Bret Biggart’s Post

Sunrun, a home #solar, battery #storage and solar energy-as-a-service provider, has announced that its fleet is ready to participate in the #Battery Emergency Demand Response Program in Puerto Rico. This is the first distributed power plant program in the U.S. that specifically focuses on rapid emergency response from thousands of residential solar and storage systems when the island’s aging oil- and gas-fired power plants fail or when #electricity generation issues arise that could lead to rolling blackouts. #PuertoRico leads the U.S. in total hours of electricity outages. Millions of residents collectively experienced more than 300 million hours of power disruptions in 2022 #Sunrun is ready to enroll its solar-plus-storage customers into the program and expects thousands of opt-ins as it prepares to respond to requests for emergency power. The program anticipates 75 to 125 dispatch events in the first year with an average duration of two hours. https://lnkd.in/gHXUD_52

#TXSES' Patrice "Pete" Parsons and Ian Seamans (Environment Texas) wrote this timely op-ed for The Dallas Morning News! ☀️ Key points: ✴️ 1) Solar is growing exponentially across #Texas, including in Dallas; ✴️ 2) #SolarAPP+ permitting software would help #Dallas get those permits processed quickly. ⚡ Power outages affecting 325,000 people in southeast Texas and 650,000 in North Texas at the end of May were a further reminder that major changes to our grid are urgently required. ⚡ ERCOT said this summer will bring a 16% chance of an electrical grid emergency and a 12% chance of rolling blackouts. ⚡ Households and businesses across the state are realizing that by going solar they can reduce their electricity bills and increase the reliability of their power supply. ⚡ Texas ranks third in the nation for rooftop solar, growing more than 646% from 2017 to 2022 (according to a recent Environment Texas report). ⚡ Dallas plans to install 739,000 kilowatts of solar capacity by 2030 and 3,695,000 by 2050. https://lnkd.in/gMEJXEPY #Solar #SolarPermitting #SolarEnergy #SolarAPP #SolarPower #SolarEnergy #SolarInstallation

If your curious about my new role with Sunrun, here is a brief article that shares details about two programs I will get to manage. Give it a read!

As #energy instability continues to plague local residents of #PuertoRico, with millions of residents collectively experiencing more than 300 million hours of power disruptions in 2022, Sunrun stands ready to participate in a new Battery Emergency Demand Response program. This is the first distributed #powerplant program in the nation that specifically focuses on rapid #emergency #response from thousands of residential #solar and storage systems when the island's aging oil- and gas-fired #power plants fail or when #electricity generation issues arise that could lead to rolling #blackouts. https://lnkd.in/e4AQea2p

👉From Reuters comes a story about yet another state having developers see how powerful the combination of ☀️ #solar + 🔋 #storage is, and that state is #Texas—the heart of #fossilfuel development. I’m unsurprised because Texas’ energy needs are skyrocketing, particularly during the summer when air conditioning becomes necessary and solar/solar+storage offers among the lowest levelized cost of energy. As the article highlights, the one thing potentially holding the deployment of utility-scale solar in the state back is its insular grid and the body overseeing it. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has a tall order of building a grid that can distribute the massive amount of #renewableenergy they need to handle their significant population spike and #energy needs. To my solar friends in Texas: It’s time to dust off your persuasion powers and lobby the legislature and ERCOT to accommodate the coming solar + storage revolution. You’ve always been leaders in the energy space, and it’s time for you to claim that mantle again.  https://lnkd.in/eVMRREtD #Deliveringacleanenergyfuture #commercialsolar #communitysolar

So much to like about virtual power plants that I expect more barriers to be put in place to make it harder to implement them. See that bit about how they "reduce the reliance on fossil gas?" “If there was a question about whether a virtual power plant could show up day in and day out at megawatt scale, we have proven it resoundingly,” Rauscher said. What’s more, PG&E and Sunrun were able to initiate the project, sign up customers and start controlling their batteries in less than six months, he said. “There’s not another resource that can be stood up that quickly.” " these VPPs proactively reduce peak power demands to reduce the risk of grid emergencies ever happening in the first place — and reduce the state’s reliance on fossil gas as the grid resource it relies on to meet those peak demands."

New York state is grappling with how to adjust its ambitious buildout of clean energy storage after fires broke out at three separate battery projects between late May and late July. The immediate damage was quite limited, beyond the battery containers themselves. No injuries were reported from any of the fires, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which plays a leading role in the state’s grid storage efforts. Nor is the agency aware of any resulting toxic emissions. But the string of fires has put Governor Kathy Hochul in a tight spot: She is pushing to increase the state’s battery storage capacity from about 300 megawatts today to 6,000 megawatts in 2030, to complement an expansive buildout of renewable generation. Batteries play a valuable role in balancing the ups and downs of solar and wind production, but they can’t deliver clean power on demand if they’re catching fire. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3qFLP9H #cleanenergy #cleanpower #batterystorage #newyork #solar #wind

Flow Aluminum is the solution

The relentless Texas heatwaves this summer, accompanied by a surge in power demand, have brought the urgent need for robust #energy management solutions to the forefront. These extreme weather conditions have triggered a state of alert in Texas with ERCOT asking consumers to conserve energy, and subjecting the stability of our #powergrid to intense scrutiny. Amidst this climate challenge, it becomes abundantly clear that #solar, #batterystorage, and #DPPs stand as allies for Texas in addressing its #energycrisis. Sunnova Energy is leading the way, partnering with David Energy to empower Texas consumers with #DPP technology through the Adaptive Retail energy plan. This dynamic, tailored approach guarantees energy reliability and efficiency. By continuing to embrace these technologies, Texas can embark on a journey towards more equitable, affordable, and dependable power distribution. It's a bold step towards enhancing resilience and safeguarding the well-being of my home state’s residents. Read further via Insider.

We talk a lot about how solar power — backed up by battery systems — help people live more powerfully by keeping them free and safe from high bills and blackouts. What’s true for Texans is also true for the Texas grid. Texas will soon be #1 in battery storage, and we’re already the nation’s leader in grid-scale solar. That’s because solar and storage offer the same benefits to the grid as they do for homeowners: Texas can soak up solar power all day long, then use that electricity when we need it — especially during brutally hot summer evenings as the sun goes down. Read more about how solar and storage are transforming the grid, and imagine what they could do for you and your family: https://lnkd.in/gScRB3nV #txenergy #txlege #batterystorage #cleanenergy #sustainability #texasgrid