Matthew Irvin, P.E.

The Future of Energy Management: Virtual Tribal Energy Offices Explained https://lttr.ai/AXqLc #EnergyIndependence #NativeAmericanSolar #IndigenousEnergy #NativeRenewables #IndigenousInnovation #TribalEnergy

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Solar power after dark? Energy storage is making it possible. More states and utilities are looking to California’s example as they integrate more renewables and leverage energy storage to manage intermittency, reduce grid congestion, and mitigate the risk of brownouts or blackouts. This scalable solution is exactly what's needed to modernize our grid and ensure reliable energy availability in the push toward decarbonization. Our iron flow batteries, including our first project with SMUD in Sacramento, offer long-duration energy storage, filling a gap that lithium-ion batteries can't address. Read more about battery storage solutions in The New York Times:

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𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 🌟 California just made Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) mandatory with the new SB1006 law. Starting in 2025, utilities will need to evaluate Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs), like DLR, every two years as part of their transmission planning. Why does this matter? These changes will help make the grid more efficient, integrate renewable energy more effectively, and lower costs—all while paving the way for smarter, data-driven energy management. At Sentrisense, we’re thrilled to see steps like this that align with our work to make grids safer, stronger, and ready for the future. Curious about what this means for the energy sector? Check out our latest blog: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dR-7uZrJ #DynamicLineRating #Innovation #Energy #Sentrisense #California

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Constellation Energy's acquisition of Calpine represents a transformative development in the U.S. energy sector, with significant implications for market dynamics and grid interconnection. The merger's success will depend on effectively integrating diverse energy assets, strategic infrastructure investments, and careful navigation of regulatory landscapes. #EnergyTransition #GridModernization #MarketTrends Via Utility Dive https://lnkd.in/ghzgJnCB

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The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Department of Local Affairs have released the Colorado Microgrid Roadmap! NORESCO aided the CEO and S&C Electric Company in the facilitation of stakeholder engagement and development of this report. The roadmap resource explains the definitions, benefits, and challenges of microgrids in Colorado. It also explores opportunities within the state, especially from the perspective of vulnerable populations and regions most at risk for outages. Read the CEO’s press release: https://lnkd.in/eGk7HMPT For more about NORESCO’s involvement with microgrids, visit our website at https://lnkd.in/eFK35QRC #ColoradoEnergyOffice #microgrids #codesandstandards #energyresiliency #renewableenergy

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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 California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently issued a decision that sets timelines for the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to complete customer energization projects. Energization is the process of connecting electrification projects—such as electric vehicle charging equipment—to the grid so that we can make use of our clean energy technologies. By setting timelines to complete energization projects, the CPUC decision recognizes that the state’s clean energy transition can’t happen without the timely integration of electrification projects to the grid. IREC has been actively engaged in the decision’s proceedings and contributed to the decision’s results. Our new blog post digs into the CPUC’s decision requirements for energization timelines, how the decision sets out to implement current clean energy laws and goals, and why accelerating energization is crucial for our transition to clean energy. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/g3fqQ_fD!

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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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To receive federal GRIP grants from the DOE, utilities must follow strict rules and create new processes. Utilities need to make sure they have proper policies in place to meet these requirements. Adapting internal systems, training staff, and using new tools are crucial to stay compliant and successful. By using solutions like Adlib’s document automation, utilities can streamline reporting, track progress accurately, and manage compliance documentation efficiently, ensuring successful project execution. https://lnkd.in/gdd2PpBh #DOE #GRIP #grants #compliance #utilities #documentautomation

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The EIA data browser is a cool tool for reviewing electricity statistics - used the tool to pull this figure looking at monthly retail electricity rates for a handful of states and the US from Jan 2001 to October 2024. The figure is indexed to the Jan 2001 value with the change in price relative to that starting point. https://lnkd.in/eT3Y6BYp

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NextEra reports strong growth in renewables projects. NextEra, including renewables business NextEra Energy Resources and regulated electric utility Florida Power & Light (FPL), has a project backlog of about 21.5 gigawatts (GW), up from nearly 20 GW at the end of 2023. Read more at: https://ow.ly/h5qH50RnTuv #Renewables | #Growth | #Energy | #IBT | #IBTInsights

