benefit outlook left multiple parties questioning its value.
RFP alert: Puerto Rico launches first of six calls for renewables and storage
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority has been ordered to procure a total of 3.75 GW or renewables and 1.5 GW of energy storage.
Swell Energy wins approval for 100 MWh VPP
The contract was awarded in response to Hawaiian Electric’s request for dispatchable energy storage and renewable generation through distributed energy resources along with capacity and ancillary services.
Construction of the world’s largest apartment complex VPP fleet starts next week
Soleil Energy, the EPC arm of the Wasatch Group, is beginning construction on a revolutionary virtual power plant program located on California apartment complex rooftops — with the roofs acting as community-based peaker plants.
SunPower to sell 11 MW of capacity in New England’s grid
SunPower has joined Sunrun in committing to sell capacity to the New England grid by aggregating household solar installations.
Sunrun proposes solar+storage virtual power plants across Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau has its hands full in ensuring the island’s utility gets the grid working well at a reasonable cost, while moving to 40% renewables by 2025. Sunrun and environmental groups point a way forward.
