NatGas Generation to Surpass Coal in 2016: EIA NatGas Generation to Surpass Coal in 2016: EIA

on March 11, 2016

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Natural gas-fired power generation is expected to surpass coal in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The EIA on Tuesday released its March Short-Term Energy Outlook, which projects natural gas will fuel 33.4 percent of the country’s power generation in 2016 compared to coal’s 32 percent.

The March forecast marks the first time the EIA has projected natural gas-fired generation to surpass coal on an annual average basis.

The EIA expects coal production to total about 784 million short tons (st) this year, 12.4 percent less than 2015 and a 21.4-percent drop from 2014.

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PowerEngineeringNatGas Generation to Surpass Coal in 2016: EIA NatGas Generation to Surpass Coal in 2016: EIA

National Grid to Launch a First-of-Its-Kind Solar Marketplace

on March 11, 2016

greentech media

This spring, National Grid will launch a new online marketplace that allows customers in Rhode Island to shop for solar and receive an incentive for improving energy efficiency at the same time.

SolarWise Rhode Island is part of National Grid’s 2016 Rhode Island Renewable Energy Growth Program, which launched last year. The initiative will help the state meet its goal to increase the amount of electricity generated by customer-owned equipment by 160 megawatts over a five-year period.

National Grid is partnering with EnergySage to deliver the SolarWise program. Through EnergySage’s online marketplace, customers will be able to compare solar options for their home or business and receive competitive quotes from preapproved installers. National Grid is the first electric utility company in the nation to offer a transparent platform for the purchase of distributed solar.

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GreenTech MediaNational Grid to Launch a First-of-Its-Kind Solar Marketplace

‘Game-ifying’ demand response: How one utility tries to keep DR programs fresh for customers

on March 11, 2016

Utility-Drive

What used to be considered distinct methods of modifying demand – energy efficiency, demand response, behavioral-driven load shifts – are increasingly coming together in customer facing programs. While the load and revenues associated may still be distinct for the utility, a key to engaging customers is in presenting a cohesive message they can act around.

“The customer experience is seamless,” said America Lesh, manager of energy efficiency programs for Baltimore Gas & Electric. “They don’t need to know that these are separate programs. That’s even true of the energy efficiency space. Customers want to pick something, set it and forget it.”

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Utility Dive‘Game-ifying’ demand response: How one utility tries to keep DR programs fresh for customers

Duke Energy to put Aquion batteries to the test in North Carolina

on March 10, 2016

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Duke Energy has started testing a first-of-its-kind battery technology at its Rankin Substation in Gaston County, N.C.

The hybrid ultracapacitor-battery energy storage system (HESS) will demonstrate multiple service applications: extended operational life, rapid response, real-time solar smoothing and load shifting.

“This approach will allow our energy storage systems to do a variety of tasks,” said Thomas Golden, technology development manager for Duke Energy. “With so many solar installations in North Carolina, we must look for innovative ways to better incorporate renewable energy into our system – and still provide reliable service at a competitive price for our customers.”

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Homer Microgrid NewsDuke Energy to put Aquion batteries to the test in North Carolina

50MW of Energy Storage To Replace Gas-Fired Plants In South California

on March 10, 2016

Energy-Storage-Forum

A joint venture between Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) and SunEdison Inc. will see 50MW of energy storage systems delivered to the electric utility Southern California Edison(SCE). The project will locate battery storage systems on-site at commercial and industrial customers’ premises. SCE has bought capacity from the two companies under a 10 year contract, and is part of their plan to add 2.2 GW of cleaner resources, including the integration of renewables and energy storage systems by 2022.

The AMS ‘Hybrid-Electric Buildings’ Project makes use of a large network of batteries integrated in specific buildings where the electric utility requires grid support. The additional energy produced will aim to off-set and eventually replace the energy currently being produced by conventional gas-fired plants, as well as the recently decommissioned San Onofre nuclear plant. The project will mark the first time SCE taps into energy stored by their own customers to provide grid support during peak hours.

