Peter Sopher

ADB’s action in the energy transition is a win for communities, a win for economies, and a win for the environment. Here’s why.

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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 .

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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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At the end of April, the EIA released a snapshot of wind-generated electricity use and development from 2010 to 2023. The data reveal some intriguing insights, relevant not only to ERCOT's constituents but nationwide. Despite over 6 GW of new installations, wind-generated electricity in 2023 reached an eight-year low—the first decline since the mid-1990s. The EIA identifies several potential contributing factors: "The 2023 decline in wind generation indicates that wind as a generation source is maturing after decades of rapid growth. Slower wind speeds than usual affected wind generation in 2023, particularly during the first half of the year, when wind generation dropped by 14% compared to the same period in 2022. Wind speeds increased later in 2023, and wind generation from August through December was 2.4% higher than during the same period in 2022. Wind speeds had been stronger than usual during 2022." It's important to note the comment, "slower wind speeds than normal affected wind generation in 2023..." This suggests that grid planners, who rely on historical data to anticipate grid supply, can sometimes be caught off guard when Mother Nature deviates from the norm. Businesses, especially those with large industrial loads, need to closely monitor how renewables are integrated into their specific power suppliers/grids due to the significant secondary and tertiary impacts on their daily operations. In ERCOT, wind and solar generation are crucial components of grid planning and real-time operations. However, when forecasts fail, the planned supply can be quickly depleted, and reserve margins become vulnerable. For example, in the last two weeks of April, wholesale energy prices spiked at $4500/MWh on two separate occasions due to demand exceeding the forecasted and planned supply at peak times (late afternoon when people return home). Often, the shortfall in actual wind and solar generation compared to the planned supply makes the grid highly vulnerable, increasing the risk of power outages and, in extreme cases, rolling blackouts. Lastly, Texas accounts for 28% of the nation’s wind-generated electricity. One might think this gives us an advantage. However, especially in the Texas Triangle of San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston—where population centers and the greatest demand for power are growing—this is not necessarily the case. Most of Texas' existing and new wind-generated electricity is produced in West Texas, creating a geographical imbalance that is challenging to manage, particularly with aged transmission and distribution infrastructure. Read more here: https://buff.ly/4dFGvXN If you're looking for tailored solutions to manage your energy needs, RPower is here to help. Visit us at https://rpower1.com for more information. #RPower1 #WindEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ERCOT #EnergyCrisis #SustainableEnergy #EnergyManagement #PowerGrid #TexasEnergy #WindPower

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This week, we explore the importance of monitoring U.S. utilities’ future power-generation plans, and in our #PerspectivesPodcast, we get an asset manager’s approach to the voluntary carbon markets. Explore this and more in the best of this week’s insights from #MSCIResearch. And if you never want to miss out, subscribe to our MSCI Weekly emails to have all our research delivered straight to your inbox: ms.spr.ly/6048gPCLw. IRA Boosts US Utilities’ Plans to Grow Renewables and Storage U.S. #utilities are increasing investments in #solar, #wind and #battery installations. Investors can learn more about a company’s #transition strategy from these energy-generation plans than from tracking past performance on #emissions. http://ms.spr.ly/6044Yddeq The Best Time to Plant a Tree Is 20 Years Ago Our one-on-one interview with Adam Gibbon, natural capital lead at AXA Investment Managers, explores the voluntary carbon markets, and how he assesses potential opportunities for their ability to impact the environment and his fund’s bottom line. http://ms.spr.ly/6046Yddes Voluntary Carbon Markets — the APAC View Amid the debate over the role of the #voluntarycarbonmarkets in corporate #decarbonization, we investigated trends in #APAC. Which are the markets leading the way and what role are the region’s authorities playing? http://ms.spr.ly/6047Yddet Revenge of the Appraiser: The Power of Valuations Getting a read on price change during a deal drought is paramount for #commercialproperty investors. Can valuation-based indexes buttress transaction-based gauges of pricing in turbulent times? http://ms.spr.ly/6048YddeQ Subscribe now to receive our MSCI Weekly emails straight to your inbox: ms.spr.ly/6048gPCLw

