Solar
-
Renewables
TerraPro Solutions Implements Coronavirus Best Practices to Help Renewable Projects Advance Toward Critical Deadlines
TerraPro Solutions recommends comprehensive risk mitigation strategies to avoid significant delays and cost overruns, with proactive steps that can be taken now to protect renewable project development timelines. In the midst of this expanding public health crisis, TerraPro Solutions understands the uncertainty that this news has triggered for us and our families. While safety is […]
-
O&M
ELECTRIC POWER Conference Postponed
The world has become a very different place over the past few months with the outbreak of a new coronavirus—COVID-19. The virus has forced travel bans and literal lockdowns in several countries. The NCAA and
-
Safety
New Lockout-Tagout Program Improves Safety
As one of the U.S.’s premier energy companies, Southern Company is committed to providing a safe work environment for employees. It regularly implements best-in-class safety procedures to ensure compliance
-
Solar
What Does It Take to Develop Utility-Scale Solar Projects?
Constructing a utility-scale solar project requires more than simply buying PV panels and mounting them in a field. It can take years to find the right location, conduct feasibility studies, obtain permits, and align the proverbial stars. A couple of experts, who have managed multiple projects through the process, were guests on The POWER Podcast. […]
-
News
Renewable Energy Advocates Decry Lack of Help in Stimulus Bill
The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Senate on March 25 should provide some economic relief to the nation’s households and businesses, but the renewable energy industry is disappointed the bill does not extend investment tax credits and other incentives to keep wind, solar, and other projects moving forward. Clean-energy industry groups […]
-
News
Pandemic Creating ‘Crisis’ for Solar Industry
The president of the Solar Energy Industries Association on March 17 said the solar industry is seeing “a pretty significant crisis” along with the overall economy due to the global coronavirus pandemic, as the situation likely will limit growth in the solar sector this year. Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the SEIA, told […]
-
News
Solar Drives Down Price for ISO-NE Power
Silicon Valley-based SunPower on March 16 said it has secured grid capacity for about 11 MW of power after a winning bid in ISO New England’s 14th Forward Capacity Auction (FCA), in which companies predict the cost of making power in 2023. The auction, which closed in February, saw a record low price of $2 […]
-
Press Releases
Breakthrough Renewable Energy Project in Myanmar Delivers Electricity for First Time to Thousands of People
Yangon, Myanmar, March 13, 2020 — Yoma Micro Power has set up its 250th solar-hybrid power plant in rural Myanmar, with the innovative renewable energy plants expected to deliver power for the first time to an estimated 25,000 people across the country. Under a unique business model, Yoma Micro Power uses the solar-hybrid plants to […]
-
Markets
Gas-Heavy ISO-New England Braces for Steep Influx of Wind, Solar, Storage
While it is currently highly dependent on natural gas generation today, about 95% of ISO-New England’s (ISO-NE’s) interconnection request queue—a proposed total capacity of 20.9 GW—comprises wind, solar, and battery projects. That clearly indicates that developers in New England’s wholesale market “are looking to take advantage of state incentives, declining technology costs, and revenues from […]
-
Distributed Energy
The POWER Interview: Google, Utilities Partner for Energy Solutions
Businesses are putting more emphasis on sustainability, coordinating their operations to ensure financial success while also being mindful of environmental concerns. Investors in many cases are demanding companies embrace sustainability, which often includes being more efficient in their use of energy. That’s one reason behind the growth in distributed power generation, as companies develop their […]
-
News
Nation’s Largest Community Solar Program Set to Launch
Florida Power & Light (FPL) on March 3 received approval from state regulators to launch the nation’s largest community solar program. FPL’s $1.8 billion SolarTogether project will more than double the amount of available community solar power nationwide. The program, unanimously approved Tuesday by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), adds almost 1.5 GW of […]
-
Renewables
Flow Batteries: Energy Storage Option for a Variety of Uses
Energy storage is becoming increasingly important to the power industry. Lithium-ion battery technology has been implemented in many locations, but flow batteries offer significant benefits in long-duration
-
Solar
Novel Stellio Heliostat Solar Project Goes Online in China
One of the world’s first molten salt tower concentrated solar power (CSP) projects that uses a “Stellio” heliostat was grid-connected at the end of December in China’s Xinjiang province near the
-
News
Moving Toward Mainstream—The Rise of Renewable Goals
More states are setting targets for renewable energy. Cities and counties are joining in. Utilities are formalizing commitments. And economics, as always, play a major role. The transition to clean energy
-
T&D
Are Traditional Power Companies Being Disintermediated?
How will the electric grid change as the world transitions to a power system with more renewable energy resources? Some experts foresee a shift from today’s grid-type architecture to a system of systems—from the current centralized design to a distributed energy scheme. While it’s hard to know exactly what the future holds, it’s commonly believed […]
-
Wind
The Year Wind Surpassed Hydro as the Top Renewable in the U.S.
