Articles tagged with "grid-reliability"
3 Startups Join New IN2 Cohort Advancing Reliability in Built Environment - CleanTechnica
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a $55 million energy technology program coadministered by NREL and funded by Wells Fargo, has welcomed three startups into its latest cohort focused on advancing energy efficiency and reliability in commercial building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The selected startups—MicroEra Power, SkyCool Systems, and Verv Energy—offer innovative solutions such as a tunable thermal energy storage system, passive cooling technologies utilizing the sky, and diagnostic platforms for detecting HVAC performance anomalies. IN2 aims to accelerate the scaling and market adoption of technologies that support sustained building operations during grid outages, peak load events, and extreme weather, addressing growing electricity demand from sectors like data centers. MicroEra Power’s thermal energy storage system stands out for its safety, efficiency, and durability compared to lithium-ion batteries. It shifts HVAC loads to off-peak periods, improving energy efficiency by 20% while requiring minimal water and reducing capital expenses by downsizing heat pumps
energy-efficiencythermal-energy-storageHVAC-optimizationsmart-gridbuilding-energy-managementenergy-technology-startupsgrid-reliabilityLong Duration BESS + Solar Replace Coal Mines & Gas Extraction - CleanTechnica
The article highlights significant progress in Queensland, Australia, toward replacing coal mines and gas extraction with renewable energy solutions, particularly long-duration battery energy storage systems (BESS) paired with solar power. At the Stanwell Power Station site, a state government-owned facility, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with global investment firm Quinbrook to trial an 8-hour EnerQB battery supplied by CATL. This battery aims to store a full day’s solar energy and deliver continuous power during peak demand, enhancing grid reliability and potentially lowering electricity costs. The trial will assess the battery’s performance, scalability, and commercial viability, marking what is described as the world’s first true 8-hour battery storage solution. Quinbrook also plans to combine these batteries with open cycle gas turbines to support Queensland’s energy transition. In addition, AGL is seeking federal approval for a large-scale 500 MW/2 GWh lithium iron phosphate battery project in the Darling Downs region, near existing coal mines and gas extraction sites. This
energybattery-storagerenewable-energysolar-powergrid-reliabilitylong-duration-batteriesenergy-transitionBig Batteries Create Skinny Ducks, Reduce Gas - CleanTechnica
The article highlights a significant surge in large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) across Australia, driven by government incentives like the Cheaper Home Battery program and the country's abundant solar resources. These big batteries are helping to smooth out the solar "duck curve" by storing excess midday solar power, thus reducing reliance on gas-fired electricity generation. Notably, the success of the Tesla Big Battery at Hornsdale has spurred international companies to invest heavily in Australian battery projects, signaling a major shift toward cleaner, more reliable grid infrastructure. Several major projects are underway or planned, including Trina Storage's delivery of up to 5 GWh of battery systems between 2026 and 2028, in partnership with UK-based Pacific Green, and Akaysha Energy's Elaine BESS in Victoria, a 311 MW/1,244 MWh facility financed by BlackRock and others, which will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) and support renewable integration. Akaysha is also
energybattery-storageclean-energyrenewable-energygrid-reliabilityTesla-batteryenergy-transitionGovernment Clown Denies That Energy Storage Exists
The article criticizes Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for dismissing the existence and importance of energy storage technologies during a Fox Business interview. Burgum claimed that solar and wind energy are unreliable and intermittent, highlighting moments when wind contributed only 1-2% of electricity generation despite significant federal investment. The author counters this by noting that wind and solar together accounted for about 14% of U.S. electricity generation in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and that other renewable sources like geothermal, biomass, and hydropower have lower reliability and output percentages. The piece further explains that the American Energy Dominance Plan favors energy sources that provide continuous 24/7 power—such as fossil fuels, nuclear, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower—while excluding wind and solar from its definition of "reliable" energy. This narrow definition ignores the broader, system-wide concept of reliability embraced by grid planners and the Department of Energy, which includes the integration of diverse energy
energyenergy-storagerenewable-energywind-powersolar-powergrid-reliabilityclean-energyIts Official Fossil Fuels Love Energy Storage Too
The article discusses Ameren Missouri’s recent move to integrate large-scale energy storage with fossil fuel power generation, highlighting a shift in how traditional energy companies view storage technology. Ameren has applied for a permit to build a 400-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage system alongside a new 800-megawatt natural gas power plant at its Big Hollow Energy Center in Jefferson County, Missouri. This marks Ameren’s first large-scale battery project and underscores that energy storage is not only critical for renewable sources like wind and solar but also increasingly important for fossil fuel plants to enhance grid reliability and meet rising energy demands. Despite political resistance to renewable energy expansion, the U.S. Department of Energy continues to support energy storage innovation, recently announcing $15 million in funding to accelerate commercial deployment. Ameren’s president, Mark Birk, emphasized that the new energy center aims to provide reliable backup power and prepare for anticipated increases in demand, reflecting broader concerns about climate impacts and extreme weather events. The battery system
energy-storagebattery-technologylithium-ion-batteriesrenewable-energynatural-gas-power-plantgrid-reliabilityenergy-infrastructureClean Energy Experts Say It’s Time To Move Beyond LCOE - CleanTechnica
A recent report from the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), long used as the primary metric for comparing clean energy technologies, is now insufficient for guiding investment and policy decisions in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape. While LCOE is simple and standardized, it fails to capture critical system-level costs such as grid integration, storage, curtailment, and reliability challenges associated with variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar. As electrification and peak demand grow, relying solely on LCOE risks misdirecting investments, delaying decarbonization, and increasing long-term energy costs. The report highlights the value of clean firm power technologies—such as advanced nuclear, geothermal, long-duration storage, and carbon-capture-equipped combustion—that provide reliable, on-demand electricity regardless of weather or time. For example, Ontario’s approval of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) project demonstrates that despite a higher LCOE, clean firm power
energyclean-energyelectricity-decarbonizationrenewable-energyenergy-storagegrid-reliabilitynuclear-energyLeap Powers National Grid’s Virtual Power Plant Initiative in Massachusetts - CleanTechnica
National Grid, one of the largest energy utilities, has expanded its collaboration with Leap to implement virtual power plant (VPP) solutions at selected facilities in Massachusetts, following a successful pilot in New York. Using Leap’s software-only platform, National Grid’s office buildings will participate in Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Standard and ConnectedSolutions programs, which incentivize reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods. This initiative aims to enhance grid reliability, lower carbon emissions, and support the state’s climate goals by leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and HVAC systems to balance grid demand without relying heavily on fossil-fueled peaker plants. The collaboration highlights the growing role of grid-interactive buildings as valuable resources in the energy transition. National Grid’s Vice President of New England Operations emphasized the importance of demonstrating distributed energy solutions’ critical role in advancing clean energy and resilience. Leap’s technology aggregates DER loads into virtual power plants, enabling participation in energy markets and helping to reduce customer costs
energyvirtual-power-plantdistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-reliabilityclean-energyenergy-transitionsmart-gridOffshore Wind Power's Big Benefits - CleanTechnica
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energyelectricity-marketgrid-reliabilityclean-energyenergy-costsNew Texas Bill Threatens Growth Of Wind & Solar Industry - CleanTechnica
energyrenewable-energywind-powersolar-powergrid-reliabilityTexas-legislationenergy-policy