Renewables: Page 73
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Tesla earnings surprise includes storage, solar growth
A surprise profit sent shares soaring. Beyond vehicle sales growth and cost cutting, the company boasted record 477 MWh storage installations and rebounding solar in Q3.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Global offshore wind prices drop 32%: BloombergNEF
Benchmark prices hit $78/MWh for the second half of 2019, while prices for onshore wind, solar and storage all decreased as well.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Explore the Trendline➔
adamkaz via Getty ImagesTrendlineThe 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 -
Deep Dive
Utilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say
Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019 -
California urges energy providers procure additional 4 GW to avoid potential shortages starting in 2021
The procurement proceeding, part of an effort to overhaul utility integrated resource planning in the state, also recommends compliance extensions necessary to keep several once-through cooling units online.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Lack of mega deals pressures quarterly utility M&A value to lowest since Q2 2017: PwC
While deal value in the North American utility sector declined to $7 billion in Q3, those deals reflect the diversity of opportunity in the energy sector, according to PwC analysis.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019 -
Opinion
State clean energy policies are upending generation risk profiles. Here's what you need to know.
Several factors are driving accelerated demand for renewables, and some of those factors may benefit more efficient, existing natural gas-fired assets in the near- to medium-term, three energy market experts from PA Consulting write.
By Ryan Hardy, Salem Esber and Dan Esposito • Oct. 23, 2019 -
New York climate law to drive $115B in utility-scale resource investment by 2040, report finds
As the state transitions from gas-dominated generation, solar and wind would make up 39% of New York’s energy capacity by 2030, and 83% by 2040, according to Energy Ventures Analysis.
By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Oct. 23, 2019 -
Sponsored by NEXTracker
Software's value to banks in an expanding solar industry
Price declines and significant improvements in technology have combined with increased financing sophistication to make large solar projects economically attractive.
Oct. 23, 2019 -
DTE, Consumers Energy push back on Michigan legislators' plan to rewrite 2016 energy law
The 2016 statute "created needless challenges and roadblocks for the solar industry," according to one lawmaker, but Consumers says newly proposed legislation would unfairly create subsidies for private solar ownership.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2019 -
Hanging with the lab rats: NREL researchers lay groundwork to accelerate US clean energy transition
The DOE lab is examining the impacts of "turbulence" on wind turbines as well as how to integrate battery storage systems and hydrogen alongside electric vehicle technologies.
By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 22, 2019 -
Distributed solar to drive global renewable growth 50% by 2024: IEA
In its latest forecast, the International Energy Agency predicts a 1,200 GW increase in global renewable capacity from 2019 through 2024, with solar accounting for 60% of the rise.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 22, 2019 -
231 mayors ask Congress for solar tax credit extension
The bipartisan group is requesting a five-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit, which they say could bring 113,000 jobs and $87 billion in economic investment by 2030.
By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 22, 2019 -
Virginia signs largest state renewable energy contract in US with 420 MW Dominion deal
The utility will deliver the energy from a 75 MW wind project and four proposed solar projects, totaling 345 MW over the next three years.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 21, 2019 -
Duke VP likens gas plant buildout strategy to 15-year home mortgage on path to zero carbon
How the utility will manage its gas assets in a 2040 scenario is "an accounting question ... not a technological question," and one of many perceived risks as the utility heads toward 2050, according to its Vice President of State Policy.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 18, 2019 -
As PPA price drops slow for wind and solar, developers see PJM, ERCOT as top markets
Wind prices rose in Q3 across several U.S. markets, and developers are increasingly feeling the pressure of declining tax credits, according to LevelTen, which also sees strong potential in MISO.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 17, 2019 -
Regulators grant first federal permits for offshore wind to Dominion, Ørsted pilot
The 12 MW demo has "essentially" all the permits needed to build, and developers can double down on a lot of the stakeholder research and surveying efforts to propose plans for a 2,600 MW commercial project.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 16, 2019 -
Green Mountain Power turnaround driven by customer obsession, cultural shift: CEO
Mary Powell reflects on how her HR roots helped her draw systemic changes to the utility's clean energy goals while on the cusp of bankruptcy.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 15, 2019 -
California's new reliability requirements create short-term opportunity for storage, CAISO says
Solar's ability to qualify for resource adequacy is declining as peak demand shifts, and storage has a limited window to meet the resulting capacity needs.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2019 -
FPL settles with Walmart, clean energy groups to advance largest US community solar project
The 1,490 MW project would almost double the amount of community solar currently installed in the U.S., but renewables advocates were initially concerned the program wasn't accessible to low income customers.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 15, 2019 -
Deep Dive
US wind, solar finance alternatives rise as sector rushes against looming tax credit expiration
Resources are being rapidly deployed ahead of the post-2020 phase-out, but political uncertainty makes turmoil unavoidable.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Plugging In: Colleges seek partners to help reach energy goals
As more energy customers set goals for lower emissions, some institutions are tapping the private sector for technical expertise and financial support to advance sustainability.
By Hallie Busta • Oct. 14, 2019 -
Ex-generals aim to shift conservative resiliency dialogue away from coal, nuclear subsidies
An energy-focused nonprofit on Thursday introduced a grid security initiative led by national security experts to promote market-based approaches to resilience.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 11, 2019 -
Mayors announce Global Green New Deal at C40 Summit
A coalition of 94 mayors showed support of the deal, intended to encourage emissions reduction in the transportation, buildings, industry and waste sectors.
By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 10, 2019 -
California, New England will miss 2050 carbon targets at current pace, reports find
California won't hit its emission reduction goals until 2157, while New England renewable additions will need to at least quadruple from current plans.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 10, 2019 -
Opinion
As renewables and DER expand, can IPPs be investment grade?
The few remaining IPPs must adapt to new market realities or face an uncomfortable future, writes Aneesh Prabhu, senior director of U.S. Energy Infrastructure at S&P Global Ratings.
By Aneesh Prabhu • Oct. 9, 2019