[USA] DOE, Interior release plan for developing offshore wind transmission in the Atlantic

On September 19, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior released “An Action Plan for Offshore Wind Transmission Development in the U.S. Atlantic Region.” [1] The DOE’s Grid Deployment and Wind Energy Technologies Offices and the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) developed the action plan and outlines immediate actions needed to connect Atlantic offshore wind projects to the electric grid. It also details longer-term efforts to support needed transmission over the next several decades.

The plan includes several key recommendations broken down by timelines. Prior to 2025, the plan calls for establishing collaborative bodies that span the Atlantic region and recommends clarifying some of the building blocks of transmission planning, including updating reliability standards and identifying where offshore transmission may interconnect with the onshore grid. It also seeks to address costs through voluntary cost assignments and tax credits. In the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, the plan recommends coordination with states to plan for an offshore transmission network and with industry to standardize requirements for HDVC technology. From 2030 to 2040, it calls for establishing a national HDVC testing and certification center to ensure compatibility when interconnecting multiple HVDC substations to form an offshore grid network. The DOE and multiple Atlantic states have started on the recommendations, forming an Offshore Wind Transmission State Collaborative.

[1] https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-releases-roadmap-accelerate-offshore-wind-transmission-and

[USA] PSE launches program to help businesses install EV chargers

On September 20, 2023, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a Washington utility that serves the Puget Sound area, announced that it is funding workplace electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout its service area through an initiative called PSE Up & Go Electric for Workplace.[1] The pilot program has installed more than 40 public and private charging stations over the past six years. The utility is now expanding the pilot into a full-fledged program by covering up to 100% of the cost of installing workplace charging stations. The initiative is designed to remove one of the biggest accessibility hurdles for EV adoption—charging at work. PSE is offering up to 100% of the installation cost for qualifying small and medium-sized businesses. Employers can also choose to own, control, and maintain the charger themselves while fully managing the installation. In addition, businesses that serve or employ historically underrepresented communities may be eligible to have 100% of the costs covered for both PSE-owned or customer-owned chargers.

[1] https://www.pse.com/en/press-release/details/Puget-Sound-Energy-reduces-barriers-and-empowers-electric-mobility-by-offering-workplace-chargers

[USA] DOE wind studies project strong growth

On August 24, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released three annual wind reports—Land-Based Wind Market Report, Offshore Wind Market Report, and Distributed Wind Market Report—showing that wind power is one of the fastest-growing and lowest-cost sources of electricity in the U.S. and is poised for rapid growth.[1] The reports found that wind power accounted for 22% of new electricity capacity installed in 2022, second only to solar energy. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, forecasts for land-based wind energy installed in 2026 have increased nearly 60% from about 11,500 MW to 18,000 MW. In addition, there have been at least eleven announcements of manufacturing facilities that plan to open, re-open, or expand to serve the land-based wind industry. The advanced manufacturing production tax credit in the IRA is estimated to reduce the cost of offshore wind blades by 27% and steel towers by 18%.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-projects-strong-growth-us-wind-power-sector

[USA] Texas regulators approve two Tesla VPPs to provide energy to the electric grid

On August 23, 2023, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) announced that two Tesla virtual power plants (VPPs) have completed testing and been qualified to participate in wholesale markets managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s grid operator.[1] The two Tesla projects will operate in Houston and Dallas, serviced by CenterPoint Energy and Oncor Electric Delivery, respectively. The Tesla VPPs and six other projects, totaling 7.2 MW, will participate in the Aggregate Distributed Energy Resources (ADER) pilot. The six other projects have completed initial registration steps and are in the commissioning process. The pilot is overseen by ERCOT and was launched after Tesla expressed interest in aggregating Powerwall batteries in the state. Resources participating in the pilot must include “power generation devices,” including battery energy storage systems or generators. They may also include demand response devices like smart thermostats, controllable electric vehicle chargers, or smart water heaters. Under the ADER pilot, energy sources must be under 1 MW each, and the aggregated power plants must be less than 80 MW, enough to power about 16,000 homes during peak demand in ERCOT.

