Utility Scale Storage

Amid the innovation on display in Portugal, the optimism in Japan and the, well, eagerness in Norway were stories of takeovers, Tesla and storage that shaped yet another fascinating week in the global solar PV industry.

Tesla founder Elon Musk has thrown down a challenge to the Australian government, saying that he can build a battery array capable of resolving South Australia’s energy stability issues within 100 days. Musk took to social media to make the challenge, saying that Tesla could develop a 100 MWh system to stabilize the state’s electricity network, within 100 days of a contract being signed, or that he’ll provide it for free.

While Greece’s solar PV market starts to gather heat, pv magazine explores why Greece’s non-interconnected island region is the country’s number one spot in need of more solar PV and storage projects.

A recent presentation at the European Union-funded Grid and Storage workshop in London showcased why Ireland has emerged as Europe’s energy storage lab, and might soon comprise an active storage market.

Solar power is at the forefront of a smarter energy sector, but to enable a new wave of PV installations in Europe, solar needs new regulatory frameworks that value flexibility, says the Smart Energy UK and Europe conference in London. 

There is a lot of talk and action regarding energy storage in Europe and the sector is actively discussing which national market will emerge most strongly. A seldom discussed but very strong case can be made for Ireland.

The energy sector has undergone huge changes over the last years, mainly due to the decentralization of energy systems and the increasing role of renewables. While the sector’s defining characteristics continue to shift, a new trend has emerged: the digitization of energy. What it is, and who will benefit the most was discussed at this year’s Forum Solarpraxis.