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12.02.20 Grid Edge 1

Munich-based GreenCom Networks is providing IOT platforms running smart home devices and virtual power plants across Europe.

GreenCom Lands Funding to Expand IOT Home Energy Controls in Europe and Beyond

New investors Shell Ventures and Japan’s EEI add strategic partners to expand virtual power plant controls to new markets and devices.

by Jeff St. John

12.01.20 Grid Edge 1

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is back to five members after Monday's Senate confirmation.

Senate Confirms Democrat Clements, Republican Christie to FERC

The commission will retain a Republican majority, but the Biden administration is likely to name a new chair.

by Jeff St. John

11.23.20 Grid Edge 5

California is in a race against time to prevent rotating blackouts if another heat wave hits next summer.

California Seeks Quick Fixes to Prevent Heat-Wave Blackouts Next Summer

Regulators are looking at demand- and supply-side fixes, but the turnaround will be extremely tight for grid infrastructure.

by Julian Spector

11.19.20 Energy Storage 2

Sonnen's latest battery product aims for affordability as interest in home batteries reaches new heights.

Sonnen Launches Lower-Priced Battery for Home Backup and Grid Services

The sonnenCore is priced to compete with rivals Tesla, LG Chem and Enphase, and to tap emerging grid services opportunities.

by Julian Spector

11.18.20 Grid Edge 4

Richard Glick, pictured with fellow FERC commissioner Neil Chatterjee, is seen as a likely pick to chair the key federal grid regulator under the Biden administration (Credit: FERC)

The Top Priorities of FERC’s Most Likely New Chairman Under Biden

Richard Glick, FERC’s sole Democrat, supports taking a “serious look” at capacity market rules that undermine states’ clean energy policies.

by Jeff St. John

11.10.20 Energy 0

GTM's 2010 tally of VC-backed startups includes now-successful companies like Tesla as well as flameouts like Solyndra.

What Happened to the VC-Backed Startup Class of 2010?

One-third of the top 50 venture-backed firms from a decade ago are now out of business. On the other hand, there’s Tesla.

by Jason Deign

11.06.20 Grid Edge 6

FERC's new chairman, James Danly, has voted against opening up markets to distributed energy and dissented on a policy proposal on wholesale market carbon pricing. (Credit: FERC)

Trump Replaces FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee With Commissioner James Danly

A surprising switch at the federal agency that’s passed market regulations opposed by states pursuing clean energy policies.

by Jeff St. John

10.28.20 Grid Edge 1

There's hard work ahead to achieve Order 2222's vision for batteries, electric vehicles, smart buildings and virtual power plants.

4 Big Challenges Facing FERC’s Plan to Open Up Power Markets to Distributed Energy

Utilities and state regulators may struggle with the new federal mandate to allow behind-the-meter resources access to wholesale energy markets.

by Jeff St. John

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Battery-Based Customer Bill Savings

GTM Squared

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Battery-Based Customer Bill Savings

Commercial storage has never followed a straight path, but its current champions have staying power and new strategies for sustained growth.

by Julian Spector | October 28, 2020

10.22.20 Grid Edge 14

VPPs can include batteries, electric vehicles, smart appliances, flexible heating and cooling loads, on-site generators, and other grid-responsive assets.

So, What Exactly Are Virtual Power Plants?

GTM helps explain a growing grid resource that can mimic power plants without dominating the landscape.

by Jason Deign

10.21.20 Grid Edge 4

Distributed solar, batteries and flexible loads can replace the need for new power plants at lower cost, proponents say.

Why Build a Power Plant if You Can Make a Virtual One?

The Enel X deal in Taiwan shows how virtual power plants can outcompete thermal generators.

by Jason Deign

10.20.20 Grid Edge 3

FERC is being asked to undo a decade-old state

Demand Response Provider Asks Feds to Open States to Energy Market Competition

Petition says failing to end state “opt-out” rules is unfair to customers and could undermine FERC Order 2222.

by Jeff St. John

10.19.20 Grid Edge 2

DOE's funding seeks to combine solar, batteries and smart appliances to match building loads with grid needs.

Funding the Next Generation of Efficient, Electric, Grid-Interactive Communities

Department of Energy provides $65 million for “connected communities,” expanding projects to embed clean energy and grid services in new buildings.

by Jeff St. John

10.15.20 Grid Edge 10

FERC's order could end a two-year hiatus in country's biggest grid capacity market, but it doesn't resolve worries from states with clean energy goals.

FERC Order Will Restart PJM’s Capacity Market

But state-subsidized clean energy resources and programs still face major challenges.

by Jeff St. John

10.09.20 16

EV flexibility could balance Norway's grid all by itself as early as 2025, according to Tibber CEO Edgeir Aksnes.