[1] https://ftp.puc.texas.gov/public/puct-info/agency/resources/pubs/news/2023/PUCT_Virtual_Power_Plants_to_Provide_Power_to_ERCOT_Grid_for_the_First_Time.pdf

[USA] SEIA analysis finds $100 billion in solar and storage investment since IRA passed

According to a new analysis released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on August 16, 2023, since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law in August 2022, U.S. solar and storage companies have announced over $100 billion in private sector investments.[1] These investments include the construction or expansion of 51 solar manufacturing facilities in the last year. The new and expanded solar factories equal 155 GW of new production capacity across the solar supply chain, including 85 GW of solar module capacity, 43 GW of solar cells, 20 GW of silicon ingots and wafers, and 7 GW of inverter capacity. The analysis found that by 2026, the U.S. will have over 17 times its current manufacturing capacity across modules, cells, wafers, ingots, and inverters when the factories are in operation.

According to SEIA, 65 GWh of energy storage manufacturing capacity has been announced across 14 new or expanded facilities. In addition, over 3 GW of new large-scale energy storage projects have been deployed, and an estimated 100,000 customers have installed a residential solar system paired with battery storage. Solar manufacturing facilities announced that they will employ more than 20,000 people. Over the next decade, the solar industry will generate $565 billion in private sector investments over the next decade and by 2033, U.S. solar capacity will reach 668 GW, enough to power every home east of the Mississippi River.

[1] https://www.seia.org/blog/policy-prosperity-solar-supercharging-american-communities-after-one-year-energy-incentives

[USA] Lawfirm files lawsuit alleging HECO powerlines started Hawaii wildfires

On August 14, 2023, Singleton Schreiber, a fire litigation firm, filed a lawsuit on behalf of an individual against Hawaiian Electric Industries (HECO), Hawai’i Electric Light Company, and Maui Electric Company, alleging that the utilities’ powerlines started wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.[1] The wildfires broke out in Lahaina in West Maui on August 8, 2023; as of August 17, at least 110 people have passed away due to the fires. Over 2,200 structures have been damaged or destroyed. The Maui Emergency Management Agency estimates rebuilding will cost $5.52 billion.

The lawsuit alleges multiple instances of negligence, trespass, and nuisance as contributing factors to the fires. According to the lawsuit, the utilities were warned of the threat of wildfires as early as August 6 but either left their powerlines energized or, after deenergizing them, re-energized them too soon. The complaint points to several factors contributing to the utilities’ “poorly made decisions,” including failure to maintain proper tension on power lines and failure to implement proper vegetation management.

[1] https://singletonschreiber.com/first-individual-maui-wildfire-lawsuit-against-utilities-filed-by-singleton-schreiber/

[USA] DOE announces $1.2 billion for DAC demonstrations in Texas and Louisiana

On August 11, 2023, the Department of Energy announced up to $1.2 billion to advance the development of two commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) facilities in Texas and Louisiana.[1] The projects are the first facilities of this scale in the U.S. and are the first selections for the Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs program, which was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and aims to jumpstart a nationwide network of large-scale carbon removal sites. The recipients included Project Cypress of Louisiana and South Texas DAC Hub. Battelle runs Project Cypress in coordination with Climeworks Corporation and Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. South Texas DAC was created by 1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental, and its partners Carbon Engineering Ltd and Worley. The two projects are anticipated to remove more than 2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually while providing 4,800 jobs. The DOE stated that 19 additional DAC projects were selected for award negotiations to support earlier stages of project development, be they feasibility assessments or front-end engineering and design studies.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-12-billion-nations-first-direct-air-capture

[USA] DOE proposal could reduce permitting time for transmission

On August 10, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a rule to establish the Coordinate Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits (CITAP) Program to streamline the federal permitting process for major onshore transmission lines.[1] The proposal is in response to the 2023 debt ceiling deal and would set deadlines for federal authorizations and permits for electric transmission on a two-year timeline. Currently, the process of building transmission projects can take more than a decade. While many factors contribute to the lengthy process of building transmission projects,  the CITAP program aims to ensure that the federal permitting processes are efficient and robust to enable transmission to be brought online more quickly. The DOE's plan would not override local and state permits that developers need to build transmission lines.

