David Douglas

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

44

2 Comments

Yesterday, the DOE released its latest lift-off report on advanced grid technologies – it’s a fascinating and compelling read with some surprising and powerful take-aways. I’m summarizing the highlights here, but I would definitely recommend at least checking out the executive summary for its clarity and conviction. You can access the report here: https://lnkd.in/gMuFwx3c Highlights and key take aways: We all know the grid is experiencing an unprecedented increase in demand: data centers, AI, electric cars and the broader shift to electrify everything is expected to drive 91GW of peak demand growth in the next decade. This risks reversing so many recent decarbonization gains if the default response is to build new gas peaker plants and defer shuttering of existing coal generation. As laid out by the DOE, multiple grid solutions that are commercially available TODAY could increase effective transmission & distribution capacity by 20-100 GW, in other words, potentially allowing us to fully meet the coming surge in demand without the need for new generation capacity These solutions can be deployed in UNDER 3-5 YEARS and at LOWER COST and GREATER VALUE than conventional approaches. The types of technologies being described here fall into four categories: 1) Advanced transmission (e.g., high voltage direct current); 2) Situational awareness and system automation (e.g., advanced distribution management systems); 3.) Grid enhancing technologies (e.g., virtual power plants); and 4) Foundational systems (e.g., system digitization). Sadly, though not surprising, the report also finds “adoption at scale and associated industry know how is lagging largely due to a lack of industry incentives and prioritization” In other words, even though investing in these available technologies is cheaper and more effective than sticking with the status quo, its not happening. The report powerfully reminds us: “ The mandate of the United States electric grid and of its operators is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to customers.” And "The U.S. transmission and distribution grid requires significant investment to address these accelerating trends and pressures." In this moment of disruption, utilities, regulators and grid operators have such incredible power to support and accelerate the green transition; not just in the fight against climate change, but simply to move us toward a more dynamic, resilient and cost effective grid. In the past, when demand was flat, incremental, risk averse, business-as-usual approaches to infrastructure and capacity investment maybe could work; but in a moment where the future looks nothing like the past, actual long term, system-level strategic planning and innovation is needed. From interconnection fees to cost-plus payor rates, its time for us to cast off the vestiges of last century's model of centralized generation and distribution, and embrace a new identity for utilities in the 21st century.

20

3 Comments

#Massachusetts is at the forefront of geothermal energy innovation! Exciting developments in geothermal projects are underway, promising to revolutionize heating and cooling systems in alignment with the state's decarbonization goals. We are honored to have our sponsors Subterra Renewables and Celsius Energy and their leaders Kareem Mirza and Johnny Fry educate our members at Decarb Boston on June 18th! Subterra Renewables' GeoExchange system utilizes ground heat exchange to provide an eco-friendly heating and cooling solution for buildings, tapping into the earth's energy for efficient climate control. Subterra is leading the way in the U.S., bringing experience from many projects in Canada and lessons learned in planning, financing, and seeing projects completed. Eversource Energy's and Celsius Energy system has been pivotal with geothermal borefields and a 1-mile geothermal loop connecting over 30 buildings, including a school, fire station, shops, and residential homes in Framingham MA. These initiatives underscore Massachusetts' dedication to transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources. Geothermal technology is paving the way for sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient heating and cooling solutions, marking a significant step towards a greener future. 🌿 #GeothermalEnergy #CleanEnergy #Sustainability

21

2 Comments

AI advancement fueled by efficient energy storage. I’ve always been interested in battery tech and how to squeeze just a bit more. Check out the story below 👇 the perspective may help not just in this tech, but in others aswell. Researchers at the University of Michigan have crafted an "air bridge" in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, enhancing energy transfer and storage. Their new device achieves a 44% efficiency at 2,615°F (1,435°C), a significant improvement over previous designs. The TPV cells convert heat into electricity using lower-energy infrared photons. Positioned around material heated to at least 1,000°C, these cells can store energy from renewable sources or industrial processes. According to Andrej Lenert, U-M associate professor, "Using electricity to heat something up is a simple and inexpensive method to store energy relative to lithium-ion batteries." To improve efficiency, researchers integrated a thin air layer in the TPV cell, beyond the semiconductor, with a gold reflector beyond the air gap. This "air bridge" traps useful photons while redirecting the rest back into the heat storage material for re-emission. Efficient heat-to-electricity conversion from TPV technology offers an interesting opportunity to a renewable power source. As AI systems demand more energy, advancements in TPV efficiency can support this growth sustainably, aiding #ai, #genai, and even #quantum development contributing to a gain in efficiency at heat dispersion. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g7GJWtgK 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: The views within any of my posts, or newsletters are not those of my employer or the employers of any contributing experts. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 👍 this? feel free to reshare, repost, and join the conversation.

