On September 5, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 293 hydroelectric improvement projects in 33 states, which will receive up to $430 million in incentive payments to upgrade hydropower facilities. [1] These facilities have to have been in operation for at least 79 years. The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program will enhance dam safety, improve grid resilience, and protect 6000 existing jobs at hydropower facilities. Currently, hydropower accounts for 27% of renewable electricity generation in the US and 93% of all utility-scale energy storage. However, many of these facilities are in need of repair and upgrades. The projects will strengthen grid resilience at hydropower dams by replacing or upgrading turbines and generators, upgrading control systems, upgrading cables and transformers, and upgrading penstocks that transport water to the turbines.
[USA] Retail electricity prices closely tracked inflation over the last 10 years
An analysis released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on September 11, 2024, found that the change in average residential electricity prices in the US mirrored the rate of inflation over the past decade between 2013 to 2023. [1] The average retail price of electricity in the residential sector went from 12 cents per kilowatt hour kilowatt hour (kWh) to 16 cents per kWh in 2023 without adjusting for inflation. The proposed utility rates for utilities must be approved by the public utilities commissions, which often involves evaluating cost increases against increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a potential justification for the increasing revenue needs on behalf of the utility. This could be a potential cause for the rising rates. Other potential causes include growing investment in transmission and distribution, rapid changes in other commodities prices, and higher investment costs for new generation technologies. Price hikes occurred fastest in New England and California, and prices fell in the midcontinent, especially in Utah and Nebraska. Utah and Nebraska’s access to diverse local energy sources, such as natural gas, coal, wind, and solar, may have helped maintain their low prices despite the growing demand. The states also enjoy well-developed transmission infrastructure, sufficient excess capacity, and low population densities.
[USA] Entergy Mississippi begins building new natural gas power station
On September 3, 2024, Entergy Mississippi LLC, which provides electricity to roughly 459,000 customers in 45 counties across Mississippi, announced a project to build a new power station for the first time in 50 years. [1] The station is expected to be completed in 2028. Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi stated that the company is investing in clean and efficient power generation now to help lower future bills for customers. The facility will be the first advanced combined-cycle combustion turbine power station that the company has built from start to finish. It is a dual-fuel technology facility, where it is designed to support blended hydrogen to produce reliable energy. The new power station will replace the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station in Greenville, which will be retired. The replacement of older power plants with more efficient technology indicates that more electricity will be produced from the same amount of fuel while reducing carbon emissions.
[USA] NM receives $87 million of federal funding for home energy efficiency
On September 4, 2024, $87 million of federal funding is going to New Mexico to lower the barrier for low and moderate-income households to access rebates for home energy efficiency, money that originates from the $9 billion set aside by the Inflation Reduction Act for a rebate program. [1] The New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department Secretary Melanie Kendarine said that New Mexico is the third state to launch the Home Electrification and Appliances Rebate program and the first to include a retail rebate. She said that people can apply for a rebate online before going to the store, after which the rebate will allow them to pay less at the cash register. Governor Michelle Grisham lauded this as an effective tool in ensuring that no one is left behind during the energy transition. These rebates can be used for heat pumps and other devices to help lower utility bills. Eligible households can access up to $14,000 in rebates to buy clean and efficient home appliances.
