Grid Security & Reliability
-
Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group.
DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand
Rising electricity demand will require a “portfolio approach” of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.
By Robert Walton • April 18, 2024 -
Lee Pellegrini, Boston College
China, Russia ramping up cyber activities against energy, water and other critical sectors: FBI director
“We’re seeing hostile nation states become more aggressive in their efforts to...target our critical infrastructure, export their aggression to our shores and front and center is China,” Christopher Wray said Tuesday.
By David Jones • April 12, 2024 -
Trendline
Grid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
Aranga87 via Getty Images
OpinionThe Future of AI will require an energy breakthrough. The answer is a fusion moonshot.
Skeptics contend that fusion has long promised much but failed to deliver. Historically, that has been true. But there is reason to believe this moment is different.
By Ylli Bajraktari • April 12, 2024 -
Oliver de la Haye via Getty Images
OpinionRegulators: Don’t panic and rush to gas amid cries we’re out of power
Proposing new gas plants to serve growing demand does not occur in isolation. It is a decision that implicitly rejects alternatives as either infeasible, expensive or unconsidered.
By Mike O’Boyle and Eric Gimon • April 11, 2024 -
Nikada / Getty Images via Getty Images
What federal officials want to see in critical infrastructure cyber incident reports
Federal rules to implement the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act will be on the books in 18 months. Here are some of the main asks.
By Matt Kapko • April 8, 2024 -
Andrew Brookes
Geopolitical turmoil has ‘significant ramifications’ for North American electric grid: NERC
Conflicts around the world and a slate of hostile nation-states mean additional efforts must be taken to secure the electric grid, officials said.
By Robert Walton • April 5, 2024 -
George Frey via Getty Images
Deep DiveMonday’s eclipse could cut US solar output by 40 GWh. Here’s how 5 grid operators are preparing.
Grid operators are not expecting any reliability issues during the eclipse but say forecasting energy demand will be complicated. Monday “will not be a typical spring day,” MISO noted.
By Robert Walton • April 4, 2024 -
Imaginima via Getty Images
OpinionGrid reliability’s core challenge is governance, not a changing resource mix
An outdated and parochial oversight system is the biggest threat to U.S. grid reliability.
By Alexandra Klass, Josh Macey, Shelley Welton and Hannah Wiseman • April 4, 2024 -
Laser1987 via Getty Images
CISA issues notice for long-awaited critical infrastructure reporting requirements
The proposed rule under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act will require covered entities to promptly disclose major cyber incidents and ransomware payments.
By David Jones • April 1, 2024 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
MISO seeks FERC approval for new capacity accreditation process to bolster grid reliability
“The changing resource mix combined with extreme weather and shifting load profiles have created what the NERC has characterized as a ‘hyper-complex risk environment,’” MISO said.
By Ethan Howland • March 29, 2024 -
Bim via Getty Images
Efficiency, clean energy are options for meeting demand growth before gas generation: Energy Innovation
Texas has met its 2.6% annual demand growth with wind and solar, highlighting how clean energy can handle rising electric use, per the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
By Ethan Howland • March 28, 2024 -
simpson33 via Getty Images
Deep DiveA new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential
New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024 -
Trong Nguyen via Getty Images
ERCOT to survey customers about cost of power outages
Responses will help regulators estimate the value of lost load and ultimately set a reliability standard for the Texas grid.
By Robert Walton • March 27, 2024 -
Dudbrain via Getty Images
ISO/RTO Council urges FERC to nix NERC’s proposed cold weather reliability standard
The proposal includes “glaring exceptions” and “vague requirements,” threatening grid reliability, major grid operators told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
By Ethan Howland • March 25, 2024 -
Retrieved from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee livestream.
Senators press FERC nominees on climate, natural gas, transmission cost allocation
Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee focused on the issue of fuel neutrality and whether the nominees would uphold it.
By Diana DiGangi • March 22, 2024 -
My Photo Buddy via Getty Images
California regulators approve new program to expedite power line undergrounding
The program allows utilities with at least 250,000 customers to submit a 10-year undergrounding plan to the California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, which must approve or reject it within nine months.
By Robert Walton • March 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Kraken
Sponsored by KrakenLessons from the UK: Transforming the US Market
The US has a unique opportunity to capitalize on grid-edge flexibility by using distributed energy resources (DERs) to balance the grid.
By Amaani Hamid — Senior Policy Manager, Kraken • March 11, 2024 -
Sara Samora/Utility Dive
OpinionWhy EPA can cut carbon pollution from power plants without sacrificing grid reliability
Entities that focus on reliability have a toolkit to manage the energy transition, and EPA has incorporated key flexibilities into its GHG pollution-reduction rules to support their efforts.
By Dena Adler and Jennifer Danis • March 7, 2024 -
gorodenkoff via Getty Images
DOE awards $45M for grid security research focused on machine learning, artificial intelligence
The Electric Power Research Institute will receive more than $22 million to lead five projects in collaboration with Consolidated Edison, Ameren, Southern Co. and others.
By Robert Walton • March 6, 2024 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
NERC to file inverter-based resource rule revisions with federal regulators
“System events over the past six years have shown that these resources are impacting the reliability of the bulk power system,” said Howard Gugel, NERC vice president of compliance assurance and registration.
By Robert Walton • March 4, 2024 -
gorodenkoff via Getty Images
DOE, NARUC publish cybersecurity ‘baselines’ for utilities, distributed energy resources
The recommendations “provide a common starting point for cyber risk reduction activities,” said NARUC Executive Director Greg White.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2024 -
milehightraveler via Getty Images
SPP proposes renewable, thermal resource accreditation reforms aimed at bolstering reliability
The Southwest Power Pool’s current accreditation for wind, solar and storage fails to account for their reliability value decreasing as more are added to the grid, according to the grid operator.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Vencav via Getty Images
Sponsored by SiemensIs software the untapped hero to unlock the potential of the grid and help us reach net zero?
Discover how innovative software promises to revolutionize grid management, turning DERs from burdens into assets and paving the way for a future of autonomous grids.
Feb. 26, 2024 -
stock.adobe.com/msroster
Sponsored by Franklin EnergyThe industry trends that will define 2024
In many ways, 2023 was momentous for clean energy, from the release of guidelines for the Inflation Reduction Act to billions in funding for EV charging infrastructure throughout the US.
By Marisa Uchin, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Franklin Energy • Feb. 26, 2024 -
wolv via Getty Images
PJM, 3 other RTOs propose steps to improve gas-electric sector coordination, boost reliability
Market enhancements, operational improvements and regulatory reforms are needed to improve gas-electric coordination, according to grid operators serving much of the U.S.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2024
