Smart Grid Observer


Renewables

Hitachi ABB Power Grids Launches Next-Generation Grid Stabilization Solution
August 23, 2021
The SVC Light Enhanced solution comprises an SVC Light STATCOM which provides vital reactive power to balance the impact of renewables. It also incorporates supercapacitors which store hundreds of megawatt-seconds of energy and automatically release it within milliseconds when disturbances occur, thus reducing reliance on conventional power plants. more

UK Government Launches Plan for a World-Leading Hydrogen Economy
August 19, 2021
The UK's first-ever Hydrogen Strategy drives forward the commitments laid out in the Prime Minister's ambitious 10 Point Plan for a green industrial revolution by setting the foundation for how the UK government will work with industry to meet its ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 - the equivalent of replacing natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year as well as powering transport and businesses, particularly heavy industry. more

NREL Methods Assist Maui in Approaching 100% Renewable Operations
August 3, 2021
Through 2024, Maui is scheduled to bring online more than 175 MW of new solar-storage hybrid power plants. This, in addition to the almost 200 MW of wind and solar presently on the grid, will be enough renewable power to supply Maui's roughly 70,000 customers without using conventional generation for many hours of the year. But managing such a high proportion of resources that are inherently uncertain is a first for any grid of Maui's size, so the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing and validating multi-timescale tools that will bring Maui and other systems closer to 100% clean and stable energy futures. more

Voters Across Six Key States Support Investments In Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Clean Energy, And Care Economy To Rebuild Economy
May 25, 2021
A survey of 1,607 registered voters, conducted by Hart Research from April 5-13, showed 90% percent of voters across six key states and across the political spectrum prioritize repairing and modernizing America's aging physical infrastructure and rebuilding and retooling American manufacturing to build more products and technology here in the United States, according to a new survey released this week by the BlueGreen Alliance.    view survey results

What We Know -- and Do Not Know -- About Achieving a National-Scale 100% Renewable Electric Grid
May 20, 2021
The authors from NREL say additional research is needed to evaluate the suite of technologies that can help ensure renewable supply matches demand patterns across all time periods and that we will need significant engineering and design to transition the grid from one that is dependent on synchronous machines to one that is based on inverters.    more

Corporate Sustainability Goals Are Here to Stay, But Delivering Tangible Results Remains a Challenge
May 12, 2021 | Black & Veatch
The new report finds that more than 80 percent of companies surveyed with revenues greater than $250 million have set greenhouse gas reduction goals, but 25 percent are unsure how they'll meet them. Also, corporate management and investors are the top stakeholders driving sustainability commitments, far outweighing other influencers such as customers or regulators.    more

Hawaiian Electric Develops Plan to Ramp Up Rooftop Solar, Other Customer Resources to Meet 100% Clean Energy Goals
May 11, 2021
"We simply do not have enough open land to sustainably balance renewable energy with other vital needs such as housing and local food supply. It's critical that all customers participate in this energy transformation in a fair and equitable way, even if they're unable to install rooftop solar," said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service and public affairs.    more

New Analysis of Patent Data Highlights Need to Accelerate Innovation in Clean Energy Technologies to Meet Climate Goals
May 10, 2021
"Around half the emissions reductions to get to net zero by 2050 may need to come from technologies that are not yet on the market," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "This calls for massive leaps in innovation, but up until now information on the progress being made has been limited. By combining the complementary strengths of the IEA and the EPO, this report gives us a stronger foundation for identifying and tracking strengths and weaknesses in low-carbon energy patenting, providing a much better picture of the state of the energy transition."    more

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Announce State's Largest Renewable Energy Project
May 3, 2021
We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, the largest utilities in WEC Energy Group, are proposing to purchase the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center, a planned 465-megawatt solar and battery storage project in south-central Wisconsin. If approved, the project would be the largest renewable energy project in the state.    more

Orbital Marine Power Successfully Launches the O2, the World's Most Powerful Tidal Turbine
April 27, 2021
Orbital Marine Power Ltd, Scottish-based developers of the world's leading floating tidal turbine technology, successfully launched its 2MW tidal turbine, the Orbital O2, from the Port of Dundee on 22nd April. O2 has the ability to generate enough clean, predictable electricity to meet the demand of around 2,000 UK homes and offset approximately 2,200 tons of CO2 production per year.    more

IRENA and China State Grid Agree to Advance Transition Through Power System Enhancements
April 13, 2021
Under the agreement, IRENA and SGCC will conduct joint activities and collaborative studies to enhance flexible operation of power grids, decarbonization of urban energy systems and facilitate grid development with a special focus on application of smart grid and sector-coupling strategies. The two organizations will also work closely at the regional and country level to build technical capacities related to the reliable integration of renewable power in developing countries.    more

World Adds Record New Renewable Energy Capacity in 2020
April 7, 2021 | IRENA
Global renewable energy capacity additions in 2020 beat earlier estimates and all previous records despite the economic slowdown that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data released this week by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) the world added more than 260 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity last year, exceeding expansion in 2019 by close to 50 per cent.    more

Counting on the Sun for Another 400+ Megawatts of Energy In Wisconsin
April 5, 2021
Alliant Energy recently announced plans to add another 414 megawatts of solar in Wisconsin. This rounds out the company's previously announced plan to accelerate its transition to clean energy by adding more than 1,000 MW of solar while helping customers avoid more than $2 billion in long-term costs. Upon completion of their more than 1,000 MW of solar, Alliant Energy will own and operate the most solar energy in the state of Wisconsin.    more

Atlas of 100% Renewable Energy
April 1, 2021 | Wärtsilä Energy
Wärtsilä has modelled 145 countries and regions to find the optimal way to produce electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. The interactive map illustrates how the power system of each of these regions would look like if they were to be optimally built from scratch, not considering the burden of existing power plants.    view map