[USA] DPU approves plans to modernize the electric sector to accelerate clean energy transition
On August 30, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued an order approving the Electric Sector Modernization Plans (ESMPs) from the state’s electric distribution companies (EDCs) as strategic methods to enable a cost-effective clean energy transition in Massachusetts. [1] Massachusetts is among the first states in the country to encourage plans to modernize the grid and increase the state’s ability to decarbonize efficiently. The plans were filed due to the 2022 Climate Law and build on the DPU’s ongoing efforts to support the clean energy transition in Massachusetts and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) was established to engage with utilities and stakeholders to shape the final ESMPS, which resulted in the ESMP filings with the DPU in late January 2024. The proposed investments in these strategic plans aim to improve grid reliability and resiliency in anticipation of more frequent extreme weather events. They also prepare the grid to rapidly deploy renewable energy, energy storage, and emerging electrification technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
[USA] Biden-Harris administration invests $31 million to reduce costs and expand clean, renewable geothermal energy
On August 26, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the six projects selected from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, will receive $31 million to advance geothermal energy nationwide. [1] The projects will improve the construction of enhanced geothermal systems and demonstrate how reservoir thermal energy can mitigate the energy needs for industry. This supports the DOE’s Enhanced Geothermal Shot goal to reduce the costs of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) by 90% by 2035. It also supports the DOE’s Industrial Heat Shot goal to develop cost-competitive industrial heat decarbonization technologies with at least 85% of lower emissions by 2035. Currently, geothermal resources generate approximately 4 gigawatts of electricity in the US, but a recent DOE analysis illustrates that advancing EGS could provide at least 90 gigawatts of firm, flexible power to the national grid by 2050. This is enough energy to power more than 65 million US households. Many locations lack enough water or conditions that facilitate fluid flow needed to recover underground heat, in which case EGS can be harnessed to create a humanmade underground reservoir to access that heat for energy. This would require drilling into the subsurface and using wells to draw hot water to the surface, a method that can be costly to construct. However, improving those methods can mitigate costs for EGS, making geothermal an optimal choice for clean, cost-effective electricity.
[USA] SD Governor Noem rejects more than $70 million in federal funds for energy and environmental programs
On August 23, 2024, a top budget official stated that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s (R) administration turned down more than $70 million of federal funding from energy efficiency and environmental programs. [1] The Home Energy Rebates program was intended to provide the state with $69 million to give South Dakotans rebates for energy-efficient home retrofits as well as highly efficient electric appliances. The deadline, which has now passed, was last week. Earlier this year, the state also passed up $1.8 million to help set up the program. Noem’s Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger explained the decisions, referencing administrative burden, staff limitations, and policy disagreements. The funding, which originates from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, was a source of controversy on the legislative budget committee as some lawmakers disagreed with the decision to pass up on the money. The state also passed up its share of $1 billion for states to adopt the latest building energy codes. According to the Department of Energy, the program would have reduced South Dakota’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 42 million metric tons over the course of 30 years, with estimated cost savings of $9,027 per South Dakota home.
[USA] Energy Department’s advisers call for agency’s own AI data center testbed
On July 30, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE)’s advisory board proposed the establishment of its own AI data center to study how to lessen energy usage, according to a recent report. [1] This is relevant because the rapid growth of energy requirements from AI data centers, as well as the threat they present to climate goals, has landed on the department’s main agenda. The advisory board calls on the DOE to create a “data-center-scale AI testbed” in the agency for two reasons: it would allow scientists from academia, the DOE, and the industry, to help make these data centers more energy efficient and flexible in taxation, and it would be separate from the agency’s pre-existing computing facilities. The report focuses on hyperscale facilities that require between 300 to 1,000 megawatts of electricity or greater, which are being built with lead times of only 1-3 years. The board consulted with big technology firms, power suppliers, and other stakeholders, and concluded that there is an urgent need for a more flexible and firm electricity supply.
[USA] The United States was the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter in 2023
On April 1, 2024, EIA announced that in 2023, the United States solidified its position as the top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter globally, with exports averaging 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), marking a 12% increase from 2022. [1] This surpasses LNG export levels from other major exporters such as Australia and Qatar. Russia and Malaysia trailed behind as the fourth and fifth-highest exporters, with LNG exports averaging 4.2 Bcf/d and 3.5 Bcf/d, respectively.
The surge in U.S. LNG exports in 2023 was driven by several factors, including the return to full production at Freeport LNG and robust demand from Europe amid high international natural gas prices. Monthly export records were set in November and December, reaching 12.9 Bcf/d and 13.6 Bcf/d, respectively. The utilization of U.S. LNG export capacity averaged 104% of nominal capacity and 86% of peak capacity across seven operating terminals.
Europe remained the primary destination for U.S. LNG exports in 2023, accounting for 66% of exports, followed by Asia at 26%, and Latin America and the Middle East at 8%. The Netherlands, France, and the UK were the top importers of U.S. LNG, collectively receiving 35% of all U.S. exports. LNG imports in Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea, saw significant volumes, while Brazil's LNG imports declined due to a reliance on hydropower for electricity generation. Looking ahead, Europe's LNG import capacity is expected to expand further by more than one-third between 2021 and 2024.
