Australia has begun commercial operations of its first grid battery capable of discharging for 8 hours, aimed at storing surplus solar power during the day and supplying it from evening into the night. The Limondale battery energy storage system in New South Wales, developed by Germany\'s RWE, uses 144 Tesla Megapacks and is rated at 50 MW and 400 MWh. It charges at about 100 MW and discharges at 50 MW.

The fast-growing U.S. energy storage market could face a near-term shock as moves accelerate to cut reliance on Chinese-made batteries, raising worries about delays and higher costs. An executive order issued in late August under the Trump administration bans installation of foreign-made large-scale power system equipment deemed a national security risk, covering battery energy storage systems as well as inverters and transformers. Analysts say projects could be delayed while rules are clarified.