Renewables in Cities 2021 Global Status Report, Second Edition, is Released
March 31, 2021 | REN21
The Renewables in Cities Global Status Report (REC) series provides an overview of the status, trends and developments of renewable energy in hundreds of cities, ranging from mega-cities to small and medium-sized cities and towns. With more than 330 data contributors and peer reviewers and over 30 individual interviews from around the world, the report is endorsed by an Advisory Committee of more than 20 organisations, including major renewable energy players and city networks.    view report

Groundbreaking NREL Analysis Points to No-Regrets Pathways to Meet LA's Ambitious Clean Energy Goals
March 25, 2021
Meeting Los Angeles' ambitious goal of reliable, 100% renewable electricity by 2045 or even 2035 is achievable with rapid deployment of wind, solar, storage, and other renewable energy technologies this decade, according to a years-long analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The combined effects of energy efficiency, electrification, and demand response yield large benefits to greenhouse gas reductions and public health and help cost-effectively manage the clean energy transition.    more

Time for Action for 100% Renewable Energy Globally
March 18, 2021 | International Geothermal Association
Renewable energy organizations representing different spheres of the renewable energy community gathered earlier this week on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident to emphasise that renewable energies are not only available in abundance but ready to deliver a renewable world.    more

California Releases Report Charting Path to 100 Percent Clean Electricity
March 15, 2021 | CEC, CPUC and CARB
To reach 100% carbon-free energy by 2045, California will need to sustain its expansion of clean electricity generation capacity at a record-breaking rate for the next 25 years. On average, the state may need to build up to 6 gigawatts of new renewable and storage resources annually. By comparison over the last decade, the state has built on average 1 GW of utility solar and 300 megawatts of wind per year. Over the next three years, electricity providers regulated by the CPUC will add another 8 GW of clean energy resources.    more

DOE Awards $46 Million for Geothermal Initiative Projects with Potential to Power Millions of U.S. Homes
February 25, 2021
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are different from conventional geothermal resources that occur naturally in the U.S. and are geographically limited due to the need for underground heat and fluids. EGS are manmade geothermal reservoirs and can be engineered in most parts of the country, potentially expanding geothermal energy production and transforming the domestic energy portfolio.    more

EDP Creates Units to Exploit Green Hydrogen and Energy Storage
February 22, 2021
The EDP Group has strengthened its commitment to decarbonization by launching two units that will exploit the potential of green hydrogen and energy storage systems. The H2 Business Unit (H2BU) will be the Group's new arm for the development of green hydrogen projects, while the dedicated storage unit, built in EDPR NA, will aim to achieve a storage capacity of 1 GW within five years.    more

Hawaiian Electric Hits Nearly 35% Renewable Energy, Exceeding State Mandate
February 16, 2021
The 34.5 percent is the consolidated RPS for O'ahu, Hawai'i Island and Maui County, up from 28.4 percent in 2019. Hawaiian Electric exceeded the state requirement to reach 30 percent by 2020 and has more than tripled the amount of renewable energy on its electric grids in 10 years, up from just under 10 percent in 2010.    more

RTE and IEA Publish Study on the Technical Conditions Necessary for a Power System With a High Share of Renewables
February 3, 2021
A new joint analysis commissioned by the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the IEA (International Energy Agency) and RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Electricité) describes four essential areas that policy makers must address when wind and solar PV start to dominate electricity generation: power system strength, system adequacy, operational reserves, and grid development.    more

Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy to Unlock A New Era of Offshore Green Hydrogen Production
January 19, 2021
Siemens Gamesa will adapt its development of the world's most powerful turbine, the SG14-222 DD offshore wind turbine to integrate an electrolysis system seamlessly into the turbine's operations. Siemens Energy intends to develop a new electrolysis product to not only meet the needs of the harsh maritime offshore environment and be in sync with the wind turbine, but also to create a new competitive benchmark for green hydrogen.    more

Equinor Selected for Largest-ever U.S. Offshore Wind Award
January 14, 2021
Under the award, Equinor and incoming strategic partner bp will provide 1,260 megawatts of offshore wind power from Empire Wind 2, and another 1,230 MW of power from Beacon Wind 1 - adding to the existing commitment to provide New York with 816 MW of renewable power from Empire Wind 1 - totaling 3.3 gigawatts of power to the State.    more

Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Breaks Ground on One of the Largest PV + Battery Storage Projects in the U.S.
January 14, 2021
The Slate project is a 300 MWac solar plus 140.25 MW / 561 MWh storage project located in Kings County, California, and has commenced construction. Canadian Solar's majority-owned energy storage subsidiary, System Solutions and Energy Storage (SSES), will provide the battery storage integration solution for the project.    more

Southern Company Becomes the First Large Cap Utility in the U.S. to Publish a Sustainable Financing Framework
January 12, 2021
The Framework, published on January 4, 2021, allows the Southern Company and its subsidiaries to issue sustainable financing instruments and allocate the net proceeds to investments in eligible green and social project categories. Southern Company was one of the first U.S. utilities to set industry-leading goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its system and has set a goal of net zero emissions by 2050.    more

State Agencies Adopt Rules to Implement Washington's 100% Clean Electricity Law
January 7, 2021
Electric utilities in Washington must eliminate coal-fired electricity by the end of 2025, transition to a carbon-neutral supply of electricity by 2030, and source 100% of their electricity from renewable or non-carbon-emitting sources by 2045. The rules apply to the investor-owned utilities operating in Washington - Puget Sound Energy, Avista and Pacific Power. The Commerce rules apply to 64 electric utilities in Washington, including municipal utilities, public utility districts and rural electric cooperatives.    more

Making Green Hydrogen a Cost-Competitive Climate Solution
January 4, 2021
Hydrogen produced with renewable electricity could compete on costs with fossil fuel alternatives by 2030, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) published today. A combination of falling costs for solar and wind power, improved performance as well as economies of scale for electrolysers could make it possible.    more

