Energy Storage

Accumulated water at hydropower facilities can work as a virtual charge during the daytime while direct solar power is being used, according to a study. Reservoir-based hydropower plants will offer the best such option, as they are highly controllable and offer abundant water levels.

Lithium-ion prices are jolting upwards, it’s time to take a second generation storage solution seriously. Craig Irwin of ROTH Capital Partners says his company has been a long-term skeptic on both the lithium-ion battery cost curves shared by major OEMs and price forecasts presented by industry consultants.

The storage system company, in which Solaredge recently acquired a majority share, has said it will commission two large storage systems in South Korea before the end of the year. The market looks somewhat promising according to recent government initiatives, like the ‘Renewable Energy 3020’ plan and a 3 GW solar park on reclaimed land.

Power market regulator favors a flat rate fee for electricity consumers to fund the cost of making the U.K. grid fit for the energy transition. Solar lobbyists say that will unfairly penalize households and businesses who have invested in on-site generation.

A new report from U.S. based Rocky Mountain Institute outlines the potential for minigrid deployment to provide electricity to underserved communities around the world, to the benefit of utility companies, minigrid developers and communities. The report takes examples from Nigeria to illustrate this potential, but states that many of its findings could be applied to communities with limited or no access to electricity around the world.

The Technological Institute for Solar Energy, Low Emissions Mining and Advanced Materials of Lithium and other materials, will be set up with a mixture of public funding and 30% private investment.

Having closed a green electricity supply deal, changing its stadium lighting to LED and recycling 80% of matchday waste to power its turf, the football club has now unveiled the first 2 MW stage of a 3 MW storage system to slash peak load at the Emirates Stadium.

The German energy storage provider has begun assembling batteries at the former Holden site at Elizabeth in Adelaide’s north. The company has already hired 50 full-time employees.

Australian mining company Resolute Mining has inked a JDA and PPA with Ignite Energy, to construct what it says is the world’s largest off-grid solar hybrid plant, at one of its gold mines in Mali.

The solar manufacturer and developer has joined forces with Singapore’s ISDN and plans to expand its battery operations in the region. Elsewhere though, Longitech’s latest fundraising exercise has fallen flat.