NREL releases online tool to estimate pumped hydro storage costs
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a cost-estimation tool for new closed-loop pumped storage hydropower (PSH) plants in the United States. The tool allows operators to select from a range of system characteristics and account for factors such as local geology, labor rates and inflation.
Philippines issues contracts for microgrids in unserved areas
The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded contracts for eight microgrids in unserved areas, including hybrid systems with solar and energy storage, as well as diesel gensets. Plans are now underway for a second competitive bidding round to develop microgrids in other areas without electricity access.
Bluetti releases 2.4 kW portable power station
Bluetti has unveiled a new portable, weatherproof power station featuring a lithium iron phosphate battery with 1,536 Wh of power capacity and a rated output of 2,400 W.
US government funds pilot project for heated sand energy storage
The US Department of Energy is funding a pilot project to demonstrate the commercial viability of storing energy in heated sand, which is capable of producing 135 MW of power for five days.
EU clears Greek aid for 813 MW of PV with storage
The European Commission has approved €1 billion ($1.08 billion) of Greek measures under EU state-aid rules to support two utility-scale solar projects with lithium-ion batteries and molten-salt thermal storage. The funds will take the form of a contract for difference (CfD) over a period of 20 years.
Tesla reports record energy storage deployment figures
Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) sales are plummeting, but its energy storage business is surging, with more than 4 GWh deployed in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
Macquarie to deploy 749 MWh of storage for 370 MW of solar in Greece
Cero Development Hellas, part of Macquarie, has secured approval to install 749 MWh at one of the largest PV plants in Greece.
Polar Night Energy secures €7.6 million to scale-up sand battery technology
The Finnish startup says the funding will go towards several key purposes, including growing its sales and R&D teams and advancing capabilities in converting stored heat back to electricity.
Residential heat pumps linked to solar-plus-storage achieve higher seasonal performance factor
Researchers at Germany’s Frauhofer ISE have analyzed the performance of a residential heat pump connected to a rooftop PV system relying on battery storage and have found that this combination significantly improves the performance of the heat pump while also increasing considerably the solar array’s self-consumption rate.
The Hydrogen Stream: Stadler finalizes longest hydrogen train test
Stadler says it has wrapped up a hydrogen train test, while Ballard has secured a long-term agreement to supply 1,000 hydrogen fuel cell engines through 2027.