American Clean Power Association Statement on Renewable Energy Provisions of COVID-19 Omnibus Legislation
December 23, 2020
"This bipartisan agreement is a major win for American energy consumers, providing more opportunities for them to receive reliable, zero-carbon, and pollution-free electricity in their local communities," said Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association (ACP).    more


Global Electricity Demand to Rebound Modestly in 2021 After Historic Shock From Pandemic
December 15, 2020 | International Energy Agency
The historic shock of the Covid-19 crisis is set to result in a 2% decline in global electricity demand in 2020, according to the IEA's first ever Electricity Market Report, which was published this week. With the recovery of the world economy in 2021, electricity demand is forecast to grow by around 3%.    more



Hydropower's Role in Delivering a Renewable and Flexible Power System
December 1, 2020 | XFLEX HYDRO
In total, 19 organizations are collaborating on the XFLEX HYDRO initiative which aims to show how more flexible hydropower facilities can help countries to meet their renewable energy targets. The 18m four-year project was launched in December 2019 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid. Focused on seven demonstration sites across Portugal, France and Switzerland, it will conclude in 2023 with a series of policy and market recommendations.    more

NY Green Bank Announces Financial Commitments of $165.9 Million in Record Setting Second and Third Quarters in 2020
November 17, 2020
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NY Green Bank has remained committed to its mission, executing 16 clean energy and sustainable infrastructure transactions representing $165.9 million in new investments in the second and third quarters, bringing its total commitments to $1.1 billion.    more


Aligning Stimulus with Energy Transformation
November 12, 2020 | Wärtsilä
In the United States, if the current stimulus pledged to support legacy fossil fuel sectors ($72 billion USD) was allocated to advance modern, flexible, high-renewable power systems, over 100 GW of new renewable energy capacity could be achieved. This would result in over 500,000 new jobs in renewable energy, 175% more new jobs than if stimulus was focused on legacy, inflexible energy systems, according to the report by Wärtsilä.    view report

Tripling Renewables Investment to Reach Climate Goal
November 10, 2020 | International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI)
Renewable energy investment slightly declined in 2018, with modest growth through 2019. Although this was largely due to the decreasing costs of renewables, the total installed capacity continued to grow. The current level of investment is still insufficient however to keep the rise in global temperatures within the 1.5°C objective by mid-century. To achieve this climate goal, investment in diverse renewables technologies must almost triple annually to USD 800 billion by 2050.    more

FirstEnergy Pledges to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050
November 10, 2020
In 2015, FirstEnergy announced plans to achieve a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2005 levels by 2045. To date, the company has reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 80% by implementing new technologies and retiring or transferring generation assets. The new goals represent a significant expansion of this target and reflect FirstEnergy's transformation to a fully regulated utility.    more

AEP to Focus Investments on Energy Grid and Renewables
November 9, 2020
"We plan to invest 14% of our capital through 2025 in renewable energy within and outside our traditional service territory, and we project renewables will represent approximately 40% of our fuel mix by 2030," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As part of our ongoing efforts to diversify our energy portfolio, AEP received approval this year to move forward with the North Central wind facilities, which will bring 1,485 megawatts of clean energy to Southwestern Electric Power Company and Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma."    more

Next Kraftwerke and Toshiba Establish Joint Venture for Virtual Power Plant Services
November 4, 2020
The new company aims at enabling others to provide balancing services for the owners of renewable energy assets and aggregators by using VPP technology. This approach helps third parties to mitigate imbalance risks, optimizes trading, and enhances customer profits in the electricity spot market and control reserve market.    more

Arizona Corporation Commission Puts State on Clean Energy Path
November 2, 2020
Once final, the bipartisan package will require utilities to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2050 and meet benchmarks along the way, including a 50 percent renewable energy standard by 2035. These benchmarks ensure utilities cannot shelve their clean energy plans for decades before putting them into action.    more

The Rockefeller Foundation Commits $1 Billion to Catalyze a Green Recovery from Pandemic
October 26, 2020
"There's no going back to the past, to before-Covid. We need to reimagine the future we want," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. "To meet this moment, we must leverage all our resources and relationships to build an equitable, sustainable future, where everyone has the opportunity to realize their full potential and climate disaster is avoided.    more

EPRI Joins International Consortium to Overcome Barriers to Renewable Energy Integration
October 26, 2020
As a core G-PST technical team member, EPRI will work closely with several leading energy research organizations, a U.S. Department of Energy national lab, and more than 25 power system operators from around the world to to help remove technical hurdles to renewable energy integration.    more


NREL Unveils Open-Source Distributed Generation Market Demand Model
October 22, 2020
dGen simulates customer decisions about adopting and using solar, wind, and storage technologies for residential and commercial entities in the United States through 2050. This simulation helps utility companies and other stakeholders plan for increasing adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) to understand how much electricity will be needed from the rest of the power system.    more

Duke Energy Unveils Sweeping Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan
October 13, 2020
The company plans to double its enterprise-wide renewable portfolio from 8 gigawatts to 16 gigawatts by 2025, at least triple renewable capacity for its regulated utilities by 2030, and bring its regulated renewable capacity total to 40 gigawatts by 2050. It also plans to add more than 11,000 megawatts of energy storage across the company's system by 2050 and continue to invest and advocate for emerging technologies.    more

Renewable Energy Jobs Continue Growth to 11.5 Million Worldwide
September 30, 2020 | IRENA
Last year, sixty-three per cent of all renewables jobs were recorded in Asia, confirming the region's status as a market leader, the new report reveals. Biofuels jobs followed closely behind solar PV, reaching 2.5 million. Many of these jobs are in the agricultural supply chain, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with labor-intensive operations.    more

