Gregory Sonn’s Post

25 GW of new solar to boost summer grid reliability, but extreme heat poses widespread risks: NERC. The North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s summer grid assessment, released Wednesday, concludes that seven regions face an “elevated risk” of energy shortfalls in extended heat waves. Large portions of the U.S. and Canadian electric grids are at risk of electricity supply shortfalls during heat waves and other extreme weather events this summer, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Wednesday in its 2024 Summer Reliability Assessment. NERC identified seven areas facing an “elevated risk” of shortfalls due to rising demand, generator retirements and unplanned outages, drought and the potential for low wind performance. Those areas include portions of Texas, California, New England and the Midwest. The addition of about 25 GW of solar capacity to the bulk power system since last year, however, means that all parts of the grid should have adequate supply for normal peak load, according to the assessment. “Demand is growing. There are many areas growing at a rapid pace, and that is putting pressure on resource adequacy and on the transmission system. So there are some concerns for system adequacy,” Olson said. Reports filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission show grid planners expect peak demand to grow 38 GW over the next five years. Patented TNi Energy-BESS, we've innovated a groundbreaking method that repurposes recycled lead-acid batteries, extending their life span to 20 years for energy storage purposes. Previously, the industry lacked a safe and environmentally conscious alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, our patented proprietary technique reveals that lead-acid batteries are not only safer but also 50-60% more cost-effective than their hazardous counterparts. #SENTINEL™ TNiEnergy, #nebulositycloud, #BESS, #Energy, #ZEROemmissions, #ZEROcarbonfootprint, #energytransistion, #LeadAcid Battery, #windpower, #solarpower

𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘿𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙄𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙨 ERCOT, Texas' power grid operator, has warned that flaws in some #solar, #wind, and #batterystorage resources could lead to "𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆" if not addressed. Despite months of negotiations, ERCOT and clean energy resource owners have not agreed on resolving these issues. An industry proposal was recently tabled, causing concerns among developers about regulatory uncertainty and its potential to deter investment in Texas. The rapid growth of clean energy resources in Texas, driven by lower technology costs and federal incentives, has contributed to reduced electricity costs and decarbonized energy production. However, this shift has introduced challenges, such as power availability depending more on weather conditions. The latest debate centers on inverters, which convert direct-current power to alternating-current electricity. Inverter-based resources like wind, solar, and batteries may trip offline during voltage or frequency disturbances, risking a domino effect that could collapse the grid. ERCOT has experienced increasing inverter-based resource failures, especially in West Texas. To mitigate this risk, ERCOT wants to impose ride-through guidance from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on resources connected by June 2023. Developers argue for a June 2024 effective date to avoid retroactive requirements that could jeopardize financing and construction plans. Disagreements remain on the extent of required hardware and software upgrades. While software upgrades are agreed upon as commercially reasonable, hardware upgrades could be costly for older resources. The rule, known as Nodal Operating Guide Revision Request 245, will undergo further revision before a vote by the ERCOT board and ultimate approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Texas must resolve these issues to ensure grid stability and encourage continued investment in clean energy. https://lnkd.in/gztHgpRr

🏛️Ken Medlock opens Texas Electricity Policy Summit Ken Medlock, director of the Center for Energy Studies, opened the discussion Tuesday with a presentation about the history of ERCOT and the evolution of the grid in Texas. Here are some key takeaways from his presentation: 🔷Electric load is highly variable within a day, across days, and across seasons. Historically, different types of generation resources were added to a grid to enable flexible, controllable supply response to variations in load. 🔷Adding intermittent renewable resources demands additional flexibility from dispatchable resources to maintain reliability because “net” load – defined as load minus wind + solar generation – is more variable than total system load. 🔷Expansion of wind and solar has been successful in addressing an environmental externality because they are, on average, providing a greater share of generation. 🔷But, when it comes to reliability, averages do not matter. Adequate supply during times of high demand is a defining characteristic. However, reliability as a service is not adequately priced into the market, which is introducing real-time challenges for grid operators. 🔷Unexpected outages are not a new phenomenon. If a gas plant, for example, cannot receive fuel, it is derated. Grid operators have always dealt with these types of issues by deploying flexible, dispatchable “backup” capacity in times of need. The addition of intermittent renewable generation resources has simply increased the frequency of outages from lack of “fuel”, i.e., when the wind isn’t blowing, or the sun isn’t shining. This demands additional responsive, dispatchable generation capacity on the grid. 🔷Reliability can be met in several ways, i.e., batteries, long-duration storage, natural gas, hydro, demand response, etc.  Currently in ERCOT, natural gas is the dominant source of flexibility. Going forward, the future grid will be dictated by economics, but reliability must be a key consideration. Go deeper: ➡ See this article on #ERCOT and reliability by Medlock, Peter Hartley, and Shih Yu (Elsie) Hung:  https://lnkd.in/gJTZ6ZfN ➡ Learn about the history of ERCOT from CES’s Julie Cohn. https://lnkd.in/gFpk_C2G

