‘Proceed with caution’: Key takeaways from California’s first offshore wind energy auction

A recent lease sale on the West Coast drew lower bids than similar East Coast sales, which experts say reflects the uncertainties the offshore wind industry faces in California. But the lower bids could ultimately benefit ratepayers.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 19, 2022

DOE to offer $750M to spur hydrogen electrolyzer, fuel cell development

The agency is assembling a list of parties interested in projects related to supply chains for electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells, according to a notice of intent issued Friday.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 16, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

What would it take for the US to be the leader in floating offshore wind?

The U.S. would need to construct upland port facilities on a scale not seen since the massive ramp-up in ship manufacturing for World War II and speed up processes for leasing, permitting, transmission and interconnection.

By Greg Matzat • Dec. 16, 2022

California lowers compensation rate for rooftop solar, prompting fears of a steep drop in installations

Regulators hope the decision will encourage customers to install storage paired with solar systems to draw more excess energy during the middle of the day and export energy back to the grid in the evening.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 16, 2022

New clean energy investments have topped $40B since the IRA passed, report says

A report from American Clean Power says the solar industry has seen rapid expansion, with domestic solar manufacturing capacity up 300% since the passage of the law in August.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 15, 2022

Utility-scale solar installations forecasted to decline 40% in 2022 as supply chain challenges persist

The growth of utility-scale solar has plummeted since 2021, though residential solar has increased 43% compared with the same quarter last year.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 15, 2022

Cost concerns could blunt ‘promising’ utility trends on energy storage, smart meters, EVs: Deloitte

“Supply chain snags, rising costs and extreme weather are likely to continue plaguing the power sector,” the consulting firm said in a report.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 14, 2022

Texas clean energy megaprojects get underway

The state traditionally known for its fossil fuel industry is diversifying its energy production with green hydrogen, blue ammonia and solar builds constructed by Bechtel and others.

By Julie Strupp • Dec. 14, 2022

New Jersey launches competitive solar incentive program, aiming for 300 MW annually through 2026

A state law directed the Board of Public Utilities to double the growth of solar in New Jersey, a directive that it's using to implement multiple new programs.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 13, 2022

Long-duration energy storage has attracted more than $58B in global commitments since 2019: WoodMac

Project commitments include 57 GW of LDES, which is roughly the equivalent of three times the global energy-storage capacity deployed this year.

By Stephen Singer • Dec. 12, 2022

Transmission as a reliability and affordability strategy drives CAISO and SPP regional market ambitions

Benefits of real-time markets are clear, demand for day-ahead markets is growing and advocates foresee full RTOs coming that could cross seams between East and West interconnections

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 12, 2022

Federal legislation completely changed the energy landscape. How do states take advantage of it?

Implementing recent federal and state legislation will require Illinois and other states to modernize regulation of their energy systems to accommodate the anticipated rapid growth of clean energy.

By Carrie Zalewski, Tetyana Rabczak and Robert Haggart • Dec. 9, 2022

US power and utility M&A value falls 29% to $37.9B so far this year amid macroeconomic pressures: PwC

However, renewable energy-related transactions surged after the Inflation Reduction Act became law in mid-August, a trend the accounting firm expects will continue.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 8, 2022

New bipartisan clean hydrogen bill would advance DOE’s research and development

The bill authorizes programs that would work toward major technological advancements for clean hydrogen and fuel cells.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 8, 2022

First West Coast offshore wind lease auction generates $757 million, lagging East Coast result

The revenue is far below that of an East Coast auction earlier this year because of gaps in California’s electricity market and still-developing floating turbine technology, offshore wind advocates say.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Dec. 8, 2022

As abuse allegations proliferate, we must advance human rights across the renewable energy value chain

It’s imperative that renewable energy developers, investors, buyers and producers don’t make things worse for the very communities already enduring the brunt of climate disasters.

By Malayah Redmond • Dec. 8, 2022

California offshore wind auction garners $402M in bids on first day

The West Coast’s first-ever offshore wind energy lease sale could support 4.6 GW of emerging floating turbine technologies.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Dec. 7, 2022

BLM advances 1 GW of solar in Arizona, sees potential for 31 GW of clean energy on Western public lands

The Interior Department is advancing renewable projects on public lands in the West and seeking comment on an update to its 2012 impact analysis of solar development in the region.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 7, 2022

NREL unveils benchmark for tracking long-term cost trends in latest solar and storage price report

New “minimum sustainable price” figures from NREL should help industry and government officials distinguish between short- and long-term price fluctuations in renewable energy, report authors say.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 6, 2022

Clean energy groups dismayed by preliminary determination in solar panel tariff case

The clean energy sector has warned that throttling the global supply of solar panels could set back the development of U.S. capacity.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 5, 2022

10 must-read utility sector stories from 2022

Reliability, security and affordability concerns are rising in a U.S. power sector increasingly focused on decarbonization and electrification. Utility Dive has rounded up some of our top stories so far on these and other trends in 2022.

By Larry Pearl • Dec. 5, 2022

From solar installer to home energy solutions provider: why installers need to think beyond panels

As more homeowners look to electrify their homes, solar installers have an opportunity to serve their customers' holistic home energy needs — and differentiate themselves from competitors.

Dec. 5, 2022

Wind energy industry struggles to find qualified workers: NREL

The wind industry is struggling to find experienced workers to fill open roles, while applicants report barriers to entry-level jobs that would provide that experience.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 1, 2022

Meta tops list of US corporate solar adopters with 3.6 GW, more than Amazon and Apple combined: SEIA

Companies in the U.S. have ratcheted up their adoption of solar, while more than 75 multinational companies have committed to work with 14 countries in what could represent more than $100 billion in clean energy investments.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 29, 2022

High electricity rates impede crucial but costly technology investments to manage rising DER levels: utilities

Utilities want distribution system technologies for more DER visibility and control. But advocates want a new national stakeholder dialogue about the timing of spending for DER integration.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 29, 2022