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🎙️ New CSIS Energy 360° Podcast: The Future of U.S. Climate Leadership 🌍🇺🇸 Energy and climate professionals, don't miss this insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of U.S. climate and energy policy with ex-hill leaders Emily Domenech, Adrian Deveny, and Peter Stahley. With host Quill Robinson, our expert panel dives deep into: • The impact and future of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law • Permitting reform: The critical bottleneck for clean energy deployment • The emerging bipartisan consensus on "green" industrial policy • Potential policy shifts under different 2024 election scenarios • The interplay between climate goals, energy security, and economic competitiveness Key insights from our distinguished guests: ✅ The IRA has accelerated clean energy deployment, but permitting challenges threaten to undercut its impact ✅ Local opposition often poses a greater hurdle for renewable projects than federal regulations ✅ There's surprising bipartisan alignment on onshoring clean energy manufacturing and reducing dependence on China ✅ The durability of climate policies may depend on their ability to create jobs and enhance U.S. competitiveness Whether you're a policy expert, industry leader, or climate advocate, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the complex interplay of politics, policy, and market forces shaping our energy future. Listen now and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving energy and climate landscape! #ClimatePolicy #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #USPolitics #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eGWxkrfr

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Join us at New York Energy Week 2024 for a compelling session titled "Revolutionizing the Energy Sector: The Next Wave of Grid Innovation," presented by Richard Sarti, CEO of NODESmarket. This session will take place virtually on June 27 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am US Eastern Time. The Imperative for Grid Innovation As the energy sector faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, grid innovation emerges as a critical focal point for ensuring a resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy future. Richard Sarti will provide an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in grid technology, shedding light on how these innovations are set to revolutionize the energy sector. Insights from a Visionary Leader Richard Sarti, with his extensive experience and visionary leadership at NODESmarket, is at the forefront of driving transformative changes in energy grid management. His session will cover: - **Technological Advancements**: Cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping grid infrastructure. - Decentralization and Digitalization: The role of decentralized and digital solutions in enhancing grid efficiency and reliability. - Integration of Renewables: Innovative approaches to integrating renewable energy sources seamlessly into the grid. - Market Mechanisms: The impact of new market mechanisms on grid operations and energy distribution. Why Attend This Session Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal trends and technologies driving the next wave of grid innovation. Whether you are an industry professional, policymaker, investor, or energy advocate, this session will equip you with the insights needed to navigate and influence the future of energy grids. Engage with Industry Pioneers New York Energy Week 2024 provides a unique platform for engaging with thought leaders and innovators who are at the helm of the energy transformation. This session is designed to foster insightful discussions and collaborative thinking among participants, paving the way for actionable strategies and solutions. Join Us This is a virtual event, and registration is required. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from a leading expert in grid innovation and to be part of the dialogue that is shaping the future of the energy sector. Ensure you add this essential session to your calendar. New York Energy Week 2024 celebrates eleven years of leadership in the energy sector. Join us as we continue to drive innovation and lead the way towards a sustainable energy future. #GridInnovation #EnergyRevolution #RenewableIntegration #NYEnergyWeek2024

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Kudos to Duane Highley and the team at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. for seizing the benefits of the #InflationReductionAct to accelerate its transition to cleaner and lower cost #renewables. Power supply to its distribution coop members will hit 50% clean next year en route to a 89% reduction in #GHG emissions by 2030 ... with new resources additions focused on #windpower, #solarpower and #batterystorage with a small amount of #gas for peaker/reliability purposes. This is very much in line with the trajectory envisaged by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) #CleanPowerRules and shows that those rules do not force a "major" change in the industry, rather they run totally with the grain of what makes economic sense, and what is happening on the ground, while of course reducing harmful pollution at the same time. A win all around for coop members and the planet. #climatecrisis #stopburningstuff c Dave Munk Alex DeGolia Keith Klesner, PE Kristen Bertuglia NRECA Jim Matheson Kent Singer Colorado Rural Electric Assn. Mark Jacobson Leah Stokes Michael E. Webber Holly Metzler Sonja Macys Will Toor Chris Hansen Lisa Tiffin Amy Robertson Alana Miller Jeffrey McManus Kendra Foley

