Energy storage inverter orders surge

How big is the energy backlog in 2023?

The backlog of new power generation and energy storage seeking transmission connections across the U.S. grew again in 2023, with nearly 2,600 gigawatts (GW) of generation and storage capacity now actively seeking grid interconnection, according to new research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).

Can a hybrid solar-plus-storage facility qualify as a QF?

FERC and the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit recently addressed this limitation in the Broadview proceeding, concluding that a hybrid solar-plus-storage facility with a nameplate capacity above the 80 MW limit can nevertheless qualify as a QF if its output to the grid does not exceed that cap.

Why is new electric generation and storage important?

U.S. electric demand is projected to increase considerably in coming years, with a resurgence in U.S. manufacturing alongside demand from new data centers, electric vehicles, and building electrification. Connecting new electric generation and storage is urgently needed to meet this growing demand.

How will new electric storage reforms improve market efficiency?

Moreover, the Commission believes the new reforms will improve market efficiency by enabling RTOs/ISOs to dispatch electric storage resources in accordance with the highest-value service they are capable of providing at that time, thereby better reflecting the value of storage as a marginal resource.

Do energy storage resources qualify as transmission assets?

Energy storage resources that provide services such as voltage support or absorption of excess power may be able to qualify as transmission assets, which, critically, allows for the system’s costs to be recovered through FERC-approved rates.

What does FERC consider a battery storage resource (IBR)?

FERC considers IBRs to include all generation resources that connect to the electric power system using power electronic devices that change direct current (DC) power produced by a resource to AC power, including battery storage resources.