B20 and IEA Call on the G20 to Accelerate Clean Energy Transitions for a Resilient Economic Recovery
September 21, 2020
According to the IEA, global CO2 emissions are expected to be about 8% lower in 2020 than they were in 2019. However, the pandemic also threatens the pace and scope of energy transitions with a 20% decline in global energy investments in 2020. Between now and 2050, about 3.5 trillion US dollars (USD) of annual energy investments are required globally across all energy sectors to meet the targets for a sustainable path, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.    more

Hawaiian Electric Submits Grid-Scale Renewable Energy and Storage Projects to PUC
September 17, 2020
The O'ahu projects are expected to provide generation and storage needed to retire the state's only coal plant, the 180-megawatt plant at Campbell Industrial Park owned by AES, by September 2022. On Maui, the successful completion of renewable energy projects will help enable the retirement of the 38 MW oil-fired Kahului plant in 2024.    more

bp Energy Outlook 2020: New Report Looks at Possible Developments in Global Energy To 2050
September 15, 2020
The 2020 edition of the bp Energy Outlook explores possible paths for the global energy transition, how global energy markets may evolve over the next thirty years and the key uncertainties that may shape them. Looking out to 2050 - a decade further than in previous editions - the Outlook is focused around three main scenarios.    more

CPUC Acts to Ensure Electricity Reliability Through Supply and New Technologies
August 28, 2020
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this week approved various measures to ensure electric reliability for California, including new procurement of clean energy generation and storage, and a 10 year renewal of investments in research and development of new technologies. "Rolling outages recently left hundreds of thousands without power. My fellow Commissioners and I take very seriously the threat to people's well-being that comes with the loss of power, even for a short period, and particularly during this pandemic and the record heat wave," said CPUC President Marybel Batjer.    more

Path to 100 Coalition Supports Governor Pritzker's Principles for a Clean & Renewable Economy
August 24, 2020
The Path to 100 Coalition of Illinois renewable energy businesses and trade groups announced its support for "Putting Consumers and Climate First," a set of eight principles released by Governor JB Pritzker to guide energy reform in Illinois. The document outlines an approach to expanding renewable energy in Illinois that aligns closely with the goals of the Path to 100 Act, proposed state legislation that has been championed by the coalition.    more

Siemens Energy Launches Its First Megawatt Green Hydrogen Production Project in China
August 21, 2020
In September 2019, Siemens signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in green hydrogen development and comprehensive utilization with State Power Investment Corporation Limited (SPIC), which is the ultimate controlling shareholder of China Power. The hydrogen production project is the result of a close partnership between the two companies.    more

The First Floating Wind Farm In Continental Europe Is Now Fully Operational
August 17, 2020
The project's success is rooted in its technology. Its mooring technology, for example, allows for installation in waters over 100 m deep, and its design offers stability in adverse weather and sea conditions. Another key advantage was the assembly technology used: dry-dock assembly provided significant logistical and financial savings, and the platforms were towed using standard tug boats.    more


Transition Faster Together: Power grids solutions, strategies and policies for a clean energy future
August 20, 2020 | DNV GL
As our reliance on renewable energy increases, modernizing our power systems is required to ensure reliable and cost-efficient operations. Insufficient interoperability between systems and technologies, lack of collaboration between industry stakeholders and the mindset required are just some of the challenges that must be overcome. Industry leaders including Iberdrola, TenneT, and Sharyland Utilities contributed their insights and expertise to the report, defining how they plan to further reduce CO2 emissions in the future.    more

Masdar and EDF Renewables Agree to Partner in Eight Renewable Energy Projects in United States
August 14, 2020
Under the terms of the agreement, Masdar has acquired a 50 percent interest in three utility-scale wind farms in Nebraska and Texas totaling 815 megawatts (MW), and five photovoltaic (PV) solar projects in California - two of which include battery energy storage systems - totaling 689 MW of solar and 75 MW of lithium-ion battery energy storage.    more

Exelon Joins EPRI and GTI in Initiative Accelerating Low-Carbon Energy Technologies
August 11, 2020
Exelon Corporation this week announced its sponsorship of an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Gas Technology Institute (GTI) five-year initiative to accelerate the development and demonstration of low-carbon energy technologies. The aim is to identify and accelerate fundamental development of promising technologies, demonstrate and assess the performance of key technologies and processes, and inform key stakeholders and the public about technology options and pathways to a potential low-carbon future.    more

New York Announces Largest Combined Solicitations for Renewable Energy Ever Issued in the U.S. to Combat Climate Change
August 5, 2020
New York's second offshore wind solicitation seeks up to 2,500 megawatts of projects, the largest in the nation's history, in addition to last year's solicitation which resulted in nearly 1,700 megawatts awarded. This solicitation has the potential to bring New York State halfway toward its goal of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035.    more

Energyworx Announces Investment from ENGIE
July 21, 2020
Engie reports that the collaboration with Energyworx enables even greater value and capabilities from ENGIE's suite of digital platforms for its customers. With intelligent consumption pattern analytics enabled by Energyworx, ENGIE delivers smarter supply, bid, and pricing decisions, resulting in lower energy prices and maximized use of renewable energy for ENGIE's customers.    more

TEP Plans Clean Energy Expansion, Carbon Reduction
June 29, 2020
TEP's 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), filed last week with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), outlines the company's energy portfolio over the next 15 years. It calls for a dramatic expansion of wind and solar power resources, supported by efficient natural gas fired generators and energy storage systems. It also proposes retirement of TEP's remaining coal-fired power plants over the next 12 years.    more

Macro Grid Initiative Launches to Expand and Upgrade America's Transmission Network
June 23, 2020
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) recently launched the Macro Grid Initiative to build support for expanding and upgrading the nation's transmission network. A 21st century Macro Grid will deliver jobs and economic development, a cleaner environment, and lower costs for consumers, according to the two organizations.    more

