Climate Changed
A Powerful Mix of Solar and Batteries Is Beating Natural Gas
- Renewable energy developers pairing with storage to beat gas
- NextEra’s Florida utility just added storage to solar farm
The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change Forever
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Natural gas is getting edged out of power markets across the U.S. by two energy sources that, together, are proving to be an unbeatable mix: solar and batteries.
In just the latest example, First Solar Inc. won a power contract to supply Arizona’s biggest utility when electricity demand on its system typically peaks, between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The panel maker beat out bids from even power plants burning cheap gas by proposing to build a 65-megawatt solar farm that will, in turn, feed a 50-megawatt battery system.