Seyed H. Madaeni, Ph.D.

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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What if distributed energy resources could communicate and cooperate at the speed of thought? Imagine the possibilities. Locally-generated and shared power. Self-forming grids. Simple, scalable energy solutions. At SYNCRIS, our technical team is already delivering microgrid hardware with response times that are 10,000 times faster than industry, and we know that we can go even faster. Perhaps as fast as the neurons in your brain. And if that doesn't get you thinking... #grid_of_tomorrow #clean_energy_transition #we_got_this

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Stakeholder Collaboration Powers Charging Microgrid & Expansion Electrifying freight transportation hinges on effective stakeholder management. Microgrid-centric charging at truck stops and depots requires close collaboration between freight operators, truck stop owners, and turn-key EPC firms to streamline deployment and maximize value. Last article of 11 in US strategy with Rish Ghatikar: https://lnkd.in/g6adzrz9 Key Strategies for Success: • Build Partnerships: Engage freight operators to define charging needs and coordinate with EPC firms for modular, scalable microgrids. • Align Incentives: Leverage federal and state programs, like NEVI and the IRA, to reduce costs and encourage adoption. • Simplify Coordination: Standardize components and incrementally stage buildouts to manage regulatory and operational complexities. By working together, stakeholders can reduce costs, unlock new revenue streams, and drive environmental benefits. Microgrid charging creates shared value—improving air quality, reducing emissions, and enhancing community resilience—while aligning with the principles of Edward Freeman’s Stakeholder Theory. Effective collaboration is the foundation for sustainable, scalable freight electrification. Let’s make it happen.

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An example of the energy transition is the transition from local local local to local local micro grid when describing a desirable place to live.

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FERC has approved interconnection reform - and this is *generally* good for the energy transition. That said the devil in in the details of how states and utilities implement these changes. Some improvements like penalties assessed against utilities for tardy studies, trying to clean out queue squatters, and expressly identifying certain technical flexibility into interconnection design are good. However, we have specifically seen "Cluster Studies" and higher financial security requirements stymie development and create very costly and endless loops of re-studies in many markets (utility and DG). Calling on American Clean Power Association (ACP) Solar Energy Industries Association and importantly state level advocacy and watch dog groups to closely watch and actively participate as the implementation of these changes occur at the state level PUCs and DPUs - ensuring proper accountability and fair play. https://lnkd.in/ewehaH52 NYSERDA New York Solar Energy Industries Association MID-ATLANTIC RENEWABLE ENERGY COALITION Renewable Energy Vermont American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Smart Electric Power Alliance NECEC Cleantech Leaders Roundtable

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☑️ U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making moves towards revolutionizing interconnection processes for renewable energy projects. 🌞 ☑️ DOE's proposed "Interconnection Innovation exchange" (i2X) program promises 35 formidable solutions to improve the interconnection process. 💡 ☑️ Central to these proposals is the encouragement of workforce development and the potential benefit of enabling interconnection customers to fund and carry out their own studies. 📚 The solar industry is in a period of evolution as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) works to revolutionize the interconnection process for renewable energy projects. Interconnection process allows a solar array or solar power plant to connect to the broader electricity grid, creating a mutually beneficial cycle of energy exchange. Over time, the surge in interconnection requests has necessitated a more efficient and streamlined process. In response, the DOE presents its Interconnection Innovation exchange (i2X) program. This ambitious ‘roadmap’ suggests 35 solutions to expedite and improve the process. One prominent proposal is the "connect and manage" approach, successfully implemented in Texas, likely to drastically accelerate interconnections. Moreover, a recommendation in the roadmap is to enable interconnection customers to finance and implement their studies, thereby promoting self-reliance and expediting project completions. Significantly, the plan emphasizes the need for workforce development, especially in higher education. This shift seeks to boost the number of trained professionals in the solar industry and thus hasten the transition to clean energy. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com 📈🌎🔆

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My hot take today is about a little noticed announcement the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released quietly today. It has reopened an opportunity to fund carbon dioxide transportation networks. This is a positive and a much-needed development because Cipher reporting earlier this year revealed that many of the carbon storage projects are not just dependent on securing permits but also on delivering the captured CO2. Aware of the paucity of transport networks, DOE itself noted, the U.S. will need to capture and permanently store approximately 400–1,800 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2050 to meet its commitments. https://lnkd.in/ef7JPEgr In other top reads by my colleagues, Cat Clifford highlighted a Bloomberg article that spotlights how Holtec International, a company involved in making nuclear waste storage casks, is now looking to revitalize a nuclear plant headed for decommissioning. And Bill Spindle reported about an upcoming gathering of corporate heads of fossil fuel and tech companies. We try to stay on top of breaking news about the global developments in the cleantech and climate space and share them with you so continue reading our Top Reads and Hot Takes at Cipher News. Cheers!