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As we enter the fourth day of power outages in Texas combined with sweltering heat, the impact of hurricane Beryl illustrates both the impacts of climate change and the critical need to accelerate deployment of climate-tech solutions for a more resilient grid. Hurricane Beryl is yet another warning that climate change is upon us and accelerating. Warmer sea temperatures are driving more brutal and destructive hurricane seasons, with more powerful storms starting earlier in the year and occurring more frequently. While rising global temperatures ensure more frequent and deadly heatwaves - for over a year, every single month has been the hottest in recorded history, making extreme heat the new normal. From India to the middle east to the US, thousands have already died this year due to extreme heat. The combination of increasingly frequent and violent weather events, extreme heat and an antiquated, fragile grid are starkly illustrated by the 1.3 million homes in Texas still without power in the peak of summer heat. But it doesn't have to be this way. Climate-tech solutions, in particular distributed energy resources like solar and storage, are cheap, mature, and infinitely deployable technologies that can massively increase grid resilience and mitigate the compounding risks of heat and power outages during extreme weather events. In a world where roof-top solar and in-home battery storage compete on even playing field with centralized generation and distribution the grid is more resilient and power outages, when they inevitably occur, less deadly. DERs increase grid resilience by shifting generation, storage and distribution to the ultimate load (your home or local area). This takes pressure off the grid by reducing the need for antiquated, energetically inefficient T&D infrastructure that otherwise needed to link generation assets to load, through miles of expensive powerlines, transformers, etc., all susceptible to downed lines and overload. DERs also allow for demand response, load shifting, efficiency-as-a-service and other grid services that can stabilize the grid when power demand and generation capacity are dangerously unmatched. Simultaneously, DERs and microgrids mitigate the worst risks of inevitable grid failures. In home battery storage can keep your fridge running at a time when food and perishable items can't be reached. Rooftop solar can keep your air-conditioning running at the hottest parts of the day, and your cell phone charged, even if it takes days for your local utility to restore power. And these same assets can keep critical communication infrastructure up when emergency services need them most. And that's before even considering the fact that these technologies are already cheaper than conventional energy systems, faster and easier to deploy, and essential in reducing the carbon emissions driving this crisis in the first place. https://lnkd.in/g8bebhA8

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The White House has outlined ways to improve the integrity of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs), which have faced recent criticism. While these changes are needed, PVG is also starting to see a shift away from traditional offsets altogether towards a more impactful and measurable type of offset—Energy Attribute Certificates. Unlike traditional offsets, EACs are created in near real-time and only as the energy is produced or consumed. They are also solely focused on energy use or energy reduction versus non-energy nature-based offsets which are more difficult to track and verify. Read more about how EACs work: https://rb.gy/72ii1t

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Illinois’ top 4 investor-owned utilities are on track to spend nearly $100B in capex by 2050, dramatically increasing gas customer delivery charges, and raising stranded asset risk sixfold to $83B. Further investment in the gas system must be curtailed and Illinois needs a strategic, managed approach to phasing out utility gas in favor of clean energy sources. Check out our just-released report on the future of gas in Illinois–one of the most gas-dependent states in the U.S.  https://lnkd.in/ekupKe6W And Groundwork Data’s presentation today at the IL Future of Gas Workshops (9:50 CT). https://lnkd.in/ewpUp5Wc  Coverage by WBEZ Chicago: https://lnkd.in/e4UqUSsh

