EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Data Centers 2024 08 20 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Grid Planners Grapple With Ensuring Reliability Amid Unprecedented Projections of Demand Growth From Data Centers

The rapid surge in power demand from data centers has prompted calls for additional capacity to maintain grid reliability. Unlike “electrify everything” initiatives, such as transportation electrification, which are part of broader policy goals and planned through regulatory proceedings, large loads like data centers have emerged unexpectedly.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer PJM Capacity Auction 2024 08 13 Blog preview

Visual Primer: PJM Capacity Auction Prices Surge to Record Highs Amid Supply Concerns

PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity market auction for the 2025/2026 delivery year cleared at $269.92 per megawatt-day (MW-day), about nine times the clearing price in the last auction. The significantly higher prices resulted from a reduced electricity supply, mainly due to numerous generator retirements, coupled with rising demand and the implementation of market reforms, according to PJM, which operates across 13 states and the District of Columbia.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer IRA 2024 07 09 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act – Opportunities for Utilities

The enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, has unleashed billions in federal funding for the
energy sector. These include infrastructure improvements, clean energy deployment, transportation electrification, grid reliability, energy efficiency, and cyber security. Regulators across U.S. states have opened dockets requesting reports on utility actions or initiated proceedings to gather comments on utility opportunities.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer FERC Agenda 2024 06 25 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Bipartisan FERC Set to Tackle Critical Energy Sector Issues

The U.S. Senate approval of President Biden's three nominees to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) brings the agency to its full complement of five commissioners. The move comes as FERC is considering key issues including those pertaining to electric reliability and transmission rules, liquefied natural gas export projects, natural gas pipelines, and energy markets.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Grid Modernization 2024 04 30 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Virtual Power Plants Garner Attention to Meet Changing Grid Needs

Regulators and lawmakers across the U.S. are increasingly exploring the possibilities of deploying virtual power plants (VPPs) as a cost-effective means to provide grid services. VPPs have garnered attention as fossil fuel-fired power plants retire and renewable energy resources continue to grow amid increasing electricity demand.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Grid Modernization 2024 04 30 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Energy Transition Drives Innovative Actions to Strengthen Grid Reliability and Resilience

The U.S. electric grid is undergoing a significant transformation, with renewable energy sources accounting for an increasing share of the nation's electricity supply. To support this transition, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and various state regulatory commissions have recently announced a series of initiatives aimed at streamlining the deployment of clean energy technologies and improving grid reliability and resilience. Renewable generation accounted for as much as 21 percent of the U.S. electricity supply in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

EnerKnol Research PU Insights Year Ahead Trends 2024 01 02 Blog preview

Year Ahead: Five Must-Watch Power Sector Trends for 2024

The commitment to a low-carbon future is growing stronger, with states and utilities diversifying their energy transition strategies. There is a growing awareness of the magnitude of the transition including the scale of grid modernization, supply chain challenges, and economic realities as renewable resources and decarbonization technologies expand. Supportive policies and technological advancements are key…...

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Winter Reliability 2023 12 05 Blog preview 1

Winter Reliability Challenges Persist Amid Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Grid Against Extreme Weather

Grid operators and utilities across the U.S. have enhanced their winter preparation initiatives building on lessons learned from winter storms Uri and Elliott. Higher-than-average temperatures in the northern half of the U.S. are expected to…Read the full report  …...

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Winter Reliability 2023 12 05 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Winter Reliability Challenges Persist Amid Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Grid Against Extreme Weather

Grid operators and utilities across the U.S. have enhanced their winter preparation initiatives building on lessons learned from winter storms Uri and Elliott. Higher-than-average temperatures in the northern half of the U.S. are expected to lower electricity and natural gas demand, and all regions are projected to have adequate resources for a normal winter. However, extreme weather, such as a prolonged cold snap, continues to pose reliability risks to the grid.

FERC Order 2023

Special Report: FERC Denies Rehearing of Interconnection Rule, Extends Compliance Deadline

Strategic actions to optimize the distribution grid are imperative to meet the demands of the evolving power sector. Changing policies, climate action, and customer preferences have led to the growth in distributed energy resources and demand-side opportunities, prompting regulators and utilities to explore robust grid planning approaches that accommodate the growth and meet increased demand from electrification.