Chris Bailey

DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors (my latest for PV Magazine USA) Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s #PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

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Merchant vs hedge in battery storage... That's what I'll be discussing at the Solarmedia Battery Asset Management Summit November 12 in San Diego I'll be on a panel with my friend Joe Crespo, Sandeep Arora of REV Renewables, Erdal Kara, PhD of Vistra Corp., Li Xu of LXI Capital and Sebastian Blake of Octopus Energy talking about risks and rewards, and sharing my Plus Power perspective #energystorage #batterystorage #batteries https://lnkd.in/eQDiv_Ax

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📈 Corporate PPA activity in the ERCOT market has reached 1.8 GW, YTD 2024. Data from the Enerdatics Energy Transition PPA database indicates that ERCOT has seen ~1.8 GW in corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) since the start of 2024, constituting over 60% of the U.S. total. 💡 Tech giant Microsoft leads the way, having secured ~800 MW across three deals. Meanwhile, new entrants such as UnitedHealth Group, Sonoco, and AdventHealth are also stepping up their sustainability efforts. 🏆 Key Suppliers Making Waves: > Regional Leaders: Primergy, Leeward Renewable, Scout Clean Energy > International Players: Orsted, ENGIE 🤝 Positive PPA negotiations in ERCOT are driven by the market's lower land and interconnection costs, which help mitigate higher interest rates and supply chain issues. 🌟 Top Deals to Note: > Microsoft and Primergy Solar: 408 MW from Ash Creek solar project > Hyundai and Matrix Renewables: 147 MW (Hyundai’s first U.S. PPA) > RTX and ENGIE: ~38 MW from Priddy wind project #CorporatePPA #ERCOT #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Microsoft #Hyundai #RTX #ENGIE #Orsted #Primergy #LeewardRenewable #ScoutCleanEnergy #UnitedHealthGroup #Sonoco #AdventHealth

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For anyone who will be at IEEE Power & Energy Society T&D Conference feel free to stop by our panel session on #EVs and #gridreliability. Will be an interesting cross-sector discussion including technology provider, independent system operator, and utility perspectives among others. E-mobility is driving the blending of Transmission and Distribution system planning, design, and operations. Particularly with the growing prevalence of distributed energy resources, IoT and grid-edge technologies, and virtual power plants (#VPPs).

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The bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 released by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) takes a much needed step in accelerating the permitting process for critical energy projects in the U.S. As the legislation spornors's state (shared here), our outdated permitting system is stifling our ability to move clean energy projects forward, which in turn has adverse economic effects and inhibits our ability to reduce emissions. I'm glad to see these bipartisan efforts are moving toward fixing a broken permitting system that has shackled American energy production for far too long. #EnergyProduction #EnergyPermitting

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Grid Reliability Impacts of EV Charging-Two Important Initiatives-Call for Engagement Several years ago, with the support of EnerTech Capital, the California Mobility Center, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), WECC and other organizations, I was fortunate to be involved in helping to form and manage a working group focused on increasing cross sector collaboration to better understand and mitigate potential adverse impacts of EV charging. In April 2022, a CMC working group published a paper including a number of grid friendly charging recommendations, as well as highlighted the need for more robust technical collaboration between the electric industry and EV OEMs and real-world data to both support and build on recommendations regarding grid friendly charging behaviors. I'm highlighting two recent initiatives and encouraging ongoing technical engagement and support from experts in utility, automotive, communications, software, consulting, and related fields. NERC is proposing to stand up an electric vehicle task force under its industry led Reliability Security Technical Committee. The task force deliverables over 2 years include reports regarding bulk power system reliability risks, a technical report on EV charging states and type tests, improvements in EV charging load modeling, and recommendations regarding interconnection requirements. For more information contact [email protected] or [email protected] In addition, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute recently made available a paper entitled “Exploratory Pilot: Analyzing Grid and EV Interactions Through Measuring Driving Behavior, Charging Behavior and Electricity.”  James Sayer and Eric Wingfield led the work for UMTRI, together with Taylor Spalt from Utilidata. The pilot monitored ten vehicles for operational data over 86 days at 8 public charging locations outfitted with Utilidata’s meter adapters. Among the observations was that during specific charging events, EVs generated increased power loss, contributed to voltage loss, and created unfriendly grid responses among other effects. Further research is recommended to support the assessment of potential broader grid impacts, as well as improve modeling. These observations are consistent with the findings contained in the CMC working group report. The paper also included observations regarding charging behaviors and impacts. Continued stakeholder supported research by UMTRI is critical and can help inform the NERC EV Task Force initiative. Please reach out to Eric Wingfiled at UMTRI for a copy of the paper. He may be reached at [email protected] Fostering electric system reliability is critical to the success and reputation of the automotive and utility industries.  Getting this type of collaboration off the ground and maintaining momentum is not easy, especially given the pressing challenges facing both industries. Please lean in. Your support is critical.

