Distributed Energy

  • Rooftop Solar Important Piece of Fight Against Climate Change

    The U.S. is facing energy and climate challenges on multiple fronts. Rising energy costs, extreme weather events, and a transition away from fossil fuels have placed increasing pressure on governments and consumers. Residential solar is a compelling, multi-purpose solution that continues to experience rapid adoption among Americans. Six GW of home solar was installed in 2022, and […]

  • Microgrids a Win for Both Owners and Grid Operators

    According to a guidebook issued by Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) multi-mission laboratory, microgrids are defined as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) that act as a single controllable entity. A microgrid can operate in either grid-connected or island mode, which includes some entirely off-grid applications. A […]

  • The POWER Interview: Tech-Enabled Financing Supports Solar Sector

    More and more businesses are looking to use renewable energy as they set decarbonization goals, with public companies often pushed by shareholders to adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. The same is true of private enterprise, as business owners look to take advantage of tax credits, rebates, and more to pursue cleaner sources of […]

  • Technology Advancements Support Distributed Solar Generation

    Upgraded equipment, new software, and innovations to serve both residential, and commercial and industrial customers are changing the solar power industry. Decentralized power generation continues to grow

  • BayWa r.e. Supporting Solar Power for Agriculture Projects

    Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations designed to support agriculture across the European Union (EU) received a boost in late October. BayWa r.e., a major Germany-based renewable energy developer, announced it

  • New Zealand Utility Eyes Cloud Computing to Support Renewables, EVs

    A New Zealand utility is piloting two software solutions to gauge their efficacy at handling grid constraints. Raglan is a beachside community of just under 4,000 people, about a two-hour drive from Auckland

  • Virtual Power Plants: The Next Operational Model for Electricity Generation

    There are a few great reasons that utilities and the energy industry, in general, are looking for the next big thing. Whether that’s in distributed energy generation or demand flexibility to free up existing resources, utilities are challenged more than ever to meet evolving customer needs. While this will prove costly in the short term, […]

  • Converged Field Area Networks: Modernizing the Grid for a Sustainable Future

    We’ve come a long way since the first waterwheel in 200 BC. Renewable energy sources now make up about 30% of the world’s generated power and are set to more than double as governments and utilities aim to meet their net-zero emission targets by 2050. That’s a tall order, especially for utilities with an aging […]

  • Transformative, Next-Gen Grid Control Technologies Get $42M in Federal Funding

    The Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated a new “enabling” pathway to achieve and sustain a dramatic transformation of the nation’s evolving grid—through its power electronics fabric, with the realization of advanced semiconductor materials, devices, and power module technologies. The agency on Nov. 21 unveiled the agency’s first awards—$42 million for 15 projects across 11 […]

  • UAE Launches 104-MW Wind Project Despite Low Winds

    A landmark utility-scale wind project is now operational in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite previous concerns that large-scale wind energy is not viable owing to the region’s low wind speeds. Abu

  • POWER Notebook: Deriva Energy Launches; Arizona Gets New Battery Factory; Mini-Grids For Africa, Asia

    Brookfield Asset Management announced the launch of Deriva Energy, the new name for Duke Energy’s former unregulated commercial renewables business that Brookfield acquired earlier this year. Deriva, which considers itself a leading operator and developer of clean power projects in the U.S., is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Brookfield on Oct. 25 said it had […]

  • Smart Grid Telemetry, Data Key to Securing Distributed Energy Networks

    Energy data has a key role in securing and protecting our energy future. As the global shift to decentralized energy networks keeps growing, together with the rising adoption rates of electric vehicles (EVs), cyber adversaries are finding an expanding array of opportunities to attack and exploit the dynamic energy sector. By leveraging smart-grid energy telemetry […]

  • The POWER Interview: Transformative Technology Aims to Advance Decarbonization

    Decarbonization of the U.S. power sector is bringing new technologies to the forefront, including an array of new battery types for energy storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and more. Lyten, a San Jose, California-based advanced materials manufacturer known for its Lyten 3D Graphene technology platform, along with other decarbonization materials, is moving forward with several projects. […]

  • Vermont Group Offers Customers Energy Storage to Avoid Blackouts

    A Vermont utility has filed a plan with state regulators that would enable the power company to offer more customers battery energy storage to keep the lights on during outages. Green Mountain Power (GMP), which has about 270,000 customers, said it wants to have its plan in place by 2030. GMP on Oct. 9 asked […]

  • Filling Vital Power and Industrial Process Steam Needs with Temporary Boilers

    There are many reasons why a temporary boiler might be needed at a power generating or industrial facility. For example, Nationwide Boiler Inc., a supplier of temporary and permanent boiler equipment, custom