Annual wind power generation exceeded hydroelectric generation for the first time in 2019, according to data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Feb. 26, making wind the top-producing renewable source of electricity in the country, a position long held by hydro. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly with Data for December 2019 report […]
-
News
Fast Fixes to California’s ‘New Normal’ of Power Outages
Experts say the solution is simple: increase the role of distributed renewables and deploy energy storage-based microgrids throughout the state. As California continues to cope with looming scheduled blackouts, the harsh reality is that not only is this the new normal for citizens and businesses on the West Coast, but it could remain that way […]
-
Energy Storage
Energy Storage—A Trillion-Dollar Holy Grail
The science of renewable energy is remarkable—the ability to harness nature to magically power our modern world is a seductive vision. And yet, the actual business of renewable energy is late to establish itself as a viable competitor to the petrochemical industry. The problem is rooted in cost parity and the challenges of production, storage, […]
-
News
Research Group: Energy Storage Market Will Hit $546 Billion by 2035
A new report from a global research, data, and analytics firm says the total market for energy storage will reach $546 billion in annual revenue over the next 15 years, led by the continued electrification of the transportation sector. Lux Research, a Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered group, in its “Global Energy Storage Market 2019” report, estimates the […]
-
Press Releases
More renewable energy options available under Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 25, 2020) – The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has approved Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program in North Carolina, enabling the company to expand renewable energy options for customers. View the NCUC order. “Large customers focused on securing more renewable energy now have an additional option with Duke Energy’s Green […]
-
Press Releases
Duke Energy Florida announces installation of one-millionth solar panel in state
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 24, 2020) — One million solar panels and counting… Duke Energy Florida today announced the installation of its one-millionth solar panel in the state at the company’s Columbia Solar Power Plant in Fort White, Fla. Duke Energy Florida plans to install a significant amount of additional solar energy over the next […]
-
News
TECO Announces $800-Million Investment in New Solar
Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) on Feb. 19 said it plans to invest about $800 million to add another 600 MW of solar power generation capacity by year-end 2023. TECO on Wednesday said the expansion will increase its solar portfolio to more than 1.25 GW of solar generation, or about 14% of its total generation mix. […]
-
Energy Storage
Researchers Make Progress on Several Power Projects
Researchers at a few prominent universities have published findings on recent power-related projects. At Cranfield University in the UK, hydrogen production technology is advancing with an eye on cost and carbon reductions; researchers at the University of Michigan released best practices for extending lithium-ion battery life; and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study found […]
-
Fuel
ITC Probing Economic Impact of Renewable Goals, Imports to New England
Responding to a request from a Democrat-led U.S. House committee, the federal International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating how New England’s increasing renewable targets are economically affecting the region, and what role renewable imports play in meeting those commitments. The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan and quasi-judicial federal agency that also provides fact-finding as it relates […]
-
Press Releases
Geronimo Energy and Basin Electric Power Cooperative Announce Power Purchase Agreement for 128 MW South Dakota Solar Project
PIERRE, S.D., Feb. 18, 2020 — Geronimo Energy (Geronimo), a National Grid company, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) announced today the execution of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Wild Springs Solar Project (Wild Springs). Wild Springs is a 128 megawatt (MW) clean solar energy project located in Pennington County, South Dakota, […]
-
Press Releases
Signal Energy Australia to Provide Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Services for the 706-Acre, 149 MW(P) Glenrowan West Solar Farm
SYDNEY, Feb. 18, 2020 — Signal Energy Australia Pty Ltd has partnered with WIRTGEN INVEST, a German investment company, to lead the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) effort on the Glenrowan West Solar Farm. Signal Energy Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Signal Energy, a leading design/build contractor providing EPC services to the renewable energy industry. […]
-
Renewables
WFW advises Noy Fund on acquisition of 421 MW Spanish PV portfolio
February 13, 2020 — Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised Noy Infrastructure & Energy Investment Fund (“Noy Fund”) on the acquisition of a majority stake in a photovoltaic (“PV”) portfolio of two plants with a total installed capacity of 421 MW from Hive Energy and White Light Energy. It represents Noy Fund’s first investment in […]
-
IIOT
Nuclear a Major Focus in Trump’s Latest Budget Request—and 8 Other Takeaways
Yucca Mountain, the 1987 Congressionally appointed deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel (SNF), may be officially dead; transmission assets held by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and three Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) will be put up for sale; and hundreds of millions of dollars in unobligated balances for flagship programs like the Advanced Research […]
-
News
Energy Northwest Study Makes a Case for SMRs in Future Power Mix
Deep decarbonization of the U.S. Northwest can be achieved at “manageable” costs by 2045, but only if utility agency Energy Northwest secures zero-emitting firm capacity, such as by relicensing Columbia Generating Station—the sole nuclear plant in the region—and building small modular reactors (SMRs), a new study suggests. The study by San Francisco-based consulting group Energy […]
-
News
California Official: Solar’s Future Bright, but Clouds Persist
The technology behind solar power is changing rapidly. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have said so-called “anti-solar” panels could even generate power at night. But even as solar deployments grow worldwide, more innovative solar products are launched, and more governments enact clean energy mandates, political headwinds threaten to slow the progress of the […]