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On the latest United States Energy Association Power Sector Podcast, GridStor VP of Policy & Strategy Jason Burwen joined journalist Herman Trabish to discuss the evolution of utility-scale battery storage in the U.S. and key challenges--particularly the rationing of scarce interconnections and the slow-down in completing related transmission network upgrades--that policymakers can address to increase storage deployments. Find full episode links to YouTube and Spotify at https://lnkd.in/gvUY6WaN #PowerSector #Energy #USEA #PodcastGuest #EnergySystems #AmericanEnergy #EnergyReliability #UtilityScale #BatteryEnergyStorage #GridStor

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🌍💡 Government & Agency Panel: Climate Adaptation and Equity in Energy! Discussing federal investments to boost renewable tech access and energy affordability for low-income communities. Let's create a greener, fairer future! #ClimateAction #RenewableEnergy #Equity

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Lazard says fossil fuel costs double that of #utility-scale #solar The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar has fallen to between $29/MWh and $92/MWh, according to a new report from Lazard. Utility-scale solar has had the most aggressive cost reduction curve of all technologies, falling about 83% since 2009, when new-build solar generation had an LCOE of over $350/MWh. Solar at the utility-scale is far lower in cost than the LCOE of coal, the least-expensive source of fossil fuel generation. Coal LCOE ranges $69/MWh to $169/MWh, making it nearly double the average LCOE of utility-scale solar assets. Meanwhile, natural gas peaker plants are highly inefficient in LCOE, ranging from $110/MWh to $228/MWh. Nuclear energy had the highest utility-scale LCOE with an average of $182/MWh. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dan-dzq6 www.sambasolar.com #brazil #alternativeenergy #esg #esginvesting #projects #development #solar #wind #fundraising #privateequity #green #greenenergy #greenbonds #energy #energytransition #founders #team #experience #sambasolar #powergeneration #investors #investment #development #greenhydrogen #hydrogen Stefanie L. Wurzer | Tom Emus | Alfredo Schimidt | Michael Neswal | Mats Lundin | Alexander Rapatz | Dr. Martin Frank | Werner Griesmaier | Wolfgang Schwellenbach | Patrick L. | Christoph Leydolt | Antonia "Charly" Steininger | Martin Wolfram Steininger | Nodira Sadikova | Cailong Wang | Jörg Hahn

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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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REMINDER: Tune into today's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Transmission Planning Rule Breakdown PowerCast from 1–2 PM ET to hear from a panel of experts as they discuss what the recent FERC ruling is attempting to achieve, its implementation, significance, and potential issues. Register now: https://bit.ly/3wC4WEH

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NEF Blog 💡 :As the weather starts to warm up, here are a few eco-friendly choices for summer ahead written by Phoebe Siaw Read here: https://lnkd.in/gDYHriE4

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PJM & MISO face a growing interconnection backlog, with over 25 GW of solar and 9 GW of wind projects waiting for approvals Key actions being taken: -- PJM: Adopting a 'first-ready, first-served' approach to prioritize viable projects. -- MISO: Implementing a cluster study method to accelerate the process. -- Combined ~$14 billion investments are set to integrate roughly 10 GW of new capacity. ⚡ Meanwhile, ERCOT's 'Connect and Manage' approach simplifies grid integration, significantly reducing backlog clearance times. #RenewableEnergy #PJM #MISO #ERCOT #SolarPower #WindEnergy #GridConnection #EnergyReforms

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Transmission planning & construction gets a badly-needed boost under the #InflationReductionAct. Many say PJM Interconnection faces transmission challenges, not generation shortfalls. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's actions will also address the need to keep energy affordable and connect new clean sources. #ConsumersMatter #fairutilitybills "Building more multi-state transmission lines unclogs the traffic jams on America’s electricity superhighways and unlocks our ability to keep up with our growing energy needs." New FERC Order Empowers States to Expand America’s Electricity Superhighways (advancedenergyunited.org)

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