Zero-Carbon Electrification and a Sustainable Future for China
June 18, 2020 | Rocky Mountain Institute and Energy Transition Commission
In China's government work program announced in May 2020, the need to invest in new infrastructure, to support new forms of higher quality urban development, and to accelerate the shift to new energy vehicles have been identified as priorities. This report argues that zero-carbon electrification should also be a priority, alongside those three priorities already identified.    more

Power Trends 2020: The Vision for a Greener Grid
June 11, 2020 | New York Independent System Operator
This year's report focuses on how the grid is being shaped by the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and other policies. The report also highlights opportunities for the NYISO markets, operations, and planning processes to support and achieve the renewable and carbon reduction mandates set forth by the CLCPA.    more

IRENA Report: Renewables Increasingly Beat Even Cheapest Coal Competitors on Cost
June 2, 2020
Replacing the costliest 500 GW of coal with solar PV and onshore wind next year would cut power system costs by up to USD 23 billion every year and reduce annual emissions by around 1.8 gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide (CO2), equivalent to 5% of total global CO2 emissions in 2019. It would also yield an investment stimulus of USD 940 billion, which is equal to around 1% of global GDP.    more

Impacts of COVID-19 on ESG and Clean Technologies
June 2, 2020 | Michael J. Zimmer, Washington Counsel, Microgrid Institute
COVID-19 recovery will face cheap, lower cost energy as a strategy to return the US economy to greatness. Increasing reliance on investment risks, sustainability and ESG principles will ensure that reinvestment is wiser, grounded in durability and resilience. This is essential to ensure that US investment, infrastructure and recovery strategies don't become tomorrow's stranded assets in the face of new economic risks, climate change, pandemics and technological transformation.    more

America Has Lost 594,300 Clean Energy Jobs; 850,000 Expected by June 30
May 18, 2020
Nearly 600,000 U.S. clean energy workers have lost their jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic after 447,208 new workers filed unemployment claims in April- tripling the claims filed in March. That's according to a new analysis of unemployment data released last week by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), E4TheFuture, and BW Research Partnership.    more

HSEO Launches Web Page to Share Information on New Round of Renewable Projects
May 18, 2020
The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) launched a web page today to provide information, as it becomes publicly available, on the 13 solar-plus-storage and three standalone storage projects announced by the Hawaiian Electric Companies as part of the largest renewable energy procurement ever undertaken in Hawaii.    more


WHO Report: COVID-19 Will Compromise the Transition to Clean Energy Without Urgent Stakeholder Action
May 13, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic risks cancelling out recent progress in transitioning to clean energy, with unprecedented falls in demand, price volatility and pressure to quickly mitigate socioeconomic costs placing the near-term trajectory of the transition in doubt. Policies, roadmaps and governance frameworks for energy transition at national, regional, and global levels need to be more robust and resilient against external shocks, according to the latest edition of World Economic Forum's Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2020 report published today.    more

Hawaiian Electric Selects 16 Projects in Largest Quest for Renewable Energy, Energy Storage for Three Islands
May 12, 2020
The projects, selected after a competitive evaluation that was part of the largest renewable energy procurement ever undertaken in Hawaii, could produce 460 megawatts of solar energy and nearly 3 gigawatt-hours of energy storage on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. That would increase the total solar megawatts on the Hawaiian Electric system by more than 50 percent.    more

IEA: Global Energy Demand to Plunge This Year as a Result of the Biggest Shock Since the Second World War
May 7, 2020
Renewables are set to be the only energy source that will grow in 2020, with their share of global electricity generation projected to jump thanks to their priority access to grids and low operating costs. Despite supply chain disruptions that have paused or delayed deployment in several key regions this year, solar PV and wind are on track to help lift renewable electricity generation by 5% in 2020, aided by higher output from hydropower.    more

U.S. Sees Busiest Quarter Yet For State and Utility Grid Modernization Activity
May 1, 2020 | NC Clean Energy Technology Center
"Energy storage has been the focus of the majority of the grid modernization bills we've seen introduced so far in 2020," said Autumn Proudlove, lead author of the report and Senior Manager of Policy Research at NCCETC. "Some of the greatest areas of interest we're seeing are storage incentive programs, deployment targets, and studies."    more

Dominion Energy Virginia Quadruples Renewable Energy and Energy Storage in Long-Term Integrated Resource Plan
May 4, 2020
Dominion Energy Virginia has issued a request for proposals soliciting bids for up to 1,000 megawatts of solar and onshore wind generation and up to 250 MW of energy storage in the Commonwealth. This is the largest solicitation in the Company's history for renewable energy in a calendar year and will promote its efforts toward a clean energy future.    more

Transforming the Energy System Could Boost Global GDP Gains by $98 Trillion Between Now and 2050
April 20, 2020
Advancing the renewables-based energy transformation is an opportunity to meet international climate goals while boosting economic growth, creating millions of jobs and improving human welfare by 2050, finds the first Global Renewables Outlook released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today.    more

Wind Emerges as America's Top Choice for New Power
April 20, 2020 | American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Wind power emerged from 2019 as America's top choice for new power after building 9.1 gigawatts (GW), representing 39 percent of new utility-scale power additions. With these additions, operating wind power capacity in the U.S. now stands at over 105 GW, enough to power 32 million American homes.    more


Clean Energy Sector Disappointed in FERC's MOPR Decision
April 17, 2020
"This decision intrudes on states' authority to determine the fuel mix within their own borders, undermining policies aimed at moving toward a cleaner, more cost-effective, and more reliable electric system for their residents," says Amy Farrell, Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs at the American Wind Energy Association.    more