The proposed rule would require developers to complete Integrated Interagency Preapplication (IIP) Process for their projects to participate in the CITAP Program. Applicants would need to submit plans for engaging with stakeholders throughout the life of the project. The DOE's proposal also states that developers could appeal to the president if the department fails to act on a project application within two years or denies it. The Grid Deployment Office (GDO), which will administer the CITAP Program, is now seeking public comment and feedback on the proposed program and a public webinar will be held on August 23, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/gdo/articles/biden-harris-administration-proposes-rulemaking-streamline-and-set-deadlines-federal

[USA] EPRI launches initiative to accelerate EV charging infrastructure

On August 7, 2023, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced that it is launching a three-year initiative called EVs2Scale2030 that will strive to ready the electric grid to support the accelerated development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.[1] EPRI will collaborate with more than 500 stakeholders, including Amazon, leading electric companies, fleet operators, auto and truck manufacturers, and charging providers. In addition, the initiative features coordination with the Department of Energy, federal agencies and national labs, the Edison Electric Institute, the American Public Power Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Alliance for Transportation Electrification. Founding electric company members include Austin Energy, CenterPoint Energy, Con Edison, FirstEnergy, Great River Energy, National Grid, New York Power Authority, Omaha Public Power District, Pacific Gas & Electric, Portland General Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Salt River Project, Seattle City Light, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, and Xcel Energy. Additional data collaborators include Daimler Truck North America, PACCAR, Volvo Group North America, and the World Resources Institute.

The initiative plans to develop a 50-state visualization and 2030 roadmap identifying the aggregated and anonymized electric vehicle loads, grid impacts, utility lead times, workforce requirements, and costs. The initiative also aims to create an online platform that defines the cross-industry processes needed to support the pace of activity and investment required to meet large-scale electrification by 2030. Further, the initiative seeks to build a secure data exchange platform for fleet operators and charging providers that allows energy companies to better plan and prioritize grid upgrades.

[1] https://www.epri.com/about/media-resources/press-release/3n1exEbFty19NooLIVR9k4

[USA] Vistra completes expansion of 750 MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California

On August 1, 2023, Vistra Corp. announced that it had completed the 350-megawatt/1,400-megawatt-hour Phase III expansion of its Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California, bringing the site’s total capacity to 750 MW/3,000 MWh and making it the largest grid battery system in the U.S.[1] The Phase III expansion reached commercial operation on June 2. The facility will operate under a 15-year resource adequacy agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) beginning August 1, 2023. The Phase III expansion is made up of 122 individual containers that house more than 110,000 battery modules. The project was completed on schedule and within budget in 16 months. Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility is co-located on the site of Vistra's existing natural gas-fueled Moss Landing Power Plant.

Vistra now owns the second-most energy storage capacity in the country. In addition to its California assets, the company owns and operates two solar facilities, one solar-plus-storage facility, and a 260-MW storage facility in Texas. Vistra has plans for four solar installations and ten other storage and solar-plus-storage facilities, all in development in Illinois and Texas. The energy company is also in the process of acquiring Ohio-based Energy Harbor Corp. and its 4,000 MW nuclear fleet.

[1] https://investor.vistracorp.com/2023-08-01-Vistra-Completes-Milestone-Expansion-of-Flagship-California-Energy-Storage-System

[USA] FERC approves new interconnection rules to help spur new generation

On July 27, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Order 2023, which aims to speed up interconnection processes.[1] The rule is the first major change to FERC’s interconnection requirements in 20 years. Order 2023 largely follows a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) released in June 2022. The rule adopts a “first-ready, first-served” cluster study approach, replacing the practice of looking at individual proposals on a first-come, first-served basis. According to FERC, this approach “will increase the efficiency of the interconnection process, help minimize delays and improve cost allocation by analyzing the transmission system impacts of multiple projects at once.”