  • Choosing the Right Distributed Energy Resource

    The decision on whether or not to invest in distributed energy resources is complicated. Evaluating all aspects, including cost, consumption metrics, resource availability, personal goals, and reliability

  • Lower-Cost Managed Charging Paves the Way for EV Adoption

    It’s no secret that the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is pivotal to creating a more sustainable future. Fortunately, consumers are embracing electrification, with reports indicating that EVs will make up nearly 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46% of new medium-duty vehicle sales by 2032. While these reports are promising, the transition […]

  • Deloitte Report Details Importance of Energy Storage to U.S. Power Grid

    Energy industry analysts have said energy storage will be needed to support the integration of renewable energy into the U.S. power grid, and to provide grid flexibility and reliability. Energy storage, including the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS), also will support moves toward electrification and continued decentralization of U.S. power generation. A new […]

  • Solar-Powered EV Chargers Supporting California Vineyard

    Companies in the agriculture sector are increasingly relying on distributed power generation to support their operations, particularly those wanting to use make their energy use cleaner and their supply of electricity more reliable. A vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley in California provides an example of an agricultural property benefiting from off-grid energy. The Kaerskov […]

  • Solar Farm at a Landfill Site Brings New Meaning for Waste to Energy

    The Mount Olive project in New Jersey is a model for turning a brownfield site into a “brightfield,” supporting cleaner power generation and providing a wealth of benefits for the local community. The U.S

  • AusNet Embraces Data-Driven Storm Impact Modeling

    Power companies must respond to outages caused by extreme weather events. Having accurate predictions concerning the severity of impending storms can ensure companies are prepared with the right resources on

  • Hydrogen Production, SMRs Touted for Virginia Data Center Hub

    Two companies supporting different technologies in the energy sector have formed a joint venture to develop an industrial park in Virginia that could feature data centers powered by hydrogen gas generators and small modular reactors (SMRs). Green Energy Partners (GEP), a Pennsylvania-based group better known for its development of solar power, and IP3 International—a nuclear […]

  • Propane Is a Sustainable Choice for Growing Microgrid Need

    Construction professionals can rely on propane for lower emissions and enhanced resiliency. Commercial buildings are experiencing more and more unplanned power outages and it’s causing incredible strain on

  • Investors Announce Nearly $75 Million in Funding for Community Solar

    Investors are continuing to pour money into community solar projects, with groups on July 31 announcing nearly $75 million in funding for multiple installations. Renewable Properties, which develops and invests in small-scale utility and community solar installations, on July 31 said it has closed its Fund 9 portfolio. The company said the $53.5 million portfolio […]

  • Creating More Resilient Data Centers to Navigate Energy Volatility and Extreme Weather

    An astonishing surge of heat across the globe shattered temperature records and marked three days of July 2023 as likely the hottest in Earth’s modern history. When temperatures rise dramatically, data centers also struggle to keep their servers cool. As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, energy market volatility is expected to persist. […]

  • POWER and Enverus Partner on New Power Industry Data and Insights Tool

    Power industry professionals searching for valuable data and insights on U.S. power plants will find a wealth of information in the POWER Plant ID (Intelligence Database) research tool. Data available includes plant locations, capacities, generation types, ownership breakdown, production history, emissions data, and more.   HOUSTON/AUSTIN, Texas (July 18, 2023) — POWER, the leading power […]

  • Inspiring a New Generation of Engineers: Miss America Grace Stanke to Speak at Experience POWER Week – Clean Energy, Cleaner Future

    Grace Stanke is the current Miss America and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied nuclear engineering. She is an advocate for clean energy and inspiring the next generation of engineers. During her year as Miss America, she is traveling the country using her national platform to advocate for “Clean Energy – Cleaner […]

  • The POWER Interview: Harnessing the Energy Potential of American Agriculture

    Much of the innovation in the power generation and energy sectors revolves around efficiency, with companies working to ensure a reliable and resilient supply of electricity while also reducing emissions. Those efficiency measures also include technologies to enhance sustainability, including recycling, cleaner fuels, and providing alternative modes of electric power. Companies such as Clean Energy […]

  • Finnish Group Touts Nuclear Reactor for District Heating

    A Finnish group announced construction of a reactor-based heating plant that would provide residential and district heating, saying the project would advance the district energy model and support decarbonization and electrification in Europe as more countries move away from the use of fossil fuels for energy. Steady Energy, a company spun out of the VTT […]

  • New Technologies Driving Electric Grid Modernization

    Over the past couple of decades, the expected growth in electricity usage unexpectedly flatlined, leaving utilities with stagnant revenue, but aging infrastructure in need of capital investment. Then came the technology revolution of the last five years, with electric vehicles (EVs) becoming more popular as governments worldwide mandate lower emissions, and microgeneration of electricity via […]