The Startup Helping EVs Balance Out the Renewables That Power Them

Digital energy supplier Tibber is bidding customers’ V2G-enabled electric vehicles into commercial grid-services tenders, shifting the tech from theory to practice.

by John Parnell

10.07.20 Grid Edge 9

A new report identifies the need to fix gaps in planning for extreme weather and post-solar net peak grid demand.

Behind California’s Rolling Blackouts: Planning and Market Failures

A long-awaited study confirms the state’s resource adequacy system and day-ahead markets weren’t ready for a regionwide heat wave.

by Jeff St. John

10.07.20 Grid Edge 13

A family uses a Humless battery pack to keep the lights on when the grid is down. (Photo courtesy of Humless)

Will the Distributed Energy Revolution Leave Renters Behind?

Homeowners aren’t the only ones worried about blackouts and rising electricity bills.

by Julian Spector

10.06.20 Grid Edge 44

Enbala’s DER software platform currently orchestrates around 600 megawatts of capacity.

Generac Acquires Enbala, Boosting Plan to Harness Behind-the-Meter Energy Resources

The deal puts Generac in the business of aggregating distributed energy resources as virtual power plants.

by Jeff St. John

09.30.20 Wind 19

Cornwall's first smart grid-connected wind turbine is in place.

How a Single UK Turbine Could Prove a New Use Case for Wind Power

An Enercon turbine in Cornwall is trialing a concept that could smooth demand on the grid and boost revenue for wind farm owners.

by Catherine Early

09.28.20 Energy 8

Ameren Missouri plans to add 5.4 gigawatts of wind and solar over 20 years.

Ameren Sets Goal of Net-Zero by 2050, Plots Major Wind and Solar Expansion in Midwest

Ameren Missouri’s IRP calls for 5.4 GW of renewables by 2040, but it keeps some coal and retains natural gas as an option.

by Jeff St. John

09.22.20 Grid Edge 10

Electric vehicle chargers, behind-the-meter batteries are a major untapped resource for balancing California's grid.

Unlocking California’s Gigawatt-Scale Distributed Energy Potential

California has nearly 5 GW of distributed energy resources today and may have 13.5 GW by 2025. How can they help stop rolling blackouts?

by Jeff St. John

09.21.20 Solar 22

Duke Energy opened its new 560MW Asheville combined cycle natural gas plant this year. (Photo: Duke)

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

There are big gaps between U.S. utilities’ net-zero targets and their plans for retiring coal and gas plants.

by Jeff St. John

09.17.20 Grid Edge 11

FERC allows full-scale market participation by batteries, EV chargers, smart appliances and more — but the rules for making that happen will be complicated.

‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources

A huge opportunity for solar, batteries, EVs and other DERs — and a huge challenge to integrate utility grid operations with bulk energy markets.

by Jeff St. John

09.16.20 Solar 7

South Carolina's Energy Freedom Act formed the basis for a new approach to net-metering for rooftop solar.

Duke Energy’s SC Net-Metering Replacement Won a Crucial Ally: Rooftop Solar Companies

The utility and installers both believe the plan can keep solar attractive while minimizing the costs imposed on non-solar ratepayers.

by Julian Spector

09.14.20 Grid Edge 4

Google is shifting to round-the-clock renewable power.

Google Pledges 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy by 2030

“We are the first major company that’s set out to do this, and we aim to be the first to achieve it,” says Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

by Jeff St. John

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Energy Demand Response

GreenCom Lands Funding to Expand IOT Home Energy Controls in Europe and Beyond

Senate Confirms Democrat Clements, Republican Christie to FERC

California Seeks Quick Fixes to Prevent Heat-Wave Blackouts Next Summer

Sonnen Launches Lower-Priced Battery for Home Backup and Grid Services

The Top Priorities of FERC’s Most Likely New Chairman Under Biden

What Happened to the VC-Backed Startup Class of 2010?

Trump Replaces FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee With Commissioner James Danly

4 Big Challenges Facing FERC’s Plan to Open Up Power Markets to Distributed Energy

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Battery-Based Customer Bill Savings

So, What Exactly Are Virtual Power Plants?

Why Build a Power Plant if You Can Make a Virtual One?

Demand Response Provider Asks Feds to Open States to Energy Market Competition

Funding the Next Generation of Efficient, Electric, Grid-Interactive Communities

FERC Order Will Restart PJM’s Capacity Market

The Startup Helping EVs Balance Out the Renewables That Power Them

Behind California’s Rolling Blackouts: Planning and Market Failures

Will the Distributed Energy Revolution Leave Renters Behind?

Generac Acquires Enbala, Boosting Plan to Harness Behind-the-Meter Energy Resources

How a Single UK Turbine Could Prove a New Use Case for Wind Power

Ameren Sets Goal of Net-Zero by 2050, Plots Major Wind and Solar Expansion in Midwest

Unlocking California’s Gigawatt-Scale Distributed Energy Potential

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources

Duke Energy’s SC Net-Metering Replacement Won a Crucial Ally: Rooftop Solar Companies

Google Pledges 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy by 2030