It requires interconnection customers to pay increased study deposits, meet more stringent site control requirements, and pay commercial readiness deposits. In addition, Order 2023 sets deadlines for regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and other transmission providers to complete interconnection studies, with penalties set for missing deadlines. The rule also requires transmission providers to allow more than one generating facility on a shared site at a single point of interconnection and share an interconnection request. Transmission operators have 90 days to file plans with FERC explaining how they will put the rule in place.

[1] https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/fact-sheet-improvements-generator-interconnection-procedures-and-agreements

[USA] Report: Offshore wind could supply 25% of U.S. power by 2050

According to a report released on August 1, 2023, by the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Environmental Public Policy, the U.S. could develop enough offshore wind to provide up to 25% of the nation’s energy supply by 2050 without spiking the wholesale cost of electricity.[1] The “2035 and Beyond: Abundant, Affordable Offshore Wind Can Accelerate Our Clean Electricity Future” report shows that over 4,000 GW of offshore wind potential is available along the U.S. coastline, including the Great Lakes. The report finds that increasing the offshore wind ambition and a significant increase in the solar and onshore wind resource deployments could help achieve the U.S.’s net-zero goals while keeping the electricity prices affordable and the grid reliable. The report also found that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which included incentives for offshore wind, will help cut the cost of offshore wind in the coming years.

The Berkeley study was released alongside a policy report from Energy Innovation that charts the policy pathway needed to realize offshore wind’s potential and analysis of the supply chain and transmission needs and accompanying employment benefits. Increasing ambition for offshore wind development could inject up to $1.8 trillion of investment into the U.S. economy and employ approximately 390,000 workers in the sector in 2050.

[1] https://gspp.berkeley.edu/research-and-impact/centers/cepp/projects

[USA] APS breaks peak demand record seven days straight

On July 20, 2023, during a record heat wave in Arizona, Arizona Public Service (APS) customers set a new record for peak energy use, with customer energy use reaching 8,193 MW.[1] The new record was the most recent in a string of record-setting days. The previous all-time peak was set on July 15, and starting July 14, APS customers recorded the seven highest peak days ever. The previous peak demand record was 7,660 MW, set on July 30, 2020. APS advised customers to conserve energy during peak hours from 4-7 p.m., noting that the peaks reached during the heat wave were between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“Despite historic levels of energy usage, APS and its customers experienced no issues related to power supply; and that does not happen by accident. It takes years of planning, maintaining a diverse energy mix, investing in and strengthening the electric system, and most importantly teams of people who are dedicated to keeping the lights on for customers when they need us most,” APS president Ted Geisler said. The utility invests more than $1.5 billion annually to maintain and upgrade the grid to maintain reliable service. In addition, APS will not disconnect customers for past due residential accounts through mid-October 2023 and will waive late fees during this time period.

[1] https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-Powers-Seven-Days-In-Row-Of-Highest-Customer-Electricity-Use-Ever

[USA] Policy brief: utilities see EVs as an opportunity for a resilient grid

According to a policy brief published July 24, 2023, by the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), many power providers believe electric vehicle (EV) growth could build grid resilience so long as the federal government and states create certainty through regulations and planning.[1] In its policy brief, titled  ‘Powering the EV Market: How Electricity Providers are Planning for the Future,’ ZETA found that between 2023 and 2050, utilities will need to add 15-27 terawatt-hours of generation (0.3-0.6% of U.S. current capacity) every year to keep up with EV growth and electrification.

