Baker Tilly, startup Ever.green team up to launch online marketplace for clean energy tax credits

The platform should relieve pent-up demand for renewable energy investments, according to Baker Tilly’s energy transition practice managing director.

By Emma Penrod • March 23, 2023

Hydrogen blending exceeds expectations in WEC Energy Group test of Wärtsilä gas-fired engine

Blending hydrogen with natural gas in a 20 MW engine cut carbon emissions by more than 10% during the largest such test to date, which also involved the Electric Power Research Institute and other partners.

By Emma Penrod • March 23, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

Global renewable growth broke records in 2022, adding almost 295 GW: IRENA

Despite the global energy crisis, renewables capacity worldwide increased by 9.6% in 2022, says a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

By Diana DiGangi • March 22, 2023

Energy Department to fund projects that aim to lower cost of wind energy production

The $30 million is meant for projects that improve lightweight composite materials and additive manufacturing for wind turbine components.

By Megan Ruggles • March 21, 2023

Google, LevelTen Energy team up to improve PPAs, streamline corporate renewable energy procurement

Google pioneered the virtual power purchase agreement and introduced concepts such as 24-7 time-matched energy offsetting. Its latest goal for PPAs is contract standardization.

By Emma Penrod • March 20, 2023

Renewables industry could address commodities squeeze with vertical integration: McKinsey

Proactive steps should be taken to account for the price volatility of raw materials needed for wind and solar, such as neodymium and polysilicon, the consulting firm says.

By Diana DiGangi • March 16, 2023

DOE offers $750M to help drive clean hydrogen production costs down 60% by 2026

The funding announced Wednesday aims to cut the cost of hydrogen produced with emissions-free electricity to $2 per kilogram by 2026 from around $5/kg today.

By Ethan Howland • March 16, 2023

Treasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say

Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023

NERC issues alert, recommendations to solar resources following inverter-based grid disturbances

The rapid interconnection of inverter-based resources “poses a high risk to grid reliability,” warned the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2023

Solar companies offer reassurance after renewables financier Silicon Valley Bank collapses

The federal government has ensured depositors won’t lose money as a result of the collapse, but many developers will have to find and establish new sources of financing. 

By Diana DiGangi • March 14, 2023

Community outreach and investment can help meet renewable industry’s worker demand, say labor experts

“It's gone from a critical issue to ‘the business doesn't work unless we get this right,’” said one panelist during the American Council on Renewable Energy’s public policy forum.

By Diana DiGangi • March 10, 2023

Solar industry aims for 2023 rebound, but year ahead remains deeply uncertain

Significant policy questions could put the U.S. on track to install 50 GW of solar per year by 2027 – or not, a report by Wood Mackenzie says.

By Emma Penrod • March 10, 2023

FERC must ensure that customer funds are only used to benefit customers and not political activities

If FERC provides a level playing field, we have a chance to enact policies that are in our best interest, use science, follow the math, and implement non-emitting energy solutions.

By Priya Gandbhir • March 9, 2023

New Jersey seeks up to 4 GW of offshore wind in latest solicitation

The state will award contracts for between 1.2 GW and 4 GW of offshore wind as it aims to meet its goal of deploying 11 GW by 2040 through five more solicitations.

By Diana DiGangi • March 8, 2023

Constellation Energy launches 1-MW nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility at Nine Mile Point

This is the final nuclear-powered hydrogen demonstration project announced by DOE last November to launch, following projects at the Davis-Besse, Prairie Island and Palo Verde plants.

By Diana DiGangi • March 7, 2023

Vistra moves more deeply into nuclear power with planned $3.43B acquisition of Energy Harbor

Vistra President and CEO Jim Burke cited the federal nuclear production tax credit that “now has down-side protection against lower power prices” as a benefit of the deal.

By Stephen Singer • March 7, 2023

Currently ‘not enough workers’ in the labor force to meet offshore wind’s 2030 goals: NREL

The national goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 will require both an increase in trainees and cross-training of workers from similar industries, said a National Renewable Energy Laboratory researcher.

By Diana DiGangi • March 6, 2023

New York eyes floating technology innovations as it aims to expand offshore wind to deeper waters

A commitment to launching offshore wind in deep waters will require technological advancements in floating wind, said NYSERDA’s vice president for large-scale renewables.

By Diana DiGangi • March 2, 2023

RWE completes $6.8B acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses

The new company, RWE Clean Energy, now operates a roughly 8-GW portfolio of renewable energy projects in the U.S. backed by a pipeline of more than 24 GW of wind, solar and battery storage.

By Stephen Singer • March 2, 2023

Private investors’ focus on single projects could stall offshore wind development: DOE loan office head

Recent legislation has allocated tens of billions of dollars to transmission and port upgrades, but aligning private and public capital is the next challenge, federal officials said Feb. 22.

By Emma Penrod • March 1, 2023

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023

Property-assessed clean energy programs are popular for local decarbonization financing: report

PACE programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 28, 2023

Advanced Energy United warns frameworks needed for transmission buildout ‘don’t really exist’

Building out transmission in the U.S. will require strong federal leadership as well as interstate and interregional coordination, said AEU’s transmission campaign director, Verna Mandez. 

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 27, 2023

Federal panel hones in on materials, manufacturing as top research needs for floating offshore wind

The harsh conditions associated with floating offshore wind require materials with extreme performance capabilities, creating opportunities for materials research, federal officials said.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 27, 2023

Enabling floating offshore wind could rapidly expand total offshore wind pipeline, Biden advisor says

State leaders say diverse priorities have prompted them to coordinate with the Biden administration to accelerate the deployment of floating offshore wind projects in the U.S.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 24, 2023