Virginia Governor Signs Historic Clean Energy Legislation
April 14, 2020
The Virginia Clean Economy Act requires Dominion Energy Virginia to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2045 and Appalachian Power to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2050. It requires nearly all coal-fired plants to close by the end of 2024. The new law requires Virginia's largest energy companies to construct or acquire more than 3,100 megawatts of energy storage capacity.    more

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $38 Million to Support Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology Development
April 10, 2020
Tidal and riverine energy resources are renewable, have the advantage of being highly reliable and predictable, and are often co-located with demand centers, while HKT devices can be designed with low visual profiles and minimal environmental impact. These energy-producing devices are also uniquely suited for micro-grid applications, supplying energy to remote communities and other "blue economy" and utility-scale applications.    more

COVID-19: Choosing the Green Path From Shock to Recovery
April 9, 2020 | European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Despite calls from some countries in eastern Europe to ignore climate concerns and pour stimulus money into existing high-carbon businesses, the EBRD report urges governments not to be seduced into supporting fossil fuels. Failing to set the world on a greener path this time would be a lost opportunity, says the report, urging governments to work together to address the climate emergency more effectively.    download report

Staying on Course: Renewable Energy in the Time of COVID-19
April 7, 2020
"Stimulus and recovery measures in response to the pandemic must foster economic development and job creation, promote social equity and welfare, and put the world on a climate-safe path. By making the energy transition an integral part of the wider recovery, governments can achieve a step change in the pursuit of a healthy, inclusive, prosperous, just and resilient future," says Francesco La Camera, IRENA Director-General.    more

New York State Announces Passage of Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act as Part of 2020-2021 Enacted State Budget
April 2, 2020
The State's existing energy generation siting process was designed for siting fossil-fuel electric generating plants and was established prior to the adoption of New York's clean energy and environmental mandates under its new climate law. The new siting process will establish uniform environmental standards and conditions that will support expedited project development.    more

NYSERDA Announces Winners of Clean Energy Challenge to Modernize New York's Electric Grid
March 27, 2020
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced awards to five winning teams under the first two rounds of the Future Grid Challenge aimed at developing solutions to integrate clean and renewable energy into the electric grid. The project teams will help New York's utilities such as Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Consolidated Edison, National Grid, and Orange & Rockland improve efficiency and reliability to advance renewable energy integration.    more

Clean Energy Sector Emphasizes Its Role in Repowering America in Light of COVID-19 Crisis
March 26, 2020
"If federal and state lawmakers want to get America back to work, one of the most proven ways is with policies that expand America's fastest-growing job sector - clean energy - and support the nearly 3.4 million workers employed in every state and county across the country," says Bob Keefe, executive director of the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs).    more

AEE's Kreamer Calls on Congress to Switch Clean Energy Tax Credits to Direct Pay
March 24, 2020
"When the economy suddenly grinds to a halt, as with the COVID-19 pandemic now, the banks that dominate the market for tax credits forecast little tax liability to be offset - and the tax credits become worthless," said Kreamer, who also served as CEO of Spruce Finance and its predecessor Clean Power Finance. "Consequently, projects on the drawing board for solar, wind, fuel cells, and energy storage get put on hold, or cancelled altogether. Jobs are lost, companies implode, and consumers as well as businesses pay more for energy."    more

Clean Energy Sector Calls on Congress for Help Surmounting the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic
March 20, 2020
In a letter delivered on March 19 to U.S. House and Senate leadership, the clean energy sector is calling for the prompt repair and extension of critically important tax incentives to help renewable and clean grid industries surmount the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.    more

New York Governor Announces Details for 21 Large-scale Renewable Energy Projects
March 17, 2020
Details were recently unveiled of the awards for 21 large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects across upstate New York, totaling 1,278 megawatts of new renewable capacity. The projects are part of the Green New Deal goal to obtain 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and a 100 percent carbon-free electricity sector by 2040.    more

US Offshore Wind Poised for Exponential Growth
March 12, 2020
Market projections anticipate 20,000 to 30,000 MW of offshore wind capacity will be operational by 2030, representing up to $57 billion of investment in the U.S. economy. AWEA's report estimates that developing this amount of offshore wind will support up to 45,000 jobs by 2025 and 83,000 jobs by 2030, depending on the level of offshore wind build and supply chain growth within the U.S.    more

FPL Receives Approval to Launch the Largest Community Solar Program in the U.S.
March 4, 2020
Florida Power & Light Company recently received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to launch the largest community solar program in the United States. FPL SolarTogether will more than double the amount of community solar currently available in the U.S. and allow FPL customers to cost-effectively support the growth of solar in Florida.    more

Latest NREL Grid Data Book Reveals Key Trends in Renewable Integration.htm
March 4, 2020
Produced by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis Center and LBNL's Electricity Markets and Policy Group, the Renewable Energy Grid Integration Data Book is intended to provide an overview of selected grid integration metrics that reflect recent changes to the operation and composition of the power system as variable renewable energy sources increase their shares of electricity supply.    more

U.S. Senate Introduces American Energy Innovation Act
February 28, 2020
"This bill is our best chance to modernize our nation's energy policies in more than 12 years," U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska said. "By working together to pass it into law, we can promote a range of emerging technologies that will help keep energy affordable even as it becomes cleaner and cleaner." The legislation focuses on energy efficiency; renewable energy; energy storage; carbon capture, utilization, and storage; advanced nuclear; industrial and vehicle technologies; the Department of Energy; mineral security, cyber and grid security and modernization; and workforce development.    more

New Jersey Master Plan Opens New Doors for Distributed Energy
February 28, 2020
Finalized by Governor Phil Murphy on January 27, the "New Jersey Energy Master Plan Policy: Vision to 2050" lays out a path for the state to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050, and 80% emissions reductions from 2006 levels by 2050. To get there, it counts on both public and privately held energy assets as well as residential and large energy consumers adopting energy reducing or emission-reducing strategies.    view report