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We are getting many questions from industry who are confused about the Order No. 901 standards revisions. We don't have all the answers, but want to be helpful in sharing what we can glean from North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)'s posted materials and announcements. Important Data Points: 🔹 NERC's Milestone 2 projects for Order 901 are related to the creation of NERC PRC-028 (IBR disturbance monitoring), PRC-029 (IBR ride-through performance), and PRC-030 (IBR post-event performance validation). 🔹 All three standards have not received passing ballots up to this point. Latest ballots: 47% for PRC-028, unknown for PRC-029 in July (not yet posted) but got 25% in April, and 31% for PRC-030. ❗❗ NERC states in today's 901 summary update (see below) that the upcoming July 22-August 12 ballot "will be the last opportunity for NERC to ballot these projects through traditional mechanisms." This is the last chance for industry to vote and provide feedback through the normal ballot process. ⚠ The NERC Board "may take requisite action" in August, meaning that the proposed standards may proceed to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after this last ballot - i.e., potentially failed balloted projects may be moved forward... (right?) Questions we're hearing include: ♦ Industry experts on the NERC Drafting Teams are working hard to try to compile a wide range of comments and feedback. Can industry get more time to align on these important standards? Or are we going to settle with a v1 draft that would need further revisions immediately? ♦ Can we consider adopting IEEE 2800-2022 at the NERC level to bring uniformity on some of these topics? Maybe we wouldn't need multiple standards and could unify workloads and speed up the process? 📣 We encourage all industry stakeholders to have a voice in this process - it's important for all sides to be at the table and part of this pivotal rulemaking. Milestone 2 Summary: https://lnkd.in/d_nKkZj2 PRC-029 Recent Ballot Comments: https://lnkd.in/d6CgR3bi

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NERC’s 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment ( https://lnkd.in/gccBFsqj ) has just been released, highlighting the ongoing challenges of balancing grid reliability with the clean energy transition across North America. For those tracking the trends, this assessment period spans projections for 2025–2034. The report underscores key risks tied to the rapid pace of renewable integration, the retirement of conventional generation assets, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events. As a resident of the WECC Northwest, I see both challenges and opportunities in our region. Hydroelectric power serves as a reliable and flexible backbone for the grid, but the growing reliance on intermittent renewables like wind and solar demands additional solutions to ensure reliability. Advanced energy storage systems are essential for smoothing variability, managing peak demand, and maintaining stability during extreme weather conditions. It's thrilling to be at a point in time where new technologies are allowing for additional practical considerations. By leveraging our region's hydroelectric resources alongside cutting-edge energy storage technologies, WECC Northwest has the potential to lead the way in building a resilient and sustainable grid. Achieving this will require collaboration and forward-thinking investments. Admittedly, the full report is a serious read at 148 pages! For a closer look at trends impacting WECC and the Northwest, see page 127 (other regions are covered as well):

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Another 40 GW of solar and wind capacity coming to the U.S. power grid this year could generate ~10 GW of baseload-equivalent generation because of its intermittency. Will the wave of renewable installs be enough to flatten natural gas’ power gen gains this summer? Yes, likely, say analysts. However, one wrinkle is Canada, according to Wood Mackenzie. The northern neighbor has uncharacteristically flipped to a net importer of U.S. power (5 GW swing in April) and could provide uplift to U.S. generation this summer. Worth checking if Canada-bound electrons are in your model. Natural Gas Intelligence https://lnkd.in/e4iUpp-a

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 ⚡☀️California’s Solar Paradox☀️⚡ California’s solar boom is delivering record clean energy but, now faces an oversupply challenge. Excess daytime energy often goes unused, highlighting the urgent need for energy storage solutions to balance supply and demand. The solution — BATTERIES. 🔋 Energy storage, grid modernization, and smart policies can turn this challenge into an opportunity for a more resilient energy future. 👉 Looking for a battery energy storage supplier? https://lnkd.in/gKBFUfY2 #SolarPower #EnergyStorage #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #BESS Source: https://lnkd.in/eUXhzeqK

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Another missed opportunity to improve resilience and community good will. This Puget Sound Energy 230kV line upgrade was very controversial https://lnkd.in/epSUBNTV with the utility claiming a “critical need” as far back as 2013. The neighborhoods wanted the line underground….not to be. In time, utilities will start to evaluate “the total cost of ownership” of transmission and distribution lines that might include the lost revenue customers have during extended outages, the internal costs of YEARS of fighting with your franchise granting communities, and the significant advances in UG technology that reduces construction costs and, according to FERC 1 https://lnkd.in/etxbWdA6 reports filed by all IOU’s, has lower O&M costs. Planners, engineers and data scientists take note. Be sure to evaluate all your options. Thanks. Mike #pdi2 #underground #totalcostofownership

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Basin Energizes New Transmission Line Basin Electric Power Cooperative energized its new Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line in western North Dakota last week. https://trst.in/xRkLmh

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