Technology
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SponsoredThe startup competition that is making a meaningful difference in cleantech
Markets across the U.S. are starting to see innovative clean technologies thanks to some other 76West winners.
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Deep Dive2020 Outlook: New state action on customer empowering rate designs and business models
Regulators, utilities and stakeholders will pilot simple price signals and work toward agreement on a performance-based framework, but California may be in for a surprise.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond
2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment
"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid
Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector
From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020 -
DOE unveils plan to make US global storage leader by 2030
To build a domestic storage supply chain and ensure the department's broad goals are met, experts say the government-led initiative will need to provide regulatory certainty.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 10, 2020 -
Entergy, Duke, ConEd adding millions of smart meters, but overall deployment slowing
While some utilities are seeing significant deployments, fewer customers need the equipment as adoption rates increase and some state regulators have shown a reticence to authorize additional costs.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 08, 2020 -
Deloitte: Consumer interest in EVs rising, but cost still a barrier
Now 41% of U.S. drivers, up from 29% last year, said they would consider an alternative to a gas-powered car, but range anxiety remains.
By Jason Plautz • Jan. 08, 2020 -
Utilities 'caught in the crosshairs' as US-Iran tensions rise; experts say domestic cyberattack likely
Iran wants to avoid a shooting war following the United States' assassination of a top military leader, making domestic cyberattacks "almost a foregone conclusion," according to one expert.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 07, 2020 -
Deep DiveMaking the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions
Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 06, 2020 -
OpinionIEEE standards are critical to grid mod and other utility priorities: You should help develop them
Participation in the IEEE 802 standards process, not just by vendors but also by end users, is necessary to help communications technologies progress in a way that benefits electric utilities and other critical industries.
By Kathy Nelson • Dec. 19, 2019 -
First US long-duration liquid air storage project planned in Vermont
The technology faces the challenge of competing with lithium-ion batteries and establishing itself in the storage market.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 18, 2019 -
National Petroleum Council calls for sharp increase in carbon capture subsidies
A new report ordered by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry concludes widespread deployment of carbon capture technology is "essential" to maintaining a reliable electric grid while also combating climate change.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2019 -
Squirrels, cyberattacks, age and climate: Obama DOE official reviews top risks to US grid
While there is much attention on cyber threats and other high profile vulnerabilities, the more mundane, day-to-day risks are also very important, John MacWilliams, a former chief risk officer at DOE, said Wednesday.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 12, 2019 -
OpinionOutsourcing utility climate goals: Energy as a service reduces risk while increasing energy savings
A full set of service solutions with financing options will increasingly be required to address the portfolio needs of C&I customers, with energy storage, smart building analytics and controls as key enabling technologies, the author writes.
By Brett Feldman • Dec. 11, 2019 -
OpinionMinnesota pioneers integration of new interconnection standard expected to propel DERs
Integration of the IEEE standard will mean that distributed energy resources can automatically respond to certain grid conditions, enabling significantly higher penetrations on the grid, the author writes.
By Sara Baldwin • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
The Utility Dive Awards for 2019
The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.
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AEP, Ameren, TVA team up with EPRI to connect clean energy startups with utilities
Seven other utilities will also consider project proposals covering customer engagement, digitalization, distributed energy resource integration, workforce issues, electric mobility, and customer and community resilience.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 06, 2019 -
Solar developers, manufacturers clash on Trump tariff impacts as trade commission poised to reevaluate
Developers estimate 62,000 jobs and 10.5 GW of deployment will be lost through 2021 due to the tariffs. But more domestic manufacturers are now defending the policy.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 05, 2019 -
OpinionWhat I wish I'd said to California's chief air regulator about clean transportation
Will flexible demand-side resources ever be able to participate in power markets in the same way as supply-side resources? That’s the question before Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols — and all of us, the author writes.
By David Farnsworth • Dec. 05, 2019 -
Deep DiveCan new transmission tech boost capacity and save billions? Two proposals aim to find out
Advocates are pushing a "shared savings" approach to incentivize deployment, but system operators have doubts.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 03, 2019 -
New NARUC president prioritizes cybersecurity training, ties between state and federal regulators
Commissioner Brandon Presley from Mississippi envisions every state commissioner feeling comfortable to collaborate with their counterparts at FERC or the FCC.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 26, 2019 -
Small, regional utilities located near critical infrastructure targeted in cyberattack: WSJ
Smaller electric utilities may be at higher risk of an attack because they lack the robust security infrastructure of larger power providers, according to experts.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 26, 2019 -
PNM: Carbon capture would raise San Juan transition cost to $6B, as PRC, legislator battle rages
A proposal to lengthen the coal plant's life through what would be the largest carbon capture project to date is deemed too expensive by its majority owner and raises environmental concerns.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 25, 2019