New York Governor Announces 30-Day Amendment To Accelerate Renewable Energy Projects
February 24, 2020
The state's existing energy generation siting process was designed for permitting fossil-fuel electric generating plants and created prior to the current nation-leading clean energy and environmental goals under the CLCPA. This new robust siting process will create modernized standards for developing renewable energy projects at an expedited pace to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.    more

Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas and Renewable Energy Drove Decade of U.S. Energy Transformation
February 17, 2020 | Business Council for Sustainable Energy and BloombergNEF
The U.S. overhauled how it produces, delivers, and consumes energy over a momentous decade of change, according the new report. In the process, the U.S. posted 10 straight years of economic growth, while cutting both power-sector CO2 emissions and consumer energy costs to their lowest levels in a generation. The report includes over 130 slides to help users understand how the change has impacted most segments of the energy sector.    view report

California ISO Records Banner Year for Renewables Integration
February 5, 2020
The electric grid managed by the California Independent System Operator (ISO) delivered record-breaking amounts of solar and wind energy in 2019, according to the company's 2019 Statistics fact sheet posted this week (2/3). The data showed the highest amount of wind and solar resources, 223,195 MWh, were curtailed in May 2019 -- an important historic peak to track as the ISO contends with potential capacity shortfalls and intensified evening ramps due to rising renewable resource integration.    more

Western EIM Benefits Top $861 Million Since Launching Five Years Ago
February 3, 2020
The Western EIM, which will represent over 77 percent of the load in the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) by 2022, uses advanced technology to find and deliver the lowest-cost energy to consumers throughout the west. The EIM has steadily grown to nine active participants, with two more anticipated to join this year, and nine entities on record to join through 2022.    more

IREC Releases 2019 National Shared Renewables Scorecard for States
January 29, 2020 | IREC
"IREC's Scorecard is a one-of-a-kind barometer of program performance, gauging not only the strengths and weaknesses of different programs, but indicating how attractive a program will be to customers," says IREC VP-Regulatory Sara Baldwin. "The aim of the Scorecard is to help policymakers and regulators understand how to design and lead effective programs that support meaningful and sustainable market growth."    view IREC story

Itron to Improve Grid Awareness and Renewable Energy Integration in Los Angeles
January 23, 2020
Harnessing the power of intelligent connectivity at the edge, LADWP will deploy Itron's Industrial IoT network and Distribution Automation (DA) solution with the goal of modernizing its grid. The largest municipal water and power utility in the nation, LADWP provides electricity to 1.5 million residential and business customers.    more

10 Years: Progress to Action on Renewables
January 13, 2020 | IRENA
A new booklet 10 Years: Progress to Action, published for the 10th annual Assembly of IRENA, charts recent global advances and outlines the measures still needed to scale up renewables. The Agency's data shows that annual renewable energy investment needs to double from around USD 330 billion today, to close to USD 750 billion to deploy renewable energy at the speed required.    more

Solar Installations to Grow by Additional 142 GW in 2020 - Seven Times the World's Total Solar Installations a Decade Ago
January 9, 2020 | IHS Markit

COP 25; Renewable Energy Ambition in NDCs Must Double by 2030
December 9, 2019
Renewable energy ambition would have to more than double by 2030 to put the world in line with the Paris Agreement goals, cost-effectively reaching 7.7 terawatts (TW) of globally installed capacity by then, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Today's renewable energy pledges under the NDCs are falling short of this, targeting only 3.2 TW.    more

EON Digitizes Grid Interconnection Information
December 9, 2019
Around 800,000 distributed systems producing green energy are already connected to E.ON's grids in Germany - and that figure is rising. In order to considerably speed up the connection process for these systems, experts from E.ON grid operator E.DIS teamed up with the start-up envelio, a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University, to develop a digital grid connection monitor.    more

New Poll - Nearly All Americans Want Congress to Extend Clean Energy Tax Incentives
December 4, 2019
Leading public opinion research firm Global Strategy Group (GSG) surveyed voters across the country, including in key battleground states and districts, and found that 89% of voters support extending clean energy tax incentives for solar, wind and energy storage. Voters overwhelmingly believe that these tax credits are not only an effective tool to combat climate change, but also benefit the economy and public health.    more

National Grid Electricity Transmission Signs Deal with Smart Wires for Power Flow control Technology to Enable Greater Volumes of Renewable Power
November 28, 2019
A total of five projects will be installed in 2020. These projects will contain a total of 375 MVAr of power flow control capability. The projects are anticipated to increase boundary capabilities by 1.5 gigawatts in total across three boundaries. This facilitates increased power transfers of 500 megawatts from Scotland to England, enough power to supply more than 250,000 homes.    more

AEE Applauds Executive Order to Strengthen Nevada's Clean Energy Leadership
November 26, 2019
The executive order directs state agencies to develop a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the highest emitting sectors. It also seeks to better align existing agency efforts under the state's clean energy and climate commitments, including newly increased renewable energy requirements and efforts to bolster in-state energy production and advanced energy deployment.    more

Vattenfall and Microsoft Pilot World's First Hourly Matching (24/7) of Renewable Energy
November 21, 2019
Vattenfall and Microsoft have jointly developed a solution that provides customers with a new level of transparency into their electricity consumption, making it possible to go from year-based data to hourly based data on source of origin. The solution, 24/7 Matching, is being piloted at Vattenfall and Microsoft Headquarters in Sweden.    more

More Than 75 Renewable Projects Competing For Role in Hawaiian Islands' Clean Energy Transition
November 8, 2019
Approximately 900 megawatts of new renewables or renewables paired with storage – generating about 2 million megawatt-hours annually, as well as 210 MW of grid services – were sought in the request for proposals issued by the companies in August. All technologies were eligible. It is the largest single renewable energy procurement effort in Hawaii and among the largest by a U.S. utility.    more

