Hitachi Energy, SP Energy Networks sign agreement to boost renewable energy flow from Scotland to England
Hitachi Energy will design and deliver a power quality solution that is expected to enable the transfer of around 280 MW of renewable energy capacity between Scotland and England.
Producing hydrogen via microalgae-bacteria coculture
A group of researchers has identified a multispecies bacterial community that could reportedly increase the efficiency of hydrogen generation via microbial metabolism. The proposed hydrogen system achieved a more than double production rate compared to common biological hydrogen production technologies.
SolarEdge acquires EV charging optimization and management startup
Wevo Energy becomes a subsidiary of SolarEdge, and together the companies plan to integrate the Wevo’s software solution into the SolarEdge ONE energy optimization system for the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment.
South Africa launches 616 MW/2,464 MWh battery storage tender
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) of South Africa has opened the third bid window for its Battery Energy Storage IPP Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), which is procuring a total of 1,744 MW of four-hour battery storage systems. It has also announced the final winner from the first window.
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.