[USA] Avangrid and Amazon Expand U.S. Partnership with 98.4 MW Wind Project in Oregon
On February 9, 2024, Avangrid and Amazon announced an expansion of their partnership with a new 98.4 MW wind project in Oregon. [1] This project marks another step in Amazon's commitment to renewable energy and sustainability goals. Avangrid, a leading renewable energy company, will develop and operate the wind project, which will contribute to Oregon's clean energy transition. The agreement between Avangrid and Amazon involves a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), ensuring that Amazon will procure renewable energy generated by the wind project to power its operations. This collaboration aligns with Amazon's broader efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and meet its renewable energy targets. The project underscores the importance of corporate partnerships in driving renewable energy development and advancing climate action. By investing in renewable energy projects like this wind farm, Avangrid and Amazon demonstrate their commitment to building a more sustainable future while fostering economic growth and job creation in the renewable energy sector.
[USA] DOE and FEMA Study Finds Puerto Rico Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy Future By 2050
On February 7, 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and FEMA released a joint study suggesting that Puerto Rico has the potential to transition to 100% renewable energy. [1] The study highlights the feasibility of this transition, emphasizing the island's abundant renewable resources and the benefits of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. By harnessing solar, wind, and other renewable sources, Puerto Rico could enhance energy resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower energy costs for residents. The report underscores the importance of strategic planning, infrastructure investment, and policy support in realizing this ambitious goal. It also highlights the role of federal agencies in providing technical assistance and funding opportunities to support Puerto Rico's renewable energy transition. Overall, the study provides a roadmap for Puerto Rico to achieve energy independence and sustainability while enhancing its resilience to future disasters and climate change impacts.
[USA] DOE announces $34 million in funding for technologies to underground power lines
On January 16, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $34 million for 12 projects across 11 states to strengthen and modernize America’s aging power grid through the development of cost-effective, high-speed, and safe undergrounding technologies.[1] Selected projects in the program, called the Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-speed Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security (GOPHURRS), will advance innovative solutions to help upgrade and expand the nation’s grid infrastructure—lowering costs, reducing inefficiencies, mitigating disruptions from extreme weather events, and accelerating the adoption of renewable clean energy resources.
The electric power distribution system in the U.S. has over 5.5 million line-miles with over 180 million power poles and is susceptible to damage by weather and its effects, accounting for a majority of power outages in the country each year. Extreme weather events fueled by climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of power outages across the U.S. Undergrounding power lines can improve the system reliability for both transmission and distribution grids. Managed by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), projects under the program will play a critical role in developing technologies to reduce costs, increase speed, and improve the safety of undergrounding operations.“Modernizing our nation’s power grid is essential to building a clean energy future that lowers energy costs for working Americans and strengthens our national security,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With today’s announcement, DOE is supporting teams across the country as they develop innovative approaches to burying power infrastructure underground—increasing our resilience and bringing our aging grid into the 21st Century.”
[1] https://arpa-e.energy.gov/news-and-media/press-releases/us-department-energy-announces-34-million-improve-reliability
[USA] Hertz announces plans to sell part of its EV rental fleet
On January 11, 2024, car rental company Hertz Global Holdings said it is selling about a third of its global fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), including 20,000 EVs from its U.S. fleet.[1] Hertz will use some of the proceeds to buy gasoline-powered vehicles. Previously, the company had aimed to convert 25% of its fleet to electric by the end of 2024. The company had also planned to order 100,000 Tesla vehicles by the end of 2022 and 65,000 units from Polestar over five years. In a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company cited low customer demand and high maintenance costs for EVs. Hertz expects about $245 million in charges related to depreciation expenses from the EV sale in the fourth quarter of 2023. Hertz said it would focus on improving profitability for the rest of its EV fleet.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/hertz-sell-about-20000-evs-us-fleet-2024-01-11/
[USA] Puget Sound Energy and Form Energy partner to evaluate multi-day energy storage solutions
On January 5, 2024, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and energy storage developer Form Energy announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to look into deploying a pilot multiday energy storage system to help PSE meet state requirements for clean energy and customer expectations for reliable service.[1] The partnership will allow both companies to collaborate on the development of a 10 MW, 100-hour iron-air battery pilot within the utility’s service area. The companies will evaluate the potential benefits of Form Energy's technology, as well as determine an initial project configuration that could be deployed by the end of 2026.
Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act requires electric utilities to be coal free by 2025, carbon neutral by 2030, and 100% served by renewable and non-emitting resources by 2045. Utilities in the state must replace dispatchable fossil fuel generation while meeting the growing demand for electricity from electric vehicles and other end uses. Therefore, energy storage is emerging as a key solution. Multi-day energy storage can provide power over several days compared to most commercially available batteries that supply only about four hours of backup power. Energy storage systems are crucial for PSE, offsetting the need for the utility to build additional generation resources that are used only at times of high demand.
[1] https://www.pse.com/en/press-release/details/Puget-Sound-Energy-partners-with-Form-Energy-to-evaluate-multi-day-energy-storage-solutions
[USA] PJM forecasts long-term electricity demand growth through 2039
On January 8, 2024, PJM Interconnection released its long-term load forecast, which laid out its predictions for estimated electricity demand growth.[1] The forecast estimated a 1.7% annual demand growth for summer peaks, 2% for winter peaks, and 2.4% for net energy over a 10-year planning horizon starting in 2024. The 2024 summer peak load is 151,254 MW, increasing to 178,895 MW in 2034 and 193,123 in 2039. Peak winter load is forecasted at 134,663 MW for the 2023–2024 winter, increasing to 164,824 MW in 2034 and 178,241 in 2039. Overall, total annual energy use throughout the PJM footprint is expected to increase nearly 40% by 2039, from 800,000 GWh to about 1.1 million GWh.
According to the long-term forecast, rising energy demand in PJM’s footprint, which includes all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia, is increasingly driven by the development of data centers throughout the PJM footprint. Further, the acceleration of the accelerating electrification of transportation and industry is a big factor. Currently, PJM has about 500,000 light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) as of 2024, and S&P Global is forecasting about 23 million light-duty EVs by 2039, a growth rate of just under 30% annually during that period. Also, PJM has about 25,000 medium- and heavy-duty EVs as of 2024, and S&P Global is forecasting about 1.45 million medium- and heavy-duty EVs by 2039, 30% annual growth rate.
[1] https://insidelines.pjm.com/pjm-publishes-2024-long-term-load-forecast/
[USA] Biden administration grants $623M in funding for EV charging infrastructure
On January 11, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $623 million in grants to build out the electric vehicle (EV) charging network.[1] The Biden administration aims to build at least 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. The grants announced by DOT are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. They will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including the construction of about 7,500 EV charging ports. As part of the announcement, the Federal Highway Administration will award $311 million to 36 community projects, including two Indian Tribes in Alaska and Arizona. Community projects invest in EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities. Another $312 million in funding will go to 11 corridor recipients whose projects are located along roadways designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors. Corridor projects will fill gaps in the core national charging and alternative-fueling network.
More than 70% of the announced CFI funding will support project sites in disadvantaged communities, advancing the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal of 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments flowing to disadvantaged communities. EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must follow the same standards established for chargers funded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, including domestic manufacturing and workforce standards.
[1] https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/biden-harris-administration-announces-623-million-grants-continue-building-out-electric
[USA] Avangrid, CIP announce first power from Vineyard Wind 1 has been delivered to New England grid
On January 3, 2024, Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) announced that power from the first turbine of the Vineyard Wind project was delivered to the New England grid for the first time.[1] As part of the initial commissioning process, on January 2, 2024, the turbine delivered approximately 5 MW of power, with additional testing expected to happen both on and offshore in the coming weeks. Vineyard Wind is an 806 MW project consisting of consist of 62 wind turbines and located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The project began offshore construction in late 2022, achieved steel-in-the-water in June 2023, and completed the nation’s first offshore substation in July 2023. Power from the project interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable and is transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod. Avangrid and CIP jointly own Vineyard Wind. The project is being developed and constructed by Avangrid and Vineyard Offshore, CIP’s affiliate development company working on U.S. offshore projects. The developers expect to have five turbines operating at full capacity early in 2024.
