Power utilities are starting to get into the EV charging business. Utilities are motivated to make electric cars viable and in doing so shore up demand for the power they sell. Growth of EVs has been hampered by a lack of charging infrastructure. Despite efforts by the EV industry and numerous partners, the development of… Keep reading →
Gov. Jerry Brown of California has proposed ambitious new targets for increasing the quantity of renewable energy in state’s electric grid to 50% by 2030 from the current target of 33% by 2020. California is a leader in renewable power production and is already running into technical challenges managing the overproduction of renewable power. Four… Keep reading →
A contract fight is unfolding in Cleveland where industrial power customers were hit with “polar vortex” surcharges ranging from $9,000 to $290,000. When temperatures plummeted last January power demand spiked and some generation plants tripped offline. Grid operator PJM called on all generators to produce more power to stabilize the grid and then billed them… Keep reading →
Yesterday, an almond grove in California’s Central Valley hosted the opening of the world’s largest iron-chromium redox flow battery. Originally pioneered by NASA, these flow batteries are emerging as a promising way to store many hours of energy that can be discharged into the power grid when needed. Traditionally, electric generation follows the demands of the daily load cycle. But as more sources of renewable… Keep reading →
In the second part of our series on Myanmar’s power sector, Breaking Energy takes a look at the pricing structure and future demand projections. Both are integral to understanding the third installment on independent power producers (IPPs) and foreign direct investment (FDI). See the first installment on challenges facing the newly-democratic nation here. The government… Keep reading →
A startup named Aquion recently began commercial-scale production of sodium-ion batteries that solve some lithium-ion toxicity and flammability issues. The company says when scaled up, the batteries could supplant natural gas peaker plants, allowing stored renewable energy to be used during power demand spikes instead of gas. “The batteries could allow the grid to accommodate… Keep reading →
Near record low temperatures today in New York and Boston are driving up spot gas and power prices, as utilities struggle to obtain power generation fuel amid pipeline constraints caused by surging demand. Some East Coast generators have taken to burning oil in cases where they cannot source natural gas fast enough or in adequate… Keep reading →
“Distributed, point-of-use solar should prove to be the most disruptive renewable technology.” The financial services firm UBS is predicting a “difficult year ahead” for global investor-owned utilities. In a recent research paper, UBS equities analysts outlined a combination of challenges for utilities: rising interest rates that will likely push investors toward higher-risk stocks and away… Keep reading →
Renewable energy sources and natural gas should be considered as complements and not rivals. A hybrid gas-electric clean energy provides a workable engineering solution while 100% Renewables models based heavily on wind, solar and efficiency fall short of the meeting the functional needs of a modern technology intensive society. Natural gas and renewables are already… Keep reading →
Opinion: Nuclear Energy Keeping the Lights on in the Cold
By Former Senator Judd GreggExtreme cold weather has had a tight grip on much of the Northern U.S. this winter. Boston recently saw its lowest temperature since 2004 and New York City had its coldest February morning in nearly three decades. As millions of Americans endure these cold temperatures, the importance of electricity for heating our homes and… Keep reading →