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Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

GTM Squared

Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

A new study argues against either/or visions for the renewables powering the future electricity grid.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | December 4, 2020

12.04.20 Grid Edge 8

Xlinks seeks government backing for an ambitious plan to carry Saharan solar power from Morocco to the U.K. via undersea cable.

Xlinks Revives Desertec’s Dream, With a Few Twists

This startup thinks the time is right to ship Saharan renewables to the U.K.

by Jason Deign

12.02.20 Grid Edge 4

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks has picked Oxfordshire for the next test of its grid market system for distributed energy. (Credit: SSEN)

How the UK Is Building Grid Markets to Reward Flexible Distributed Energy

Opus One and Scottish & Southern Energy take the next steps in the U.K.’s integrated-grid vision.

by Jeff St. John

12.01.20 Grid Edge 1

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is back to five members after Monday's Senate confirmation.

Senate Confirms Democrat Clements, Republican Christie to FERC

The commission will retain a Republican majority, but the Biden administration is likely to name a new chair.

by Jeff St. John

12.01.20 4

An ongoing bribery scandal is leading to questions about a 2011 Illinois state law that's offered utility ComEd favorable regulatory treatment.

ComEd’s Favorable Regulatory Treatment for Grid Investments Comes Under Fire

Consumer watchdog blasts Illinois utility ComEd and parent Exelon for profiting from a 2011 law linked to the recent bribery scandal, and it demands changes.

by Jeff St. John

11.30.20 Energy 35

Utilities around the world are testing the effects of increasing the share of green hydrogen in natural gas pipelines.

Green Hydrogen in Natural Gas Pipelines: Decarbonization Solution or Pipe Dream?

Hydrogen blending projects across the world must contend with engineering, energy-density and supply challenges.

by Jeff St. John

11.30.20 Efficiency 8

Which of these New York City buildings are more likely to be more energy efficient? Their height may offer the answer. (Credit: Pixabay)

Getting Building Height Right for the Climate

Skyscrapers use and lose more energy than low-rise buildings, research shows. Can smarter design and technology change that?

by Ingrid Lobet

What Can Energy Storage Get From President Biden?

GTM Squared

What Can Energy Storage Get From President Biden?

Can the federal government become the industry’s new biggest customer?

by Julian Spector | November 30, 2020

11.25.20 Grid Edge 3

IBM's Brad Gammons will discuss the global utility digital transformation at next week's virtual Grid Edge Innovation Summit 2020. (Credit: IBM)

Grid Edge Innovation Summit 2020: IBM’s Brad Gammons on Utility Digitalization in the Age of Decarbonization

IBM’s Energy, Environment & Utility industry lead explains how IT will enable the clean energy evolution.

by GTM Staff

11.23.20 Grid Edge 5

California is in a race against time to prevent rotating blackouts if another heat wave hits next summer.

California Seeks Quick Fixes to Prevent Heat-Wave Blackouts Next Summer

Regulators are looking at demand- and supply-side fixes, but the turnaround will be extremely tight for grid infrastructure.

by Julian Spector

11.23.20 Perspectives 14

The Dodd-Frank Act provides authority for the incoming Biden administration to set strong financial limits on fossil fuel investments, experts say.

Industry Perspective

The Most Important Climate Legislation Has Already Passed

The Dodd-Frank Act will give the Biden administration the power to supercharge the clean energy transition.

by Justin Guay

11.20.20 Grid Edge 36

The David-Besse power plant is one of two nuclear plants set to receive more than $1 billion in state subsidies under Ohio's House Bill 6.

Ohio’s Top Utility Regulator Resigns After FBI Raid Linked to Bribery Scandal

Sam Randazzo resigns after FBI agents search his home and FirstEnergy reveals $4 million payment to a former consultant-turned-regulator.

by Jeff St. John

11.20.20 Grid Edge 2

FERC faces legal challenges to decisions to deny rehearing requests on decisions for New England capacity market and PURPA rules.

FERC Dissents Reveal Continued Political Tension on Clean Energy Policy

FERC’s sole Democrat blasts New England market and PURPA decisions, warns of legal challenges.

by Jeff St. John

11.20.20 Grid Edge 36

BYD and China's equivalent of Uber, DiDi, have launched a tailored ride-sharing EV. (Credit: DiDi)

Report: Rapid Transport Decarbonization Means We’ve Probably Passed Peak Oil

Transportation electrification in China and India will erode oil demand growth, according to Carbon Tracker.

by John Parnell

11.20.20 Energy 1

Iberdrola's green hydrogen plans call for 800 megawatts of production, which is 20 percent of Spain's 2030 target. (Credit: Iberdrola)

Iberdrola Aims for Green Hydrogen Leadership Role in Europe

The Spanish power giant will provide up to 800 megawatts of green hydrogen production for ammonia production.

by Jason Deign

11.19.20 Energy Storage 2

Sonnen's latest battery product aims for affordability as interest in home batteries reaches new heights.