[1] https://www.vineyardwind.com/press-releases/2024/1/3/cip-avangrid-announce-first-power-from-nation-leading-vineyard-wind-1-project
[USA] EPSA study examines system-wide costs of integrating energy resources in PJM
On December 18, 2023, the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) released a new analysis that looks at the impacts of different energy resource options on the reliability of the electric grid.[1] The report is an effort to better look at the “full-cycle” levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), including the impact of regional costs, interconnection costs, curtailment costs, and the cost of ensuring that all units can provide an equivalent level of resource adequacy to the grid. It also seeks to provide a fuller picture of the true costs of integrating different energy resources onto the grid—with important implications for policymakers, regulators, and voters. The analysis was conducted by FTI Consulting on behalf of EPSA and utilized publicly available data from PJM Interconnection, which covers more than 65 million Americans across 13 states and the District of Columbia. The metric was developed using PJM’s cost and demand forecasts looking ahead to 2026.
A key finding of the study was that the cost of providing resource adequacy services is more than 100% of the traditional LCOE cost of wind and solar units. In addition, while traditional LCOE is lower for wind and solar units compared to combined cycle natural gas units in PJM in 2026, when accounting for the full cost of connecting to the system and providing resource adequacy services, natural gas plants are more competitive. The study also found that tax credits are crucial for making carbon capture and storage (CCS)-equipped units economical, even at the low technology costs assumed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Further, small modular nuclear (SMR) nuclear units are competitive with other forms of non-emitting generation when accounting for the full cost of connecting to the system and providing resource adequacy services at the technology costs assumed by NREL.
[1] https://epsa.org/new-analysis-examines-system-wide-costs-of-energy-transition/
[USA] California awards Form Energy $30 million grant for state’s largest long-duration energy storage project
On December 13, 2023, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved a $30 million grant to long-duration energy storage developer Form Energy to build the state's largest long-duration energy storage project, capable of discharging energy to the grid for 100 hours.[1] The 5 MW/500 MWh iron-air battery storage project will be built at a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) substation in Mendocino County. It is expected to come online by the end of 2025 and will help support grid reliability and demonstrate solutions needed to meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals. Form Energy’s iron-air battery is based on “reversible rusting,” meaning the system discharges energy by absorbing oxygen from the air and converting iron to rust and charges by using electrical current to convert the rust back to iron. The technology has lower costs compared to lithium-ion battery production.
The award is one of three approved under the commission’s Long-Duration Energy Storage program, which invests in the demonstration of non-lithium-ion technologies across California to create a diverse portfolio of energy storage technologies. As of August 2023, the state had 6,600 MW of battery storage, operating at the current industry standard of 4 to 6 hours of discharge. The number is projected to increase to 8,600 MW by the end of 2023. The state estimates more than 48 GW of battery storage and 4 GW of long-duration storage will be needed to meet the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.
[1] https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2023-12/cec-awards-30-million-100-hour-long-duration-energy-storage-project
[USA] NERC report finds rising peak demand and planned retirements create blackout risks for most of the U.S.
In its annual Long-Term Reliability Assessment released on December 13, 2023, the North American Reliability Corp. (NERC) said rising peak demand and the planned retirement of 83 GW of fossil fuel and nuclear generation over the next ten years creates a blackout risk for most of the U.S.[1] According to the report, while most regions should have sufficient electricity supply in normal weather, the Northeast and the Western half of the U.S. are at risk of blackouts in extreme conditions. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the grid operator for much of the Midwest and central South regions, faces a 4.7 GW shortfall starting in 2028 if generator retirements progress as expected, despite the planned addition of more than 12 GW. NERC noted that there are 50 GW of generation with signed generation interconnection agreements that are not online and another 200+ GW of new resources in the interconnection queue that are still being evaluated. NERC also identified a potential shortfall in planned reserves in Southeastern Electric Reliability Council-Central (SERC-Central) in the 2025-2027 period as demand increases faster than the transitioning resource mix grows.
To address the growing risk, the report recommended building new gas capacity, expanding the transmission network, and developing grid planning processes to better account for variable resources and the interconnected nature of the power and gas sectors.
[1] https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_LTRA_2023.pdf