Smart Grid
Over the past five years, the power industry has evolved at a faster pace because of several simultaneous trends reflecting a broader shift from coal to natural gas and renewables. The changing fuel mix, growth in renewables, and evolution of distributed energy resources are among the key causes catalyzing this transformation. In 2018, most of these trends are expected to continue or accelerate.
The New York Independent System Operator has launched a pilot program to examine how the integration of emerging distributed energy resource (DER) technologies will affect wholesale market systems. The pilot program aligns with the state’s objectives under the Reforming the Energy vision (REV) to expand retail markets for DER. Access to wholesale markets will be critical in integrating the growing share of DERs, and state and ISO-level policies will play a key role in this regard.
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The New York Independent System Operator has launched a pilot program to examine how the integration of emerging distributed energy resource (DER) technologies will affect wholesale market systems. The pilot program aligns with the state’s objectives under the Reforming the Energy vision (REV) to expand retail markets for DER. Access to wholesale markets will be critical in integrating the growing share of DERs, and state and ISO-level policies will play a key role in this regard.
Panelists at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing concurred that having more diversified resources would help the authorities manage outages in the wake of hurricanes such as Irma, Harvey, and Maria. The catastrophic storms have emphasized the need for significant investments in the nation’s grid to protect it from a major, long-lasting outage that has affected Puerto Rico. Policymakers are turning to battery storage and microgrids as they do not just strengthen the grid against inclement weather but bring an array of other benefits.
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Panelists at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing concurred that having more diversified resources would help the authorities manage outages in the wake of hurricanes such as Irma, Harvey, and Maria. The catastrophic storms have emphasized the need for significant investments in the nation’s grid to protect it from a major, long-lasting outage that has affected Puerto Rico. Policymakers are turning to battery storage and microgrids as they do not just strengthen the grid against inclement weather but bring an array of other benefits.
The Missouri Public Service Commission has rejected the multi-state Grain Belt Express transmission project for the second time since 2015.The decision is based on a recent court ruling that all counties involved in a project must approve it before the MO PSC can do so. Four commissioners indicated they would have approved the project since it was in the public interest if not for the court decision. The move underscores the need for policies that greenlight grid modernization driven by the growing share of renewables in the generation mix.
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The Missouri Public Service Commission has rejected the multi-state Grain Belt Express transmission project for the second time since 2015.The decision is based on a recent court ruling that all counties involved in a project must approve it before the MO PSC can do so. Four commissioners indicated they would have approved the project since it was in the public interest if not for the court decision. The move underscores the need for policies that greenlight grid modernization driven by the growing share of renewables in the generation mix.
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has accepted the Hawaiian Electric Companies' near-term action plan towards meeting the state’s target of 100 percent renewables by 2045. California’s proposal to match Hawaii's goal has garnered more attention given the complexity of implementing such goals in a large and diverse economy. As states increase their renewable portfolio standards, utilities will have to be more proactive in charting paths of compliance. Hawaii may offer some early lessons for other states but California's experience could be more applicable.
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The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has accepted the Hawaiian Electric Companies' near-term action plan towards meeting the state’s target of 100 percent renewables by 2045. California’s proposal to match Hawaii's goal has garnered more attention given the complexity of implementing such goals in a large and diverse economy. As states increase their renewable portfolio standards, utilities will have to be more proactive in charting paths of compliance. Hawaii may offer some early lessons for other states but California's experience could be more applicable.
North Carolina has passed legislation that would reform implementation of PURPA, the key policy that helped the state become the second largest solar market in the U.S. PURPA has gained relevance in recent years due to the significant decline in renewable energy costs which has made solar and wind increasingly cost-competitive. However, utilities across states disagree over rates and contract lengths pertaining to projects under PURPA. The ongoing debate over PURPA will likely prompt reforms by modifying implementation terms or pushing legislation for future changes.
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North Carolina has passed legislation that would reform implementation of PURPA, the key policy that helped the state become the second largest solar market in the U.S. PURPA has gained relevance in recent years due to the significant decline in renewable energy costs which has made solar and wind increasingly cost-competitive. However, utilities across states disagree over rates and contract lengths pertaining to projects under PURPA. The ongoing debate over PURPA will likely prompt reforms by modifying implementation terms or pushing legislation for future changes.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s upcoming grid reliability study is examining whether renewables are accelerating coal and nuclear retirements, while the trend is primarily driven by low natural gas prices and slow growth in electricity demand. Renewable energy growth is increasingly driven by costs, as these technologies have matured and attained scale.
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