Daniel Mulqueen

The EPA has finalized new rules for power plants aimed at reducing emissions and promoting clean energy investment by 2032. These regulations are expected to drive significant changes in the power sector. Read more about the implications of these rules in Utility Dive:

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Grid constraints are stifling the growth of renewable energy projects, and we need innovative tech solutions to harness renewables independent of the grid. That’s why ARPA-E's GREENWELLS program is leveraging an approach called renewables-to-liquids to produce transportable and storable liquid fuels from stranded renewable energy. Learn more about how GREENWELLS is working to accelerate renewable energy deployment: https://lnkd.in/e48uDabP.

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Let's talk #sustainability in schools! In last week's blog, Sustainability Manager Kevin Bright dove into #geothermal systems and provided recommendations for projects considering using the IRA Funding that incentivizes the use! #greenbuilding #K12 #KABuilds #casestudy https://lnkd.in/e7dcMag3

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Eolian’s Stephanie Smith and Chisholm project were featured in the NYT in an important piece about how utility-scale batteries help stabilize the grid. The growth of battery storage capacity on the nation’s grid has been remarkable, with a tenfold increase over the past three years and further expansion expected. “Anywhere we think the market is going to get tight, you can put batteries in and even things out,” said Stephanie Smith, chief operating officer of Eolian, a battery developer. “Then, we’re making bets all day about when to charge and discharge.”   One battery, for instance, sits near Fort Worth, absorbing excess wind power from West Texas during the nighttime, when no one needs it, and feeding it into the grid when demand surges. #energystorage #flexible  #orderlytransition https://lnkd.in/evADdUb8

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✏ On the blog: Last week DOE released a national definition for a zero emissions building. Despite not being a regulatory requirement or official standard, this definition will serve as a benchmark for the market and for policymakers in the future. Learn more here:  https://lnkd.in/gNHpsPMz

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#EnergyEfficiency #InTheNews DOE Announces National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building "The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building to advance public and private sector efforts to decarbonize the buildings sector, which is responsible for more than one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions." https://lnkd.in/g-iM2FFX

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Last month, the EPA finalized their latest approach to regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from certain sectors of the fossil-fuel fired power generation industry. The new standards, which go into effect on July 8, place limits on GHG from certain new and reconstructed natural gas-fired combustion turbines and existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). Learn more about the new rule’s requirements and your compliance options in our latest blog article by Adam Driscoll: https://lnkd.in/eQHmp6rw. #BarrInsights #Power #FossilFuels #AirQuality #GHG

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US DOE Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action #GridModernization #Initiative DOE is looking to partner with Utility companies. Investor-owned utilities (IOUs), utility cooperatives, power marketers, municipal utilities, and their trade associations (e.g., APPA, NRECA, EEI) produce or acquire electricity and distribute that electricity to consumers. Also municipal utilities and cooperatives. Independent power producers. Transmission organizations such as regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs) and reliability organizations. Plus organizations that carry out system planning, grid operations, and regional reliability activities. Hello - If this is you, and your organization is involved with planning around future wildfires, you need to talk to Athena. We may have a solution for you. Today, the grid faces ever-increasing and complex threats, including intensifying cyber and physical attacks, severe weather, wildfires, fuel delivery issues, and even supply chain challenges49. Combined with factors such as managing legacy infrastructure and increasing reliance on digital and communications technologies deployed at a massive number of active locations, these threats can cause devastating large area, long-duration outages

