There is enormous market opportunity for grid-scale energy storage solutions on both the power supply and demand side, but historically low US natural gas prices appear to represent a headwind moderating widespread energy storage deployment. Importantly, today’s quote comes from a GE representative whose company is a major manufacturer of “fast-reacting turbines,” and others contend… Keep reading →
A group of US oil refiners released a study they say shows incremental production volumes can be handled by their facilities, in contrast to an opposing view that suggests the country’s refining complex is geared toward heavy oil and cannot handle the recent surge in lighter hydrocarbon output. “The refinery group’s study said refiners can… Keep reading →
Siemens is acquiring gas equipment manufacturer Dresser-Rand for $7.6 billion dollars in a move meant to help the German conglomerate capitalize on the US energy boom. Earlier this year Siemens bought “most” of Rolls-Royce’s civil energy operation for $1.3 billion. The acquisitions are also likely motivated by a desire to remain competitive with rival GE, which… Keep reading →
Quick Take: Italian energy giant Enel has long been a trail blazer in the utility space. For example, it was years ahead in deploying smart meters. For instance, earlier this year it launched an innovative renewable energy storage system. So what’s next for the pioneering utility? Scroll down to learn about three more intriguing initiatives Enel is… Keep reading →
For months now there has been much secrecy and mystery surrounding the location of electric car revolutionary Tesla’s new $5 billion Gigafactory. The factory will supply cheaper batteries for the company’s Model 3 electric car and will be large enough to manufacture more lithium-ion batteries than the entire industry produces now. Due to its sheer… Keep reading →
Montana startup turns a chemistry’s weakness to the grid’s advantage For years, battery technology startups and researchers have been striving to create a rechargeable, grid-scale energy storage system using zinc, one of the world’s cheapest and most plentiful metals. Zinc-based batteries tend to break down after just hundreds of charge-discharge cycles, however — and coming up… Keep reading →
When throwing a party, or even attending a party, everyone knows that ice is essential. Normally about 1lb of ice is needed per guest, which means that you either have to make ice overnight and store it for the party or run out to the corner store to purchase it. You would never consider making… Keep reading →
The same GPS technology that guided smart bombs during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 is now in your smart phone and there are numerous additional examples of technology borne from US Defense Department innovators – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – that exploded (pardon the pun) into mainstream commercial applications. Well, if it worked… Keep reading →
Ranking the challenges of a distributed energy future at Grid Edge Live 2014. The grid edge is a complex realm, combining traditional utility operations with the emerging world of distributed energy generation and control. Greentech Media’s inaugural Grid Edge Live conference, taking place this week in San Diego, is dedicated to finding solutions to these complex,… Keep reading →
The EPA’s newly-announced rule to limit carbon emissions from existing power plants would appear to set the stage for non-carbon emitting technology like nuclear, but historically low-priced natural gas has rendered many of the nation’s smaller nuclear facilities economically uncompetitive. “Already, five nuclear units have either shut down or have announced that they will do… Keep reading →