12

3 Comments

How can we achieve climate and energy security while avoiding the impacts of new inputs? The answer lies in de-carbonizing rapidly, and that's exactly what Prometheus Fuels is working towards. Don't miss this interview with Rob McGinnis, where he shares insights on how the industry is exploring and supporting this critical mission. A sustainable future can evolve with existing infrastructure. Check out the interview! #climatechange #sustainability #energysecurity #decarbonization #prometheusfuels

3

☑️ 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 📈🌎🔆

2

A step closer to address the very need of inter-regional transmission expansion!

8

1 Comment

Monday May, 6 at OTC 2024 opening time, Dr. Scott Tinker and James Bennett gave an excellent speeches about Environment Footprints and Ecomonic Impacts of Energy. Two keynote distinguished speakers shared their views on environmental footprints and economic impacts of energy. The human race is facing some very difficult decisions now and in the decades to come about quality of life, distribution of wealth, climate change, energy diversity and security. Facing these challenges demands that we make a realistic and objective evaluation of pertinent data and facts. Among these is the recognition that all forms of energy impact the environment, and all forms of energy have societal benefits. Some require large scale mining and manufacturing, use extensive amounts of land, and result in landfill disposal when they wear out. Others require extensive drilling and refining, and produce atmospheric emissions and local air pollution when combusted. Contrary to some political narratives, there are no binary, clean and dirty solutions, there are just trade-offs. The challenge facing a world of over 8 billion people living from extreme poverty to extreme wealth is how to increase human flourishing while also protecting the environment. The Keynote was well received

25

4 Comments

Hot off the presses! A new paper with Nick Laws and Maggie Chen -- "Valuing Distributed Energy Resources for Non-Wires Alternatives" Main takeaway: Distributed energy resources (DER) such as batteries -- regardless of whether it's the utility or homeowner who owns the system -- can reduce system operating costs and delay system upgrades for distribution systems. For example, using DER might help reduce how often local transformers might need to be upgraded. "We show that when valuing DER the operating costs over 20 years can be reduced by over 40%." Let's deploy some batteries, y'all! #batteries #futureofenergy #distributedenergyresources #DER Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Webber Energy Group

80

11 Comments

Over the past four months, companies with technology to produce and distribute low-emission hydrogen have raised over $1 billion in venture investment, surpassing two-thirds of last year's total capital. Hydrogen's versatility in powering vehicles, generating electricity and power, and heating homes and businesses has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and will play a critical role in achieving net zero. Investors’ stepped-up interest in the green hydrogen space indicates they see the combination of government incentives, tech-enabled cost reductions, and market receptiveness in place now to produce compelling outcomes. #Hydrogen #GreenEnergy #Investment #CarbonEmissions #NetZero #sustainabletechnology #inspireglobalventures https://lnkd.in/gQ7m2AQ9

6

Geothermal energy is experiencing a surge of investment and policy support across the United States. Currently most companies are small and focused on the home-owner market, however next-generation companies are forming focused on more wide-spread commercial applications. Compared with air-source heat pumps, geothermal systems can reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 44 percent. With investors and leaders of these emerging companies coming from the fossil fuel industry, rechanneling their knowledge of drilling and geosciences using this method, offers another way for Oil and Gas companies to move us forward in the energy transition. #energytransition #geothermal #keepmovingforward

6

Come to hear two big brains on utility policy and EVs. Stay for the optimism and insights on what to expect in the near term. We're entering a pivotal moment in EVs. It's time to deliver on infrastructure promises for all vehicle types. The utilities are the driving force behind the power delivery necessary for this to happen. Two industry leaders, Brian Wilkie and Nadia El Mallakh joined me to talk about EV grid integration. Check it out on YouTube below or your favorite podcast app. Are utilities up to the challenge? What do you think? https://lnkd.in/eSTSFXVE