California's state grid continues to break records, with battery storage playing a pivotal role in shifting #solarenergy to meet evening peak demand. In a remarkable development, #batteries now regularly serve as the largest single supplier during the evening peak, highlighting their growing importance in the energy transition. Recent data reveals unprecedented dynamics, with batteries accounting for up to 31% of all load and up to 29% of all supply. Over the weekend, records were shattered for both charging and discharging, underscoring the remarkable flexibility and reliability of #batterystorage systems. With over 10 gigawatts of installed battery capacity and another 5 gigawatts under construction, California leads the world in battery storage adoption. However, Western Australia is poised to challenge this dominance, with significant investments in battery storage to support the time-shifting of rooftop solar. As the energy landscape evolves, battery storage emerges as a critical enabler of a cleaner and more resilient grid. 🌍⚡ #energytransition #renewableenergy #california #grid #sustainability

Though windmills and solar panels get the headlines, the big energy topic in Washington is electric transmission. Whether it is Congress’s newfound interest in permitting reform, the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Grid Deployment Office, or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) upcoming final rule on transmission planning and cost allocation, how to build and pay for long-range transmission to connect generators to customers is considered the final piece in the quest to meet net-zero goals. Like so many issues in Washington, the need for more transmission lines is accepted without question and the costs are not considered. But for American consumers, especially low-income and elderly, as well as small businesses and energy intense manufacturers, building new transmission lines could result in much higher monthly bills and leave them on the hook for stranded assets. https://lnkd.in/d9YNnr57

The duck curve is getting worse. “The duck curve presents two challenges related to increasing solar energy adoption. The first challenge is grid stress. The extreme swing in demand for electricity from conventional power plants from midday to late evenings, when energy demand is still high but solar generation has dropped off, means that conventional power plants (such as natural gas-fired plants) must quickly ramp up electricity production to meet consumer demand. That rapid ramp up makes it more difficult for grid operators to match grid supply (the power they are generating) with grid demand in real time. In addition, if more solar power is produced than the grid can use, operators might have to curtail solar power to prevent overgeneration.”   “The other challenge is economic. The dynamics of the duck curve can challenge the traditional economics of dispatchable power plants because the factors contributing to the curve reduce the amount of time a conventional power plant operates, which results in reduced energy revenues. If the reduced revenues make the plants uneconomical to maintain, the plants may retire without a dispatchable replacement. Less dispatchable electricity makes it harder for grid managers to balance electricity supply and demand in a system with wide swings in net demand.” This is not limited to California but is now occurring in Texas (and will continue to grow across the country). The implications are dire. 1.     Increase probability of capacity related outages 2.     Extremely high price volatility. 3.     Increase in average electricity prices. 4.     Lower capital returns on all forms of energy generation. To learn more how to protect your business from the duck curve and its related outages, please visit our website: www.exergyenergy.com https://lnkd.in/eAwaeGyr #renewableenergy #solarenergy #energytransition #energytransitioncrisis 

𝙁𝙀𝙍𝘾 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 Willie Phillips, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), recently updated U.S. Senators on the commission’s priorities regarding transmission-related issues. In separate letters to Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Angus King, Phillips underscored the significance of regional transmission planning, cost allocation, and the incorporation of dynamic line ratings (DLR) in FERC's agenda. Whitehouse had expressed concerns about delays in finalizing rules on transmission planning and siting authority, emphasizing the risks to the reliability and affordability of the electric system. Phillips assured that these rulemakings, following FERC’s Order No. 2023 on generator interconnection, remain top priorities. He acknowledged the need for a robust transmission network to ensure reliable and sustainable electricity, particularly in the face of extreme weather events. Regarding DLRs, Phillips agreed with Sen. King’s perspective on their importance. DLRs and other grid-enhancing technologies can improve system efficiency, support renewable energy integration, and offer cost savings to ratepayers. Phillips also mentioned FERC's commitment to respecting state authority while addressing electric transmission siting applications. King had raised concerns about the exclusion of DLR in FERC’s Order No. 2023. Phillips responded by affirming support for DLR and other alternative transmission technologies, citing their potential to enhance grid reliability and save money. FERC is conducting an inquiry to better understand the benefits, costs, and challenges of implementing DLR. Phillips' response indicates FERC's active engagement in addressing the complexities of modernizing the U.S. electric grid, balancing efficiency and innovation with regulatory and jurisdictional considerations. https://lnkd.in/ge5XHurA