The policy brief examined case studies from seven utilities and electricity providers, examining how they prepare for more EVs on the road. The case studies provide insights into managed charging, demand forecasting, community incentive programs, and fleet electrification. For example, in California, where EV adoption is highest, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) expects system demand to increase up to 70% over the next two decades as EV growth increases. The utility developed a forecasting tool to address this projected demand and integrated it into its distribution planning processes. Of the 3 million EVs that the utility expects in its footprint, 2 million will be integrated with the grid by participating in time-of-use rates, managed charging, or vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging programs.

[1] https://www.zeta2030.org/policy-brief-powering-the-ev-market-how-electricity-providers-are-planning-for-the-future

[USA] PG&E launches two new programs to accelerate EV adoption in underserved communities

On July 18, 2023, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that it has launched two new programs in California designed to improve access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for underserved communities as a way to increase EV adoption.[1] Citing a study from CalMatters that analyzed data from the California Energy Commission (CEC), PG&E pointed out that high upfront vehicle costs, lack of chargers for renters, and inadequate access to public charging stations in underserved communities are limiting EV expansion among these populations.

Through the Empower EV and Multifamily Housing and Small Business EV Charger pilot programs, the utility hopes to address the costs of installing chargers at single-family homes, multifamily housing units, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in the region. The Empower EV program will provide income-eligible customers up to $2,500 in incentives to help cover the costs of installing EV charging infrastructure at single-family residences. In addition, Level 2 chargers will be provided free to approximately 2,000 eligible customers, and up to $2,000 in panel upgrades will be offered per eligible household, up to 800 homes. Through the Multifamily Housing and Small Business EV Charger Program, PG&E plants to install approximately 2,000 Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers at 450 multifamily housing units, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses, with priority given to properties within low-income, rural, tribal, and other priority populations. The chargers will be provided at no cost to property owners, and the utility will cover two years of networking and software fees.

[1] https://www.pge.com/en_US/about-pge/media-newsroom/news-details.page?pageID=029f3373-c807-4cf1-bfbf-6c65ed571f48&ts=1689881980044

[USA] Federal appeals court strikes down FERC approval of SEEM market

On July 14, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had unlawfully approved the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM)[1].[2] SEEM is a proposed trading platform for utilities in the Southeast covering 12 states that allows utilities in the region to make automated bilateral trades every 15 minutes using available transmission capacity. The trades are enabled by non-firm energy exchange transmission service (NFEETS).

In a split decision, the court ruled that FERC’s November 2021 decision approving SEEM’s transmission rules went against its open access requirements in Order 888, which aim to ensure transmission owners offer non-discriminatory access to their networks. The appeals court said that FERC failed to explain why the market should be allowed to exclude participants outside the region. The court remanded FERC’s 2021 decision approving the SEEM market. The court also directed FERC to revisit its decision approving SEEM and told the commission to consider an earlier appeal from clean energy companies and environmental groups that it had previously dismissed as untimely.

[1] SEEM members include Associated Electric Cooperative, Dalton Utilities, Dominion Energy South Carolina, Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Florida, Duke Energy Progress, Georgia System Operations Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation, JEA, LG&E and KU Energy, MEAG Power, N.C. Municipal Power Agency No. 1, NCEMC, Oglethorpe Power Corp., PowerSouth, Santee Cooper, Seminole Electric Corporation, Southern Company, Tampa Electric Company and TVA.

[2] https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/0D7A85E32E0291DF852589EC0050747A/$file/22-1018-2007875.pdf

[USA] PJM releases report finding gas-fired generation accounted for 70% of unplanned outages during Winter Storm Elliott

According to a report released by PJM Interconnection on July 18, 2023, during the peak of Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022, 24% of the grid operator’s generating capacity was unexpectedly offline.[1] Of the generating capacity that was offline, gas-fired power plants made up about 70% of unplanned outages. The report states that generators that failed to meet their capacity obligations during Winter Storm Elliott face about $1.8 billion in non-performance charges, about 45% of the nearly $4 billion in capacity revenue for this capacity year.