46

3 Comments

The PUF Edison Congress had a panel with Bob Yeager from Emerson who stated: Archived data and real time data (sensors) make Artificial Intelligence smarter and smarter ultimately analyzing and proposing or executing decisions. It will be real time on the edge. GPT 4 can do these things now. AI will be trained on all the manuals and EMS (energy management systems). 10 years from now- we don’t hire equipment or system knowledge anymore we will hire smart people that can interact with AI. He was being generous….its less than 10 years and more like five. See my paper entitled “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Electric T&D” https://lnkd.in/e--B39qK (90% written by AI….you decide what 90%). Thanks. Mike #AI

4

Congrats to our portfolio companies — Heirloom, Charm Industrial, Vycarb, and Vaulted Deep who all made the DOE's short list of Phase 1 semifinalists! Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize allows companies to compete for the opportunity to deliver carbon dioxide removal credits directly to DOE. This is such an important initiative to ensure carbon credits are of a high quality, and will ultimately help restore trust in carbon markets. https://lnkd.in/drEkPd4p

44

I congratulate Aepnus Technology, a deep-tech startup, for raising $8M to commercialize its National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research work to develop an electrochemical platform to improve circularity and reduce emissions in battery supply chain chemicals, enabling GHG emissions reduction by an expected 3 gigatons by 2050. I congratulate Rhonda Shrader, Executive Director of UC Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship & NSF I-Corps Bay Area. She is an inspiring instructor; I am so fortunate to be in her class during the Summer 24 #Icorps Cohort. I am an Industry Mentor (IM) to Professor Ratnesh Kumar and Professor Shawana Tabassum, PhD who are inventors of plasmonic metamaterial-based gas sensing technology, based on NSF-funded research. It offers an order-of-magnitude lower-cost alternative to techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The technology helps with environmental compliance for GHG emissions in agriculture and manufacturing, Condition Monitoring of gases produced during process control in manufacturing plants, and monitoring of gases in Transformers (HW used in utilities - not the ones for implementing attention 😀). If you're interested in turning your NSF-funded research into a real-world product or service, consider the #Icorps program. It provides intense customer discovery training, where you'll interview 100+ potential customers in just seven weeks. This might sound grueling, but it's an invaluable experience. Remember, in startups, the founder is often the first salesperson. Understanding your customers' needs early on is crucial for success.

14

2 Comments

Going #electric at home may appear daunting and costly. However, with state and federal incentives, this shift becomes more feasible. DSIRE's (screenshot below) platform simplifies identifying available state incentives for renewable energy and efficiency initiatives. Companies like Rock Rabbit, EnergySage, Encentiv Energy, Opower, Rebate Bus, Sense, Enervee, Powerley, and others are demystifying these incentives, making them more accessible to homeowners. Learn more in Climate People's latest #1MinuteClimateSnippet: https://buff.ly/3KyG3Nz .

23

1 Comment

Microgrids can significantly transform our energy system by enhancing resilience, supporting economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability. They offer a reliable power supply during disasters, stimulate local economies by creating green jobs, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, thus lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This multifaceted impact makes microgrids a crucial component in the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy

2

Utilidata is doing some amazing work, teaming up with NVIDIA to create super-smart, AI-powered smart meters. Many thanks to Utilidata's CEO, Josh Brumberger, and CTO, Marissa Hummon, who opened my eyes to the importance of pushing intelligence to the "edge" of the grid. Utilidata recently announced that Aclara, part of Hubbell Incorporated, has agreed to install Utilidata's AI-powered platform, Karman, into its smart meter offering. These smart meters will be going into action soon, thanks to a DoE support for smart grid technology. Read my latest article on Forbes and find out why smart grids represent such an important tool in supporting electrification and in adapting to the realities of climate change and helping to mitigating its effects on our society! Investors like Microsoft, Braemar Energy Ventures, and NVIDIA get it! Many thanks too to the indefatigable Martha Martins for her help in researching and reporting this article! #smartgrids #aiforgood #climatechange #smartmeters #investing #climateARM https://lnkd.in/gTxqGK_x

12

2 Comments