Figures from the California Energy Commission (CEC) highlight California’s continued progress toward building a more resilient grid, achieving 100% clean electricity, and meeting the state’s carbon neutrality goals. Analysis of the state’s Total System Electric Generation report shows how California’s power mix has changed over the last decade. Since 2012: solar generation increased nearly twentyfold from 2,609 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 48,950 GWh; wind generation grew by 63%; natural gas generation decreased 20%; and coal has been nearly phased out of the power mix.
Closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems have the lowest potential to add to the problem of global warming for energy storage when accounting for the full impacts of materials and construction, according to analysis conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). These findings, reported in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, provide insight into how closed-loop pumped storage hydropower — which is not connected to an outside body of water — compares to other grid-scale storage technologies.
The Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) has identified two draft areas for potential wind leases offshore southern Oregon, encompassing around 219,000 acres with a potential to add up to 2.6 GW of capacity. In response to its 2022 publication identifying areas with wind potential offshore Oregon, BOEM received expressions of interest from Avangrid Renewables, Bluefloat Energy Oregon, OW North America Ventures, and US Mainstream Renewable Power — each of which “has been legally, technically, and financially qualified,” the agency said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce found that a number of major Chinese solar panel suppliers — BYD, Canadian Solar, Trina Solar, and Vina Solar — circumvented existing antidumping tariffs by routing products to Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam for “minor processing” before shipment to the U.S. The companies, which supply a sizable portion of American solar panels, will now face heavy tariffs starting in June 2024. Duties were also levied on a fifth company, Cambodia-based New East Solar, which failed to comply with the investigation. This ruling marks the conclusion of the trade probe that was launched in March 2022.
One of Connecticut’s first two offshore wind farms reached a major milestone on August 22, with BOEM issuing a "record of decision" in the environmental review process for Revolution Wind, a prerequisite clearing the way for construction in the coming weeks. Revolution Wind will be located off Rhode Island, with partners Orsted and Eversource planning to sell the electricity generated by wind turbines to Connecticut and Rhode Island. Revolution Wind is the fourth offshore wind farm to receive a record of decision from BOEM.
Kaiser Permanente held the grand opening of the new San Marcos Medical Center in San Diego’s North County region. Among other achievements, the facility is Kaiser’s first new hospital designed with a microgrid system.
Recurrent Energy has secured a 20-year agreement with a local utility for the 1,200 MWh Papago Storage project in Maricopa County, Arizona. Papago is expected to begin construction in the third quarter of 2024 for a commercial operation date in the second quarter of 2025.
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