EV

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.

Smart Grid Dilemma

Concerned stakeholders seek an equitable cost-benefit ratio for all ratepayers.

Fairness in paying for grid modernization is an essential element for successful smart grid projects.

Santa Clara Library Unveils Public EV Charging Stations

The Santa Clara City Library installed two new EV charging stations, supplied by ECOtality and Silicon Valley Power (SVP). Blink EV charging stations at the library will provide electricity at both Level 3 (480-volt DC fast charging) and Level 2 (208/240-volt AC charging) power levels, and will accept either credit cards or a ChargePass pre-paid card. The library EV charger project was primarily funded via a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to ECOtality of San Francisco and it’s the nationwide EV Project.

Gasoline Spillover

Although natural gas and electricity is cheap, skyrocketing gasoline prices provide an opening for utilities to engage customers. Knowledge is power, and with the right tools in place, utilities can be outstanding teachers.
Although natural gas and electricity is cheap, skyrocketing gasoline prices provide an opening for utilities to engage customers. Knowledge is power, and with the right tools in place, utilities can be outstanding teachers.

SCE and GE to Upgrade UC-Irvine Campus Grid

Southern California Edison (SCE) and GE are collaborating to put the smart grid to work by upgrading and modernizing the utility’s infrastructure. The project will include electric-distribution infrastructure, substations, residential homes, cyber security systems, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations at the University of California-Irvine, and other products that affect the reliability of a modernized grid. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the demonstration project will launch on June 30, 2013.

March of the Microgrids

Technology is changing the game. Is your utility ready?

Although today microgrids serve a tiny fraction of the market, that share will grow as costs fall. Utilities can benefit if they plan ahead.

The Fortnightly 40 Best Energy Companies

A challenging year brings a change in the rankings.

(September 2012) Our annual financial ranking shows some remarkable shifts among the industry’s shareholder value leaders. Despite flat demand and low commodity prices, investor-owned utilities are investing heavily in capital assets. Investment discipline and operational excellence distinguish leaders on the path to financial performance.

Vendor Neutral

Panda Energy awards turnkey $300 million turnkey contract to Siemens and Bechtel; Dominion starts up 585-MW CFB plant; Ocean Power Technologies and Lockheed Martin partner on wave power project; Infigen awards wind turbine service contract to Mitsubishi; ITC commissions 345-kV line in Oklahoma; ABB tests world’s biggest DC transformer; Xcel gets green light for Tres Amigas-area transmission upgrades; plus contracts and announcements from Elster, Sensus, Enertech, and others.