Sonnen Launches Lower-Priced Battery for Home Backup and Grid Services

The sonnenCore is priced to compete with rivals Tesla, LG Chem and Enphase, and to tap emerging grid services opportunities.

by Julian Spector

11.18.20 Grid Edge 2

Patti Poppe, now CEO of CMS Energy, will take the helm of California's largest utility as it struggles to rebuild trust, improve safety and strengthen its finances. (Credit: PG&E)

PG&E Picks New CEO to Lead It Through Post-Bankruptcy Challenges

Patti Poppe, now CEO of Michigan utility CMS Energy, will seek to revamp PG&E’s safety programs, prevent wildfires and manage grid outages.

by Jeff St. John

11.18.20 Grid Edge 4

Richard Glick, pictured with fellow FERC commissioner Neil Chatterjee, is seen as a likely pick to chair the key federal grid regulator under the Biden administration (Credit: FERC)

The Top Priorities of FERC’s Most Likely New Chairman Under Biden

Richard Glick, FERC’s sole Democrat, supports taking a “serious look” at capacity market rules that undermine states’ clean energy policies.

by Jeff St. John

11.18.20 Energy 2

Boris Johnson's 10-point plan may lack detail, but it sets the course for efforts to achieve net-zero status by 2050. (Credit: Pippa Fowles/Number 10)

UK Boosts Hydrogen, EVs and Carbon Capture With New Net-Zero Plan

Targets for hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicles are set in the 10-point plan, but the industry is calling for more detailed policies.

by John Parnell

11.17.20 Grid Edge 17

The Intermountain Power Project, site of what could become a major green hydrogen hub for the U.S. West. (credit: Intermountain Power Authority)

How to Build a Green Hydrogen Economy for the US West

The Intermountain and ACES projects may be the start of a regionwide green hydrogen generation and transmission network.

by Jeff St. John

11.16.20 Grid Edge 8

Electric School Bus Fleets Test the US Vehicle-to-Grid Proposition

Coast-to-coast projects envision parked bus batteries as grid-balancing, revenue-generating resources.

by Jeff St. John

11.12.20 Grid Edge 5

Nuvve manages a V2G Fleet in Denmark, providing frequency regulation service to grid operator Energinet. (Credit: Nuvve)

V2G Charging Pioneer Nuvve to Go Public via SPAC Reverse Merger

The grid-interactive EV charging player is the latest EV-related company seeking public investment.

by Jeff St. John

11.11.20 Grid Edge 8

FirstEnergy's Fort Martin power plant, one of the two coal-fired plants that make up the majority of its owned generation fleet.

FirstEnergy’s Carbon-Reduction Pledge Lacks Clear Path to Cutting Coal Use

The Midwest utility faces scrutiny over its links to an Ohio scandal and its fossil-fuel dependence.

by Jeff St. John

11.10.20 Grid Edge 2

NextEra has been hunting for utility acquisitions over the past decade, but most have been rebuffed.

Evergy Pushes Back on Report of NextEra Energy’s $15B Acquisition Offer

Reuters cites unnamed sources claiming U.S. renewables leader NextEra is expanding its hunt for regulated utilities.

by Jeff St. John

11.10.20 Energy Storage 7

An artist's rendering of the Victorian Big Battery, which will assist power flows between two Australian states. (Credit: Neoen)

Australia Picks Massive Tesla-Supplied Battery to Ease Transmission Constraint

Neoen and Tesla will build the biggest battery yet for a transmission application as Victoria works toward 50 percent renewable power.

by Julian Spector

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Regulation & Policy

Pushing Past the Distributed vs. Large-Scale Solar Debate

Xlinks Revives Desertec’s Dream, With a Few Twists

How the UK Is Building Grid Markets to Reward Flexible Distributed Energy

Senate Confirms Democrat Clements, Republican Christie to FERC

ComEd’s Favorable Regulatory Treatment for Grid Investments Comes Under Fire

Green Hydrogen in Natural Gas Pipelines: Decarbonization Solution or Pipe Dream?

Getting Building Height Right for the Climate

What Can Energy Storage Get From President Biden?

Grid Edge Innovation Summit 2020: IBM’s Brad Gammons on Utility Digitalization in the Age of Decarbonization

California Seeks Quick Fixes to Prevent Heat-Wave Blackouts Next Summer

The Most Important Climate Legislation Has Already Passed

Ohio’s Top Utility Regulator Resigns After FBI Raid Linked to Bribery Scandal

FERC Dissents Reveal Continued Political Tension on Clean Energy Policy

Report: Rapid Transport Decarbonization Means We’ve Probably Passed Peak Oil

Iberdrola Aims for Green Hydrogen Leadership Role in Europe

Sonnen Launches Lower-Priced Battery for Home Backup and Grid Services

PG&E Picks New CEO to Lead It Through Post-Bankruptcy Challenges

The Top Priorities of FERC’s Most Likely New Chairman Under Biden

UK Boosts Hydrogen, EVs and Carbon Capture With New Net-Zero Plan

How to Build a Green Hydrogen Economy for the US West

Electric School Bus Fleets Test the US Vehicle-to-Grid Proposition

V2G Charging Pioneer Nuvve to Go Public via SPAC Reverse Merger

FirstEnergy’s Carbon-Reduction Pledge Lacks Clear Path to Cutting Coal Use

Evergy Pushes Back on Report of NextEra Energy’s $15B Acquisition Offer

Australia Picks Massive Tesla-Supplied Battery to Ease Transmission Constraint