The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the implementation agreement between the California Independent System Operator (ISO) and PacifiCorp that establishes the scope and schedule for a variety of tasks the parties will undertake to launch an energy imbalance market (EIM) by October 2014. Among its provisions, the implementation agreement sets out procedures for PacifiCorp to pay the ISO a $2.1 million fixed start-up fee to enable PacifiCorp to participate in the ISO’s existing energy imbalance market.

Toshiba acquired a 76% interest in cyberGRID GmbH, an Austrian developer and provider of intelligent energy management solutions. The cyberGRID system is a virtual power plant (VPP) / demand response system, developed for specific demands of grid system operators, utilities, retailers, industrial customers and distributed generation. VPP matches electricity consumption and offers a lower cost, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional peaking power plants.

APR Energy signed a new 40MW cross-border contract with the government of Mali to address expected power shortages in the country. APR Energy's turnkey solution, comprising diesel power modules, will be installed and operated in Senegal. The power generated will feed into the OMVS interconnected grid that connects Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania. The deal represents APR Energy's first ever cross-border agreement, and the company's first sale of power to Mali.

Dominion is one of the first 48 companies to join the U.S. Department of Energy's workplace charging challenge, which is designed to help increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging for electric vehicles. Dominion installed two separately metered electric vehicle charging stations as a pilot program at its Tredegar campus in downtown Richmond. The stations have two lockable power outlets used by employees who pay a monthly fee that covers the cost of electricity and gradually reimburses the company for the installation.

DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar, marked the official inauguration of London Array, a 630-MW operational offshore wind power plant in Margate, Kent. Siemens was responsible for the supply of 175 wind turbines, the grid connections and will provide service under a long-term agreement with Dong Energy.

EnviraCarbon (ECI) commercialized a patented technology which molecularly alters renewable biomass feedstock into EnvirAnized Biofuel (EBF), a product that looks, transports, stores, pulverizes and burns like coal, but doesn’t pollute. EBF can be used interchangeably with coal or biomass and contains negligible amounts of sulfur and non-detectable levels of mercury, arsenic, and lead which are toxic elements in coal. EBF is also, by most standards, at or near carbon neutral.

Walmart and SolarCity completed solar projects at eight Walmart stores and two Sam's Clubs across the state of Maryland.

GE was awarded a contract with its consortium partner, Downer EDI Limited to supply, build and maintain 67 turbines at the $350 million Boco Rock wind farm in New South Wales, Australia. In addition to supplying and commissioning the wind turbine generators, GE will also provide $50 million worth of maintenance services over 10 years. The wind farm will be located outside of Nimmitabel, in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains region, and is permitted for potential future expansion to 121 turbines.

IKEA extended its partnership with ECOtality with plans to add 24 Blink electric vehicle charging stations across eight more locations in the United States. The newly designated sites include seven stores in Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as the U.S. corporate office. Installation will be completed by end of summer 2013 and will bring the total number of Blink charging stations at IKEA locations to 55.

ABB provided a 500kV turnkey gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substation to upgrade the existing PPL Electric Utilities’ Sunbury Substation located north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. ABB is providing all engineering, equipment and construction for the project, including the GIS switchgear, its associated foundation and enclosure and the GIS bus work that will be extending from the enclosure to the existing transformer and 500kV lines.