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Today, Edison International published Reaching Net Zero, a forward-looking analysis that reinforces the urgent need for public-private collaboration, enhanced efficiencies and significant investment in clean firm generation to meet California’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.   While California’s clean energy future is within reach, it is not assured. We need proactive planning to address and navigate challenges and risks.   Edison International is committed to delivering 100% clean electricity to customers and reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. I hope you’ll take some time to read this significant new analysis.   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gWVNyKCX   #NetZeroBy2045 #cleanenergy #sustainability #renewableenergy #ClimateWeekNYC

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The cost of energy transition, decarbonization, and unexpected spikes in electricity demand are starting to flow through to home energy bills. To keep the lights on, utility commissions are approving utility requests. This is the new normal in energy. In Colorado, Xcel Energy has requested approval for $5b of new spending. “It is a demand on the grid we haven’t seen since the advent of air conditioning." “We need to do more proactive investment to keep up with the unprecedented demand.” -Robert Kenney, CEO of Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary At Ascent Energy Ventures we're ridding this trend through investments in grid optimization, management, and improvement. Thanks to the The Colorado Sun for this great image. https://lnkd.in/gG_2F8mW

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#unavoidableopportunity #climateresilience investment now. "Separately, the Department of Energy is trying to help utilities squeeze more capacity out of the existing grid. That includes “grid-enhancing technologies” such as sensors that allow energy companies to send more power through existing lines without overloading them and advanced controls that allow operators to ease congestion on the grid. It also includes replacing existing lines with advanced conductors, which can potentially double capacity along existing routes. The Energy Department is currently offering $3.9 billion in funding that could go toward these and other solutions."

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Canary Media with an article on how rural electric cooperatives are tapping into the IRA to fund the shift from fossil to renewable generation. "How $7.3B will help rural co-ops build clean power—and close coal plants This Inflation Reduction Act program is offering 16 rural electric co-ops financing to overcome the up-front costs of shifting from dirty coal to clean power. Rural electric cooperatives, which bring electricity to the most sparsely populated parts of the country, are getting their biggest federal investment since the New Deal — and this time around, the money is going to help fight climate change. Last week, the Biden administration announced $7.3 billion in financing for 16 rural co-ops serving about 5 million households across 23 states. The money will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which implemented the Rural Electrification Act, the 1936 law that financed the buildout of the grid in more remote areas of the country. It will also be matched by more than $29 billion in private investments with a goal of building more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy. That’s a big jump from the nearly 16 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity co-ops have today." Read more at https://conta.cc/4d4kLmE #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenerg

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Berkeley's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) has published a great piece on how to reduce the costs of new electricity transmission in California. This is a companion report to the work DHInfrastructure did earlier in the year on how public sector financing could be used as part of Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements. The Clean Air Task Force and Net-Zero California (who commissioned both studies) have done a fantastic job pushing these messages to policymakers. So fantastic, in fact, that Section 5 of the recently approved AB-3264 explicitly included a directive for the California Public Utilities Commission to study the possible use of public financing and PPPs. See links to CATF's policy brief, CLEE's report, and our report below: https://lnkd.in/egcAmpnQ

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Hybrid power plants should be able to systematically replace older combustion turbines anywhere in the world. The current push to install new fossil-gas power plants to meet computing demand is incredibly backward looking. The world is changing so fast at this point, if you try to advance while looking backward, you're going to end up flat on your ass, getting trampled by the people passing you.

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Constellation is close to finalizing a $30bn deal to acquire power producer Calpine, a transaction that would significantly bolster its generation capacity amid growing US power demand. The deal, expected to be announced by January 13, is likely to involve a payment structure consisting mostly of stock, with a smaller cash component. Historically, Constellation Energy has worked with Sidley Austin LLP and Bank of America, according to MergerLinks data. #MergersAcquisitionsDivestitures #Energy #PowerProducer

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Wind generation in 2023 declined in the US for the first time despite capacity addition. The drop was driven by a 33.5% capacity utilization (vs 35.9% in 2022). More efficiency is always the answer. For instance, tools that identify better wind spots, avoid downtime, prevent cyber attacks, improve maintenance routines, batteries coupled to store energy, etc. Of course 100% utilization rate is not achievable, but is 1/3 utilization rate a number we should table on? https://lnkd.in/d8eQn4e9

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Grid Status is a great website for tracking US electricity markets. https://lnkd.in/dD4uSswg Yesterday at sunset prices reached near peak scarcity prices in ERCOT in the real time market (over $4000/MWh). Grid status summary page for ERCOT lets you see why https://lnkd.in/eZ4PSWSm (admittedly this is on the ERCOT website too but it is only easy to get to today's info on the ERCOT website - at least for me - and a lot less easy to get to yesterday or any day earlier than that there (e.g. today's data readily accessible here https://lnkd.in/gmk74yvz)). Grid status will remark on notable stuff on their linkedin page - here is their post about yesterday's ERCOT prices https://lnkd.in/eR8GFS6E The pic below is from their website summarizing April 16th with those notable realtime evening prices.

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Community solar is likely 'dead on arrival' in California. After a 2022 law opening California to community solar, regulators adopted a plan that only makes minor changes. It’s possible regulators are favoring utility-scale solar over rooftop and community to better navigate the impending challenges (such as excess solar supply) and build a more financially sustainable grid. #CommunitySolar #ClimateTech #CleanTech #CAISO #Solar

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Grid analysts challenge Bonneville Power’s pace in adopting advanced conductors--my latest for PV Magazine USA. As the White House encourages utilities to use advanced conductors to help interconnect new renewable generation, the federally-owned utility Bonneville Power is moving slowly to use the high-capacity conductors, analysts said. Mike O'Boyle, Casey Baker, Michelle Solomon #AdvancedConductors

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