Renewables
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Renewables industry could address commodities squeeze with vertical integration: McKinsey
Proactive steps should be taken to account for the price volatility of raw materials needed for wind and solar, such as neodymium and polysilicon, the consulting firm says.
By Diana DiGangi • March 16, 2023 -
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DOE offers $750M to help drive clean hydrogen production costs down 60% by 2026
The funding announced Wednesday aims to cut the cost of hydrogen produced with emissions-free electricity to $2 per kilogram by 2026 from around $5/kg today.
By Ethan Howland • March 16, 2023 -
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TrendlineThe Utility Dive Outlook on 2023
2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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Deep DiveTreasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say
Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023 -
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NERC issues alert, recommendations to solar resources following inverter-based grid disturbances
The rapid interconnection of inverter-based resources “poses a high risk to grid reliability,” warned the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
By Robert Walton • March 15, 2023 -
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Solar companies offer reassurance after renewables financier Silicon Valley Bank collapses
The federal government has ensured depositors won’t lose money as a result of the collapse, but many developers will have to find and establish new sources of financing.
By Diana DiGangi • March 14, 2023 -
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Community outreach and investment can help meet renewable industry’s worker demand, say labor experts
“It's gone from a critical issue to ‘the business doesn't work unless we get this right,’” said one panelist during the American Council on Renewable Energy’s public policy forum.
By Diana DiGangi • March 10, 2023 -
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Solar industry aims for 2023 rebound, but year ahead remains deeply uncertain
Significant policy questions could put the U.S. on track to install 50 GW of solar per year by 2027 – or not, a report by Wood Mackenzie says.
By Emma Penrod • March 10, 2023 -
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OpinionFERC must ensure that customer funds are only used to benefit customers and not political activities
If FERC provides a level playing field, we have a chance to enact policies that are in our best interest, use science, follow the math, and implement non-emitting energy solutions.
By Priya Gandbhir • March 9, 2023 -
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New Jersey seeks up to 4 GW of offshore wind in latest solicitation
The state will award contracts for between 1.2 GW and 4 GW of offshore wind as it aims to meet its goal of deploying 11 GW by 2040 through five more solicitations.
By Diana DiGangi • March 8, 2023 -
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Constellation Energy launches 1-MW nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility at Nine Mile Point
This is the final nuclear-powered hydrogen demonstration project announced by DOE last November to launch, following projects at the Davis-Besse, Prairie Island and Palo Verde plants.
By Diana DiGangi • March 7, 2023 -
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Vistra moves more deeply into nuclear power with planned $3.43B acquisition of Energy Harbor
Vistra President and CEO Jim Burke cited the federal nuclear production tax credit that “now has down-side protection against lower power prices” as a benefit of the deal.
By Stephen Singer • March 7, 2023 -
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Currently ‘not enough workers’ in the labor force to meet offshore wind’s 2030 goals: NREL
The national goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 will require both an increase in trainees and cross-training of workers from similar industries, said a National Renewable Energy Laboratory researcher.
By Diana DiGangi • March 6, 2023 -
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New York eyes floating technology innovations as it aims to expand offshore wind to deeper waters
A commitment to launching offshore wind in deep waters will require technological advancements in floating wind, said NYSERDA’s vice president for large-scale renewables.
By Diana DiGangi • March 2, 2023 -
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RWE completes $6.8B acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses
The new company, RWE Clean Energy, now operates a roughly 8-GW portfolio of renewable energy projects in the U.S. backed by a pipeline of more than 24 GW of wind, solar and battery storage.
By Stephen Singer • March 2, 2023 -
"Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm" by chpv.co.uk/SSE/RWE is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Private investors’ focus on single projects could stall offshore wind development: DOE loan office head
Recent legislation has allocated tens of billions of dollars to transmission and port upgrades, but aligning private and public capital is the next challenge, federal officials said Feb. 22.
By Emma Penrod • March 1, 2023 -
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Deep DiveDuke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs
Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023 -
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Property-assessed clean energy programs are popular for local decarbonization financing: report
PACE programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.
By Michael Brady • Feb. 28, 2023 -
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Advanced Energy United warns frameworks needed for transmission buildout ‘don’t really exist’
Building out transmission in the U.S. will require strong federal leadership as well as interstate and interregional coordination, said AEU’s transmission campaign director, Verna Mandez.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 27, 2023 -
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Federal panel hones in on materials, manufacturing as top research needs for floating offshore wind
The harsh conditions associated with floating offshore wind require materials with extreme performance capabilities, creating opportunities for materials research, federal officials said.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 27, 2023 -
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Enabling floating offshore wind could rapidly expand total offshore wind pipeline, Biden advisor says
State leaders say diverse priorities have prompted them to coordinate with the Biden administration to accelerate the deployment of floating offshore wind projects in the U.S.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 24, 2023 -
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Interior, NOAA use ocean modeling in siting of 1st Gulf of Mexico offshore wind sales
The agencies used marine spatial planning to site wind energy areas that would minimize impacts on habitats and fisheries.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 23, 2023 -
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EEI calls for ‘urgency’ in siting and permitting reform to aid booming energy industry
Executives at the association say they are working with Congress from a ‘blank slate’ after permitting reform failed to pass last year.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 22, 2023 -
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With the Inflation Reduction Act in place, SEMA eyes next steps to advance US solar manufacturing
SEMA formed to lobby for domestic content standards in the solar industry, but the IRA happened sooner than anyone thought possible, expanding the manufacturing coalition’s ambition and vision for the future.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 22, 2023 -
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PJM to offer time-matched renewable energy certificates as demand for 24/7 coverage grows
Corporations looking to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy will have more options next month when PJM begins offering time-matched certificates.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 21, 2023 -
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Deep DiveNew power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say
Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023
