divenewsletter.com

Fluence Energy signed master supply agreements with two unnamed “major”…

2026-05-12 · 20:03 UTC ·Utility Dive: Storage ·5 min read

Brief

Utility Dive’s Storage Weekly roundup highlights several market moves and metric updates across storage, EV charging and grid markets. Fluence announced master supply agreements with two major hyperscalers — a deal Jefferies’ Julien Dumoulin‑Smith called earlier‑than‑expected and strategically important for Fluence’s data‑center angle. In Texas, TXU’s EV charging program delivered 15 hours/day of subsidized home charging for Ford EV drivers and enabled Ford to shift 515 MWh to off‑peak in 2025. Constellation queued ~5 GW of nuclear, gas and battery projects into PJM even as some data‑center customers pause decisions pending PJM colocation/backstop auction rules. CAISO reported EDAM performance within expected price ranges and steady transfer volumes, with CEO Elliot Mainzer saying batteries are now a major Western‑grid resource. Sunrun suffered steep Q1 sales drops but grew networked storage to ~4.3 GWh (50% YoY) and aims for 10 GWh by 2028; separate E3 analysis finds medium/heavy fleet electrification could modestly lower residential rates by 2035 if grid upgrades are managed.

Why it matters

Fluence Energy signed master supply agreements with two unnamed “major” hyperscalers; Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin‑Smith said the deals arrived earlier than expected and mark “significant progress” for Fluence’s emerging data center thesis.

Key details

  • TXU Energy’s special retail EV plan in Texas gives Ford electric‑vehicle drivers 15 hours per day of “free” home charging; Ford reports it shifted 515 MWh of load to off‑peak periods in 2025 under the program.
  • Constellation Energy entered roughly 5 GW of new capacity (nuclear, gas and battery) into the PJM interconnection queue, while some prospective data‑center customers are pausing procurement pending PJM colocation and backstop auction rule outcomes.
  • CAISO says the Extended Day‑Ahead Market (EDAM) is “solid and stable,” with prices in expected ranges and steady transfer volumes; CAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer noted battery energy storage has become a major player on the Western grid.
  • Sunrun reported a steep Q1 sales decline after the solar tax credit cut and tariffs, but its networked storage capacity reached about 4.3 GWh as of March 31 (up ~50% year‑over‑year) and it targets 10 GWh of dispatchable capacity by end of 2028.
Cleaned source text

Storage weekly

May ​ 12,​ 2026 | This week’s storage news and insights for utility leaders

Next-Gen Transmission Planning Strategies

Fluence Energy signs master supply agreements with two ‘major’ hyperscalers

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith said the agreements came earlier than expected and represented “significant progress” on the company’s “emerging data center thesis.”

TXU Energy EV charging program could work in other competitive markets: ChargeScape CEO

Ford electric vehicle drivers get 15 hours per day of “free” home charging under a special retail plan in Texas. The automaker says it shifted 515 MWh of energy to off-peak periods in 2025.

Constellation Energy enters 5 GW of nuclear, gas, battery capacity in PJM queue

Some potential data center customers are pausing decision-making in the PJM Interconnection to see how the grid operator’s colocation and backstop auction rules shake out, company officials said.

How energy leaders are navigating the transition to net-zero

EDAM is ‘solid and stable’ so far, says CAISO

The Extended Day-Ahead Market’s prices are falling within expected ranges, with steady transfer volumes in its footprint, according to the California Independent System Operator. “Battery energy storage is now a major player on the Western grid,” said CAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer.

Xcel Energy: Google deal sets template for large load tariff strategy

CEO Bob Frenzel also said Xcel is doubling down on its renewables strategy. “We believe that these large customers are absolutely committed to [the] long-term sustainability of their own product,” he said.

Sunrun saw steep sales drop in Q1 with end of solar tax credit, tariffs

The company says it remains “the nation’s largest distributed power plant operator,” with about 4.3 GWh of networked storage capacity as of March 31 — a 50% increase year over year. It aims to have 10 GWh of dispatchable capacity by the end of 2028.

Electric truck fleets could push down residential rates by 2035: report

Medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification in California and Georgia could reduce residential rates modestly, E3’s analysis found, but proactive, measured investments in grid upgrades are essential.