News

Sumitomo Sets Up World's First Large-Scale Power Storage System with Used Batteries

Sumitomo developed and installed the world's first large-scale power storage system that utilizes used batteries collected from electric vehicles. This commercial scale storage system, built on Yume-shima Island, Osaka, began operating in February 2014. Over the next three years, the system will measure the smoothing effect of energy output fluctuation from the nearby Hikari-no-mori solar farm, and will aim to establish a large-scale power storage technology by utilizing the huge quantities of discarded used EV batteries.

Tri-State Signs Agreement with NextEra Energy Resources for Wind Facility in Colorado

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association entered into a 25-year agreement with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources for a 150 MW wind power generating facility to be constructed in eastern Colorado. Under the 25-year PPA, Tri-State will purchase the entire output and associated environmental attributes of the Carousel Wind Farm. The 150-MW facility will be Tri-State's largest wind energy PPA to date.

NRG Energy Signs Deal with Virgin Limited Edition to Power Necker Island with a Microgrid Solution

NRG Energy and Virgin Limited Edition entered into a diesel reduction agreement for the provision of renewable power to Necker Island. Pursuant to this agreement, NRG will develop a renewables-driven microgrid for the entire island, supplying reliable electricity powered at least 75% by an integrated array of solar, wind and energy storage technologies.

SunEdison Installs Solar Parking Canopy at Whole Foods in Brooklyn

SunEdison completed a 306 kW DC solar system for Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn, New York. SunEdison designed the system using a parking canopy structure that collects rainwater while protecting customers from the elements. The two companies have worked together since 2004 and have jointly deployed 1.5 MW of solar projects. The building is designed to be 60 percent more energy efficient than the average grocery store with more than 25 percent of site power needs being met by solar energy. SunEdison will manage the plant via their 24/7 renewable operations center (ROC).

ALLETE Clean Energy Finalizes Acquisition of Wind Farms for $27M

ALLETE Clean Energy (ALLETE) finalized the purchase of wind farms in Minnesota, Iowa and Oregon from AES. ALLETE acquired the operating wind energy projects for $27 million and all three wind farms - with a total output of 231 MW - have PPAs in place for their entire electric output. ALLETE also signed in November an option agreement to acquire a fourth wind farm from AES in mid-2015. Pursuant to that option agreement, ALLETE will have an option to acquire the 101MW Armenia Mountain, Penn., wind farm.

Constellation to Develop 27-MW Biogas Co-Generation Power Plant for City of Los Angeles

Constellation signed an agreement with the City of Los Angeles to design, build and operate a 27-MW renewable energy power plant at L.A. Sanitation's Hyperion Treatment Plant. The new power plant, which will cost approximately $130 million to construct, will use digester gas produced at Hyperion as its primary fuel source. The power plant will produce steam and electricity that will be used to operate Hyperion's treatment operations.

Honeywell and Stor Generation Connect With Building Owners to Stabilize Electrical Grid

Honeywell and power management company Stor Generation Ltd. launched a new smart grid program in the U.K. The companies will use Honeywell technology to temporarily trim energy use in commercial and industrial facilities, combining the excess power to help stabilize the electrical grid, and address country-wide carbon reduction and renewable energy commitments. Under the program, Stor Generation will pay facility owners to lower consumption when the call for electricity starts to outpace what power plants and renewable resources are able to produce.

SCE&G to Acquire Increased Share of Nuclear Units from Santee Cooper

South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) and Santee Cooper established an agreement for SCE&G to acquire from Santee Cooper a 5 percent ownership interest in the two new nuclear units which are currently under construction at V.C. Summer Station in Jenkinsville, S.C. Under the terms of the transaction, SCE&G will own 60 percent of the new nuclear units and Santee Cooper, 40 percent. The purchase price is anticipated to be approximately $500 million for the entire 5 percent interest based on current project cost.

EDF Renewable Energy Signs PPA with Southern California Edison

EDF Renewable Energy announced a 20-year PPA with Southern California Edison (SCE), contracted through the California Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) competitive procurement program, for 19.8 MW wind project. The Patterson Pass Wind Project is a repowering effort whereby older technology is upgraded allowing for increased generation of clean energy with fewer wind turbines. Approximately 300 Nordtank and Bonus 65kW turbines, originally installed in 1985, will be removed as part of the development process.

Salt River Project Selects Landis+Gyr for Complete Infrastructure Upgrade

Salt River Project (SRP) signed a long-term agreement with Landis+Gyr to update and expand its advanced metering and prepay technology in a phased, 10-year installation across their service territory. The utility plans to deploy Landis+Gyr's Gridstream RF network beginning this summer to support ongoing improvements to the technology used by its 142,000 prepay customers. SRP will begin installing more than one million Landis+Gyr E350 AX-SD meters to provide both credit and prepayment options for all their customers.