CPUC Report Shows Utilities Remain on Track With Renewable Energy Goals in Fight Against Climate Change
November 4, 2019
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently (11/3) issued its annual Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) report showing that the program, which is one of the most ambitious in the country, remains on track and is helping to drive down renewable contract prices and increasing in-state procurement.    more


US Wind Power Reaches Milestone 100 Gigawatts, 46 Gigawatts More On The Way
November 1, 2019
There are now more than 100 gigawatts of wind farms operating across the U.S., enough to power 32 million American homes, marking a major milestone in the transition to a cleaner electricity supply. The 100 GW milestone was first reported in the recent release of the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) U.S. Wind Industry Third Quarter 2019 Market Report.    more

More Than 70 Associations Back Renewable Energy Extension Act
October 30, 2019
"It's not every day that you see higher ed advocates and farm families agree on energy policy," said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "Extending the Investment Tax Credit is common sense and this effort shows us just how many people, communities, and interests it touches. Whether you want to reduce emissions, stimulate economic investment, or create jobs, we're showing Congress that the ITC is a proven policy that can do all of those things."    more

ENGIE Introduces Renewable Energy Solution for Small and Mid-Size Businesses
October 25, 2019
"portfolioRE is the coming together of the best that retail energy marketing offers, growth in renewable energy development, and ENGIE's commitment to lead the zero-carbon transition," said Graham Leith, Senior Vice President. "Non-utility customers account for two-thirds of end-use of electricity, representing about 4,200 MW of power purchase agreements in the US, an increase of 66% since 2015 with the same or higher growth levels expected to 2030 and beyond."    more

Commonwealth of Virginia, Dominion Energy Partner on Historic Renewable Energy Agreement
October 21, 2019
The clean energy package consists of a 75-megawatt wind project and four proposed solar projects totaling 345 megawatts slated to come online in stages over the next three years, pending local approvals. The agreement represents the largest procurement of renewable energy by a state to meet its own renewable energy needs, a significant step in accepting Governor Ralph Northam's challenge to power state government with clean energy sources.    more

€46.8m 'Game-Changing' Tidal Energy Project Approved for Channel Regions
October 21, 2019
The Channel region has an abundance of tidal energy resource with c.4GW of economically exploitable resource. Over the three years of its project timeline, the Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project(known as TIGER) aims to drive the growth of the tidal energy industry by installing up to 8MW of new tidal capacity at sites in and around the Channel region.    more

50-State Scorecard Reveals States Are Ramping Up Clean Energy
October 2, 2019
A rising number of states are showing US leadership on clean energy by adopting ambitious goals and energy-saving rules for buildings, appliances, and vehicles, according to the 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released this week by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. This 13th annual report identifies the leaders - Massachusetts and California; the most-improved states, notably Maryland; the states that lost ground such as Kentucky; and those lagging behind, including North Dakota and Wyoming.    more

Department of Energy Announces $31 Million in Funding To Advance H2@Scale
March 5, 2019
The focus of H2@Scale is to enable affordable and reliable large-scale hydrogen generation, transport, storage, and utilization in the United States across multiple sectors.    more

NV Energy Offers Eligible Commercial Customers Low-Cost Renewable Energy Rate Option
March 5, 2019
Last week NV Energy filed additional information with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) about the Nevada GreenEnergy Rider (NGR 2.0) that makes available more than a million megawatt hours of renewable energy resources for large commercial customers such as casinos and government entities. This offering will reduce the cost most eligible commercial customers pay for electric service.    more

Joi Scientific and New Brunswick Power to Develop World's First Hydrogen-Powered Distributed Electricity Grid
February 27, 2019
The collaboration envisages the deployment of Joi Scientific's proprietary Hydrogen 2.0 production system at multiple distributed stations alongside wind turbines, hydro, and nuclear power to create a net-zero carbon-generating power operation while maintaining low and stable rates in a jurisdiction that does not benefit from large storage hydro capacity.    more

Consumers Energy Sets Goals for Smart Energy District in Jackson, Including 40 Percent On-Site Renewable Energy
February 21, 2019
Consumers Energy's Jackson Smart Energy District - a four-square-block area near the Consumers Energy headquarters - aims to achieve 2040 Clean Energy goals 15 to 20 years early. These include producing 40 percent of the District's energy needs from on-site renewable sources.    more

Innovation Paves Way for Next Stage of Global Energy Transformation
February 20, 2019
Innovative solutions accelerate low-cost renewables in the power sector, providing countries with tools to benefit from renewables scale-up, finds a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).    more

BP Issues Its Energy Outlook 2019 Report
February 18, 2019
The 2019 edition of BP's Energy Outlook, published today, explores the key uncertainties that could impact the shape of global energy markets out to 2040. The greatest uncertainties over this period involve the need for more energy to support continued global economic growth and rising prosperity, together with the need for a more rapid transition to a lower-carbon future. These scenarios highlight the dual challenge that the world is facing.    more

Representative Will Davis Announces the "Path to 100 Act," Moving Illinois to 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity
February 18, 2019
Illinois Representative Will Davis (D-Hazel Crest) recently announced the Path to 100 Act, new legislation that expands Illinois' renewable energy standards in order to drive new wind, solar and storage development and bring the state to 100% clean energy. Davis worked with an alliance of clean energy businesses to develop legislation that improves and expands on Illinois' existing clean energy policies in order to drive more clean energy, new jobs and economic development.    more

Solar and Battery Storage to Participate in New England's Wholesale Capacity Market
February 11, 2019
In a historic breakthrough for clean, distributed energy, Sunrun Inc. this week won a bid to deliver home solar and batteries as a source of energy capacity to ISO New England, the grid operator for one of the largest electricity markets in the United States.    more