The non-performance charges represent 83% of the nearly $2.2 billion in capacity payments earned by the resources facing penalties. Resources that provide more power than their obligations receive bonus payments funded by the penalties. The grid operator stated that, on average, 80% of bonus megawatts were produced by generation, 10% came from net imports from outside its footprint, energy efficiency resources produced 5%, and demand response and price responsive demand resources produced 5%. Nuclear power plants received 34.5% of the bonus pool for generators, followed by gas at 29.2%, coal at 17.3%, and wind at 13.7%. In its report, PJM offered 30 recommendations in response to operations during Winter Storm Elliott. Many of these recommendations are being addressed in its Critical Issue Fast Path – Resource Adequacy process or through other forums.

[1] https://pjm.com/-/media/library/reports-notices/special-reports/2023/20230717-winter-storm-elliott-event-analysis-and-recommendation-report.ashx

[USA] Hawai’i selects Tritium to provide DCFCs under NEVI program

On July 11, 2023, Tritium DCFC Limited, a company that provides direct current (DC) fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs), announced that it was selected to provide all fast chargers for Hawai’i’s first round of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program funding.[1] The $5 billion federal NEVI Formula program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021 and aims to develop a national EV charging network. Through the program, Hawai’i has access to $2.6 million of NEVI funding in FY2022. Using the initial round of NEVI funding, Hawai’i is procuring eight Tritium NEVI systems, totaling 32 PKM150 (150kW) chargers and 16 power units. According to Tritium, it is the first manufacturer selected to deliver NEVI-funded chargers. During the initial NEVI program phase, the Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT) will install charging facilities along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC).

“Hawai’i is recognized nationwide and around the world for its commitment to sustainability and has long been at the forefront of the e-mobility transition,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter. “We’re not surprised to see the state act so quickly to ensure their community benefits from the emissions reductions that a rapid technology transition to electric vehicles secures. The NEVI funding is designed to ensure this transition occurs quickly and equitably, and Tritium is pleased to partner with the state and its representatives to bolster Hawai’i’s EV charging infrastructure.”

[1] https://tritiumcharging.com/tritium-becomes-first-manufacturer-to-win-nevi-fast-charger-order-company-to-provide-all-fast-chargers-for-first-phase-of-hawaii-nevi-program/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=265786620&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8tMp-SQ9LLfXicT_WQnADKRTht9bLYof42a9kEkjv3y0D2nELoODxyN8hiP6R1QebRh20ZMygnjLHMtsH39j4YgUmyg&utm_content=265786620&utm_source=hs_email

[USA] DOE announces $45M to bolster domestic solar manufacturing

On July 6, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $45 million to support pilot manufacturing of solar components to help boost the domestic manufacturing sector.[1] The funding, called the Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator, includes $18 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and will also support the development of dual-use solar technologies, such as agrivoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), floating PV, and vehicle-integrated PV. According to the DOE, dual-use PV has the potential to minimize land-use concerns.

The funding opportunity will fund up to 12 projects to help establish a network of manufacturers focused on key materials such as polysilicon production, silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells, glass and other module components, and associated manufacturing equipment. Concept papers for the funding opportunity are due by September 27, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-45-million-boost-domestic-solar-manufacturing

[USA] IAEA concludes Japan’s plans to release treated water from Fukushima are consistent with international safety standard

 On July 4, 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded that Japan’s plans to release treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards.[1] The report, which was presented by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, found that the discharges of the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. The report is the outcome of nearly two years of work by an IAEA Task Force made up of top specialists advised by internationally recognized nuclear safety experts from eleven countries. The Task Force has conducted five review missions to Japan, published six technical reports, met many times with the Japanese government and the nuclear power station’s owner Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and analyzed technical and regulatory documentation.

The Japanese government decided to discharge the water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in April 2021. Water stored at the nuclear power station has been treated through an Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove almost all radioactivity, aside from tritium. Before releasing the water, it will be diluted to bring the tritium to below regulatory standards.

[1] https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-finds-japans-plans-to-release-treated-water-into-the-sea-at-fukushima-consistent-with-international-safety-standards