Focus
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD - Jan 22 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that non-hydroelectric renewable energy resources such as solar and wind will be the fastest growing source of U.S. electricity generation for at least the next two years. EIA’s January 2019 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) forecasts that electricity generation from utility-scale solar generating units will grow by 10 percent in 2019 and by 17 percent in 2020. According to the January STEO, wind generation will grow by 12 percent and 14 percent during the next two years. EIA forecasts total U.S. electricity generation across all fuels will fall by 2 percent this year and then show very little growth in 2020.
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION WORLD - Jan 22 Governor Jerry Brown recently signed some of the most ambitious clean energy and carbon reduction goals in the world. The state’s utilities must have 60 percent of their power mix come from renewable resources by 2030, and, by 2045, all retail electricity sold must be met by carbon-free resources. SMUD, a community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility serving 1.5 million residents in California’s capital region, already had a running start on the road to 2045. For instance, the greenhouse-gas reduction goals SMUD established several years ago predated and exceeded those set by the state. SMUD is also a trendsetter in making time-of-day rates standard for all customers and in supporting the electrification of buildings and transportation to improve regional air quality.
MICROGRID KNOWLEDGE - Jan 24 The city of Calistoga is moving forward with early-stage discussions with the non-profit Clean Coalition regarding a community microgrid, with the risk of wildfires and utility power shutdowns driving talks. Clean Coalition has designed and participated in the deployment of community solar-plus-storage microgrids around the country, including completing a feasibility assessment of options for VMWare’s main campus in Palo Alto. The key challenge for any community microgrid for Calistoga centers on being able to safely, reliably, and cost-effectively deliver electricity when PG&E turns off power for fire safety.
ARIZONA DAILY STAR - Jan 18 In a move that could make the installation of grid-connected renewable-energy and battery systems easier and cheaper, the Arizona Corporation Commission has preliminarily approved a long-awaited set of rules governing how such off-grid power sources connect to state-regulated utilities. After more than a decade in the making, the draft rules for distributed generation facilities are expected to be formalized and considered for final approval within a few months. The draft rules provide a streamlined “super fast-track” process for approval of systems with a maximum rated generating capacity of 20 kilowatts or less, a fast-track process for systems of less than 2 megawatts, and a longer “study track” process including in-depth facility studies for projects greater than 2 megawatts.
UTILITY DIVE - Jan 22 Mercom Capital Group says companies focused on smart grids, batteries, and energy efficiency raised $2.8 billion in venture capital funding in 2018, an 86 percent increase over the $1.5 billion they raised in 2017. Much of the steep increase came from the energy efficiency sector, which saw funding jump almost four-fold. According to Mercom's new report, VC funding for efficiency companies jumped to $1.5 billion in 23 deals last year, compared to $384 million in 38 deals in 2017. This is the second year in a row that Mercom has reported increased investment in the trio of sectors, reflecting a growing consensus that efficiency and energy technologies will be key to reducing carbon emissions.
STATESMAN JOURNAL - Jan 18 Restrictions on new solar arrays being built on high-value farmland are likely on the way in Oregon, but not before two dozen projects will be built in Marion County. The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission is scheduled to enact new regulations at its January 24 meeting that would effectively end most new solar farms in the Willamette Valley. But proponents of the solar arrays on farmland said the new regulations could remove millions of acres of land from possible solar use, often land that is not productive for farming. Regardless, there are 24 sites in Marion County already approved and, if all are built, it would give the county 367 acres of solar arrays on a total of 31 farms out of 289,383 acres deemed high value.
Projects
MIDLAND REPORTER-TELEGRAM - Jan 20 Just south of Midland, Texas, a massive wind farm is beginning to take shape. The High Lonesome project will be the largest wind farm in the world for Italian company Enel Green Power. When completed by the end of the year, the 450-megawatt project represents a $600 million investment and, once fully operational, will generate about 1.7 terawatt hours annually.