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What’s Modo Energy’s Director of Data Science, Robyn Lucas' view on how to fully take advantage of the renewable energy transition? Spoiler: It’s storage. 🔋 Check out Robyn’s full Hypercube Podcast episode: https://lnkd.in/dQt3Tpph #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy #WeAreHypercube

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First Solar opened its new $1.1 billion fully integrated thin-film solar factory in Lawrence County, Alabama. This move adds a substantial 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar manufacturing capacity to the US market and is anticipated to generate more than 800 jobs. Supported by the #InflationReductionAct, this initiative marks a significant step towards bolstering the country's renewable energy sector. One key feature that sets First Solar apart is its full vertical integration in thin-film PV solar panel manufacturing. With the capability to transform glass into a functional solar panel in just four hours, the company relies heavily on US-sourced materials, including locally-sourced glass and steel within a 25-mile radius of the factory. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) expressed optimism, stating that this production facility is poised to make a substantial impact in the US #renewableenergy landscape. #solarenergy

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The projected surge in solar's contribution to the U.S. electricity generation in 2024 is indeed a positive indicator of the shift towards renewable energy. With solar anticipated to account for over 60% of the growth in electricity generation this year, it underscores the pivotal role it plays in the nation's energy transition. It's encouraging to see how significant investments in solar capacity are poised to reshape the energy landscape, particularly with solar set to outpace hydroelectricity for the first time in history by 2025. Despite these gains, the persistence of natural gas and coal as substantial elements of the energy mix highlights the challenges still faced in achieving a fully decarbonized economy. It's crucial for ongoing policy and investment to focus on not just expanding renewable capacity but also enhancing storage solutions and grid infrastructure to support this shift. How do you see the role of policy evolving to further support this growth in renewable energy, especially in terms of integrating more utility-scale solar and enhancing grid reliability? #SolarPower #EnergyTransition #UtilityScaleSolar

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Really looking forward to discussing all the advantages of Microgrids and advanced energy management to support Rove's DC fast charging operations. As we move into a landscape of high powered charging operations deployed on the grid, it is going to be critical that operators manage the demand and deploy in a way that doesn't negatively impact grid operations. That means designing in intelligent energy management and the hardware needed to buffer the load. That's where PXiSE Energy Solutions come in. #RoveCharging #FullServiceCharging #EVChargingInfrastructure #EVs #Sustainability #EVCharging #CleanEnergy #ElectrifiedTransport

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The rise of AI is sparking an energy revolution, and baseload, dispatchable natural gas is taking center stage. As Ines Ferre highlights in her Yahoo Finance article, the relentless power demand from always-on data centers could drive electricity needs up by 10-15% annually through 2030. I would suggest that it could be materially more. This is a defining moment for how we meet growing energy and resiliency demands while prioritizing sustainability.   At Ameresco, we’ve seen firsthand how solutions like renewable natural gas (RNG) can play an essential role in this energy transition. RNG projects capture methane—a greenhouse gas nearly 30 times more potent than CO2—from sources like landfills and wastewater treatment facilities. By repurposing this waste into clean, reliable energy, we are energizing data centers, homes, and vehicles while also driving innovation and sustainability. The future of energy demands action today, and we’re committed to making it happen.   #EnergyTransition #AI #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #RNG https://lnkd.in/ec2kCv3h

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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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The list of projects waiting to connect to the power grid reached 2.6 TW last year. That’s 2x the size of the existing grid! Will the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s new and long awaited Orders 1920 and 1977 help? https://lnkd.in/eh4ck2-q #electrification #thegrid #interconnection #transmission

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Data center energy use in the United States has doubled over the past three years and is expected to grow by another 50 percent by 2027, according to preliminary results of a new government study. Demand for AI will alter the geography of digital infrastructure, but won't gobble up all the power on the grid, say LBNL researchers. #datacenter #ai #ml #energy #power #grid #hyperscale #cloud https://lnkd.in/e88gkXty

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RMI’s VP3 just published profiles of 14 VPPs that are providing 1500 MW of capacity across the US with ~4M participants. They detail out the grid services, participation parameters, and operator dynamics to shed light on successful models that are ready to scale up. “How utilities and their customers are already benefitting from VPPs and insights for future implementation.” #VirtualPowerPlants

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