Is the Global Solar Industry a Winner-Take-All Game?
In the global solar industry, the recent past is not necessarily prologue. Stanford Law School just published the results of a workshop during which a group of high-level solar industry professionals...
View ArticleNRG Energy Deploying Dean Kamen's Solar-Smart In-Home Generator
Few executives are more outspoken about the threat that distributed energy poses to utilities than NRG Energy CEO David Crane, so it’s not surprising that NRG Energy plans to sell a product that is...
View ArticleFormer Bridgelux and BrightSource Execs Help Reinvent Flow Battery Company
For the last few years, Deeya Energy has made flow batteries for backup power at telecom towers in India, a small corner of the energy storage business. Now the company, renamed Imergy Power Systems,...
View ArticleLED Bulb Efficiency Surges, But Light Quality Lags
Consumers are quickly warming to LED bulbs thanks to falling prices and much-improved performance over the past few years. But when it comes to the quality of light they give off, most LEDs are only...
View ArticleGridium Develops Software for Hands-Free Building Efficiency Tuneups
The market for data-driven building efficiency software is very crowded. In order to break through the noise, startup Gridium is focusing on simplicity with its latest product offering. At the...
View ArticleCould Wind Emerge As a Major Provider of Frequency Regulation?
Wind energy suffers from an image problem: because it's intermittent, wind complicates the grid’s operation and requires fossil fuel power plants for backup. But wind farms could actually improve...
View ArticleIs It Getting Any Easier for Cleantech Firms to Cross the 'Valley of Death'?
Quick: name five cleantech companies that have successfully brought technology from the lab to market. Don't be surprised if you struggle. Some of the best minds in energy innovation at the MIT Energy...
View ArticleCree Accelerates the LED Light Bulb Pricing War
One year ago, LED lighting company Cree introduced a light bulb that set a new bar in price. Today, it's introducing a 100-watt-equivalent LED bulb and lowering prices on existing products, in a move...
View ArticleFor Some Utility Execs, EPA Carbon Rules Are Only One Worry in a Changing...
One would think that Monday's landmark EPA proposal to limit CO2 emissions from power plants would be the main topic of discussion at a utility industry conference. But that wasn't the case at this...
View ArticleShould Utility Companies Be More Like Broadband Providers?
Electricity is the ultimate commodity. Since gadgets and appliances work no matter where they plug in, it's nearly impossible for consumers to distinguish between different products. But...
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Efficiency Group Says 'Utility Death Spiral' Talk Is Overblown
The notion that large numbers of electricity consumers will unplug from the power grid doesn't hold up to scrutiny, according to an energy efficiency advocacy group. The American Council for an...
View ArticleA Landmark Deal in Mississippi Could Give a Big Boost to Utility-Scale Solar
Southern Company, which owns Mississippi Power, ranks nearly last when it comes to utilities’ use of renewable energy. However, a settlement announced earlier this week could open up as much as 100...
View ArticleUber's Dirty Tactics Are Just the Latest Growing Pains for the Sharing Economy
Ride-hailing apps are disrupting the taxi business, giving consumers more options and drivers another source of income. But at the same time, the rapid growth of these services has triggered some...
View ArticleBest Buy Jumps Into Home Automation With Startup Peq
Electronics retailer Best Buy is entering the crowded home automation market through a deal with startup Smart Home Ventures, which designed its offering around ease of use. Called Peq (pronounced...
View ArticleResponsive Electricity Pricing Is the Missing Piece of a Distributed,...
Utility industry pros often say Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla would recognize today’s electric grid because the basic architecture has changed so little over the past 100 years. The same could be...
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