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NEEA Plays a Key Role in U.S. DOE's Landmark Energy Efficiency Standard for Water Heaters - New federal standard signals move toward efficient, affordable water heating for all consumers. “The energy savings from this final rule over 30 years of shipments is 17.6 quadrillion British thermal units—the largest savings ever from a single DOE efficiency standard, representing more than the energy use of the entire U.S. residential building sector in a single year." The passage of the federal water heating standard represents a major milestone in alliance Market Transformation efforts and is a win for all Northwest gas and electric customers. It is a direct result of nearly 20 years of leadership by the alliance, its market partners, and many stakeholders across the country. For example, the U.S. DOE cites NEEA’s Advanced Water Heating Specification (AWHS) as reference material for its final rule. Originally developed by NEEA in 2009 to ensure cold-climate performance, NEEA has continued to iterate and improve the AWHS to advance higher-performing electric and gas heat pump water heaters. “The new federal consumer water heating standard is a stellar example of how long-term collaboration between utilities, manufacturers, trade allies, efficiency organizations and consumer advocates can deliver lasting market change leading to tremendous energy savings for all Northwest customers. The alliance will continue to collaborate with the market to bring this standard to its fullest potential to ensure affordable and reliable hot water energy-efficient solutions for residential, multifamily, commercial and industrial customers." - Becca Yates, Executive Director, NEEA https://lnkd.in/gnEdRT9R

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🌞 Dive into the exciting news about the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) publishing a comprehensive guide offering insights into integrated resource plans (IRPs), helping us better advocate for residential solar array expansion! 🏡 ✔️ The NREL has released a comprehensive guide uncovering the often complex world of IRPs. ✔️ This guide serves as a fantastic tool for regulators, solar companies, or solar panel enthusiasts who want to understand and advocate for large-scale solar panel integration. ✔️ Three US states are leading the charge by mandating full transparency in their utility's resource planning. Recently, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published an insightful guide giving us an elusive peek into the inner workings of integrated resource plans (IRPs)—plans utilities use to forecast their future generation capacity. The guide's primary aim is to aid a broad range of individuals, from state regulators to solar-lovers like ourselves, in advocating for increased incorporation of solar panels into our households. Traditionally, preparing these IRPs forms a crucial part of utilities' duties across the majority of US states. The plans are based on diverse data inputs, assumptions, and power system models. Thankfully, the guide is tiered to cater to both beginners and those more advanced, making this arduously technical subject more accessible. The guide has been warmly welcomed by industry experts such as Kirsten Verclas, the NASEO senior managing director, and Maggie Shober, the research director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Furthermore, some states such as Arizona, New Mexico, and Michigan now demand absolute transparency from utilities in their resource planning. The guide will undeniably pave the way for wide-scale, equitable deployment of solar and storage resources. This will bring us ever closer to our shared aspiration of a sustainable future powered by our sun. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

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🌍 Exciting news from the DOE! The U.S. Department of Energy is reopening a funding opportunity, offering up to $24 million for projects that will expand carbon dioxide transport networks. This initiative, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aims to connect CO2 sources to places for secure storage or conversion, advancing us towards a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. 🌱 🔗 Learn more about how these efforts will foster a large-scale carbon storage industry, crucial for our climate goals: https://lnkd.in/gMss6PpX #VVCResources #Sustainability #CleanEnergy

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There's already an oversupply of monofacial modules, and this new report isn't going to help: Bifacial tracking systems have the lowest LCOE for more than 90% of the world, according to the International Energy Agency's IEA-PVPS division. As a result, they're overtaking the market share of monofacial PV technologies. "IEA-PVPS forecasts that by 2033, bifacial modules with bifacial cells will account for more than 70% of the market. Trackers – particularly single-axis trackers – are also growing in market share, and are expected to surpass 50% market share by 2033." https://lnkd.in/g-D3FTqa

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💡If you get as amped up as Jonathan does about the future of #energy #technology, ARPA-E's 3-day event is for you! Hear from our co-founder Jonathan Scott about energy innovation in Dallas, Texas, later this month.   #keynote #solar #PowerTrip #ARPAE24

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The #SFPE and their Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI) committee have identified #EnergyStorageSystems as a priority topic for research through their GCI Applied Research Fellowship in Energy Storage to further research and development of safety measures for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Renewable energy is the way of the future, and as prevalent as lithium-ion batteries are today, proper storage needs to be addressed to avoid and mitigate future hazards. Applicants for the fellowship will have the opportunity to further their research into innovations in methods such as hazards testing, explosion control systems, enclosure ventilation systems, or gas detection. The deadline to apply is June 24th. For more information, check out the guidelines here: https://lnkd.in/ekFbd-2P #SFPE #BatteryStorageSystems #LithiumIonBatteries #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy

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Solar power enthusiasts strap in, as we delve into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office's latest endeavor, cenetering on the Photovoltaics Research and Development program and its impressive $20 million fund allocation.🌞 ✅ A massive boost in funding for solar technology innovation with SETO's $20 million allocation. ✅ New areas of exploration are on the horizon with a focus on building-integrated and vehicle-integrated solar systems. ✅ The Cadmium Telluride technology gets a well-deserved spotlight, heralding potential advancements for America's leading solar panel manufacturers. The U.S Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has announced the 2024 Photovoltaics Research and Development program, aimed at revamping the solar technology landscape. With a significant fund allocation of $20 million divided across eight to fifteen teams, the initiative aims to advance solar cell and minimodule prototypes, decrease the costs of modules and reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing and supply chains. Emphasizing the exploration of uncharted territories, SETO aims to introduce building-integrated and vehicle-integrated solar systems. With projects lined up for the low-carbon synthesis of metallurgical-grade silicon and innovative designs for crystalline, III-V, and organic solar photovoltaic cells, the horizon looks promising. The second focal point of this initiative, Cadmium Telluride technology, could prove revolutionary for America's leading solar panel manufacturers. By implementing improvements in cadmium telluride research facilities, SETO hopes to catalyze design and testing processes, thus creating a faster track for advancements in solar technology. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

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🔑 Dive into the University of Illinois Chicago's revolutionary approach to producing hydrogen gas from solar power and agricultural waste. ✅ Researchers have developed an improved technique for transforming sunlight and agricultural waste into hydrogen fuel. ✅ The novel method leverages biochar, reducing the amount of electricity needed for the process. ✅ Cow manure proved to be the most efficient biomass to use for biochar, significantly reducing the electrical requirement for electrolysis. Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have developed an ingenious method of producing hydrogen gas from solar power and agricultural waste. This ground-breaking study uses biochar, a carbon-rich substance derived from everyday bio-wastes, hence reducing the amount of electricity needed for electrolysis. By introducing sulfuric acid to various biomass inputs like agricultural scrap, animal waste and sewage, a slurry of biochar was created. Astonishingly, cow manure proved to be the most efficient, reducing the electrical requirement for electrolysis by a staggering 600%. This new method offers a manifold significant boost to the solar power industry. Not only does it drastically cut the power needed for hydrogen production, but also emphasizes the potential economic benefits of waste recycling. The required energy for their electrolysis reaction was provided by a single silicon solar cell, emphasizing the efficiency of this novel technique. This breakthrough sets a new standard in the solar power industry potentially offering cost-effective hydrogen fuel production, while equally encouraging waste upcycling and energy independence. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com. 💻🌎☀️

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Researchers at NREL and PNNL are exploring a new concept called interregional renewable energy zones (IREZs). These zones, located in areas with the highest concentration of low-cost renewable energy potential, would be connected to major load centers via long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines. The benefits are compelling. By optimizing energy generation costs and leveraging the best renewable resources, IREZs could keep electricity prices low and enhance grid reliability. However, the success of IREZs depends on collaboration among states, utilities, and landowners along transmission corridors. The IREZ study is part of the larger National Transmission Planning Study, which aims to identify transmission options that provide broad-scale benefits to electric customers and accelerate decarbonization while maintaining system reliability. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gxQE_KFw

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Researchers at NREL and PNNL are exploring a new concept called interregional renewable energy zones (IREZs). These zones, located in areas with the highest concentration of low-cost renewable energy potential, would be connected to major load centers via long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines. The benefits are compelling. By optimizing energy generation costs and leveraging the best renewable resources, IREZs could keep electricity prices low and enhance grid reliability. However, the success of IREZs depends on collaboration among states, utilities, and landowners along transmission corridors. The IREZ study is part of the larger National Transmission Planning Study, which aims to identify transmission options that provide broad-scale benefits to electric customers and accelerate decarbonization while maintaining system reliability. *** How can your organization contribute to the development of interregional renewable energy zones? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gxQE_KFw

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