Ofgem to clear ‘zombie projects’ to cut grid connection queue New rules to speed up electricity grid connections for viable projects and allow stalled or speculative developers to be forced out of the queue have been announced by Ofgem. The move is a step change from the existing ‘first-come, first-served’ approach, which has led to a long queue of energy projects. The new queue management milestones will be implemented by the UK grid’s operator, National Grid ESO, from 27 November, and will terminate stalled projects that are blocking the queue for high-voltage transmission lines and means ready-to-go generation and storage to enable net zero can be fast-tracked. Read the full story on the Transport + Energy website: https://lnkd.in/emWrR_Ut This week, the Transport + Energy Forum will hold a panel discussion on the issue of speeding up grid connections with representatives from the ENA, UK Power Networks, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and the National Grid all taking part in the discussion. What does the Transport + Energy community make of this announcement? How welcome is this news for the charge point operators who are continuing to roll out charging Infrastructure? Let us know in the comments below. Ofgem, Energy Networks Association (ENA), UK Power Networks, Neil Madgwick, James Watson, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Stewart Reid, National Grid, David Boyer, Ross Easton, Lawrence Slade, FEI, Akshay Kaul, Jonathan Brearley, Julian Leslie, Paul Lowbridge, Russell Fowler, Cordi O'Hara OBE FEI Ian Johnston, Osprey Charging Network, GRIDSERVE , Toddington Harper, Connected Kerb, Victoria Read #transport #energy #connections

💡Solving the outage problem! As we continue to explore the benefits of our game-changing technology, let’s talk about how gravity-based energy storage systems prevent power outages.  This winter, The Mackenzie Institute shared the expert summary (https://lnkd.in/efXamneD) of the most concerning points in North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)’s report on the 2023-2024 Winter Reliability Assessment (https://lnkd.in/eGvbf_2H). And you know what? Our solution addresses all of those. 🌟 Let’s break down three main points: 1️⃣ Combatting the Gas Transport Infrastructure Dilemma By storing excess energy during off-peak periods and releasing it during times of high demand, gravity-based energy storage systems mitigate the impact of gas supply disruptions. 2️⃣Solving the Renewable Energy Paradox The reliance on renewable energy sources like wind and solar poses reliability concerns, particularly during winter. Gravity-based systems smooth out fluctuations in renewable energy output and fortify the grid against weather disruptions. 3️⃣Tackling Grid Stability Challenges The increase in wind and solar capacity has changed the dynamics of electricity supply, amplifying uncertainty in load forecasting and grid stability. Gravity-based storage systems play a key role in maintaining balance fluctuations in supply and demand, by providing a reliable reservoir of energy. Want to know more about our technology, feel free to ask in the comments! #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #EnergyStorage #Innovation #PowerGrid #FutureofEnergy #LDES #GreenTech

Understanding the duck curve 🦆 The duck curve is a visual representation of the changing electricity demand on the grid throughout the day, particularly in regions with high solar power integration. Its distinctive shape resembles the profile of a duck, with a flat belly during the day, and a long neck representing the steep upward slope in the evening. Here's a breakdown of the 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 of the duck curve: 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗽: The curve starts with a pronounced dip in electricity demand during the morning and midday hours. This dip is primarily a result of the increased generation of solar power during daylight hours. 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆: The middle part of the curve shows a relatively low and stable electricity demand during the day, thanks to the abundant solar generation. This can lead to a surplus of electricity during sunny days. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗽: As the sun begins to set and solar generation decreases, electricity demand starts to rise, creating a steep upward slope in the curve. This steep increase in demand is often referred to as the "ramp." 🎯 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲 This disparity between the “Flat belly” and the “Evening ramp” supply and demand scenarios has become increasingly pronounced over time due to the continual expansion of solar capacity, causing midday net demand to decrease progressively. Therefore, there is a need to promptly supplement this reduction in generation with substantial energy inputs to ensure a stable power supply during peak demand hours. Moreover, while high renewable generation during daylight hours can result in an overabundance of electricity being fed into the grid by PV technologies, it can also cause a significant price drop, potentially blocking new investments. 💡 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Grid operators and utilities must adapt to manage this changing demand pattern and ensure grid stability. This may involve strategies such as energy storage (like batteries), demand response programs, flexible generation sources, and grid management tools to address the variability in renewable energy generation and avoid over-generation during sunny periods and potential supply shortages during the evening peak. 📝 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 The duck curve is a valuable concept for understanding the complexities and opportunities associated with integrating renewable energy into the electrical grid effectively. It highlights the need for grid modernization and flexibility to accommodate the changing dynamics of energy production and consumption. #DuckCurve #Solar #PV #GridManagement #EnergyManagement #Synertics