A high-renewables grid with faster transmission buildout can save $270 billion or more
The U.S. Department of Energy found increasing levels of savings under a high-renewables grid across three transmission frameworks: first, accelerated transmission expansion, then point-to-point high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, then HVDC using more flexibly sized multiterminal converters.
How our aging grid can manage the surge in solar energy
As we introduce more renewable energy into the mix, we must also address these challenges to ensure a reliable grid that can support the nation’s clean energy goals. Nick Tumilowicz, director of product management, distributed energy management at Itron offers four solutions.
Storing solar power through aluminum-rock composite
UK-based Caldera has developed a new heat storage technology that can reportedly convert on-site generated solar power into on-demand heat, thus replacing conventional gas boilers. The system uses a composite of recycled aluminum and volcanic rocks to store heat at up to 500 C and produce steam.
Sunrise brief: Gavin Newsom rules that schools and farms cannot use their own solar energy production
Also on the rise: Solar plan under development for Love Canal chemical site. How to quickly add gigawatts of batteries to the PJM grid. And more.
Hitachi Energy expands transformer and switchgear manufacturing
The company plans to expand its high-voltage switchgear and breakers factory in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, a distribution, power, and traction transformer factory in South Boston, Virginia, and to build a distribution transformer factory in Mexico.
How to quickly add gigawatts of batteries to the PJM grid
Mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM has a ready opportunity to enable substantially more battery capacity and prevent a near-term resource adequacy shortfall, says a trade group report.
Sunrise brief: California bill requires utilities to evaluate grid-enhancing technologies
Also on the rise: Polysilicon prices steady amid global trade policy uncertainties. First floating solar installation in Utah. And more.
Solar-plus-storage dominating future U.S. power grid
A report from Berkeley Lab reveals a significant expansion of solar-plus-storage facilities in the U.S. power plant market, highlighting an evolution from frequency to arbitrage and curtailment mitigation markets. The best is yet to come, as ongoing price decreases are still being absorbed by the market and are already being used to fill the interconnection queues with terrawatts of capacity.
Completing Western transmission lines would enable 73 GW of renewables and storage
The benefits of completing 12 Western transmission projects, as identified in a federal study, will form the region’s new baseline for a forthcoming National Transmission Planning Study.
Software will complete first-stage interconnection studies in one day, firm says
As a grid operator works to automate its phase 1 study process for interconnecting solar, storage and other generating projects, the firm developing the automation software says the study process will take just one day.