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Energy Storage Forum50MW of Energy Storage To Replace Gas-Fired Plants In South California

US Solar Market Sets New Record, Installing 7.3GW of Solar PV in 2015

on March 10, 2016

greentech media

In yet another record-breaking year, the solar industry in the United States installed 7,286 megawatts of solar PV in 2015. GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association announced the historic figures today ahead of the March 9 release of the U.S. Solar Market Insight report.

For the first time ever, solar beat out natural-gas capacity additions, with solar supplying 29.5 percent of all new electric generating capacity in the U.S. in 2015. Led by California, North Carolina, Nevada, Massachusetts and New York, the U.S. solar market experienced a year-over-year growth rate of 17 percent. Geographically, the market continues to diversify with 13 states installing more than 100 megawatts each in 2015.

States that made major solar strides include Utah, which jumped in the rankings from 23rd to 7th place, and Georgia, which moved from 16th to 8th in the nation.

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GreenTech MediaUS Solar Market Sets New Record, Installing 7.3GW of Solar PV in 2015

US Energy Storage Market Grew 243% in 2015, Largest Year on Record

on March 10, 2016

energystorageassociation

The U.S. energy storage market just had both its best quarter and best year of all time. According to the GTM Research/Energy Storage Association’s U.S. Energy Storage Monitor 2015 Year in Review, the U.S. deployed 112 megawatts of energy storage capacity in the fourth quarter of 2015, bringing the annual total to 221 megawatts. This represents 161 megawatt-hours for the year.

The 112 megawatts deployed in the fourth quarter 2015 represented more than the total of all storage deployments in 2013 and 2014 combined. Propelled by that historic quarter, the U.S. energy storage market grew 243 percent over 2014’s 65 megawatts (86 megawatt-hours).

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Energy Storage AssociationUS Energy Storage Market Grew 243% in 2015, Largest Year on Record

Kokam’s 56 Megawatt Energy Storage Project Features World’s Largest Lithium NMC

on March 8, 2016

SEOUL, South Korea, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Kokam Co., Ltd, the world’s premier provider of innovative battery solutions, today announced that it has successfully deployed two Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) Oxide Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) – a 24-megawatt (MW) system / 9-megawatt hour (MWh) and a 16 MW / 6 MWh system – for frequency regulation on the South Korean electricity grid. The 24 MW system is the largest capacity Lithium NMC ESS used for frequency regulation in the world.

Operational since January 2016, the two new systems, along with a Kokam 16MW / 5MWh Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) ESS system deployed in August 2015, provide South Korea’s largest utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) [NYSE: KEP], with 56 MW of energy storage capacity for frequency regulation. These three systems are part of the world’s largest ESS frequency regulation project, which is scheduled to have deployed 500 MW of battery-based energy storage when it is completed in 2017.

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Energy Storage AssociationKokam’s 56 Megawatt Energy Storage Project Features World’s Largest Lithium NMC

Southern Company Subsidiary Acquires 120-MW Texas Solar Project

on March 8, 2016

Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, has acquired the company’s second Texas solar project.

The 120-MW East Pecos Solar Facility is being constructed on about 1,000 acres in Pecos County.  The project is expected to include about 1.2 million First Solar thin-film photovoltaic solar modules mounted on single-axis tracking tables.

First Solar is building the project and will operate and maintain the facility upon completion.

Construction began in February, with the project expected online by the end of the year.

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PowerEngineeringSouthern Company Subsidiary Acquires 120-MW Texas Solar Project

EIA: More Than 80 Percent of 2015’s Retired Generating Capacity was Coal-Fired

on March 8, 2016

Nearly 18 GW of electric generating capacity was retired in 2015, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and more than 80 percent of that was coal-fired.

About 30 percent of those coal retirements happened in April after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule went into effect.

According to the EIA, some plants applied for and received one-year extensions and will retire this April.  Several plants received additional extensions beyond April 2016 based on their roles in grid reliability.

According to the EIA, much of the country’s existing coal capacity was built between 1950 and 1990.  Coal units that were shuttered in 2015 were primarily built between 1950 and 1970.  The average age of those units was 54 years.  The average age of the country’s remaining coal-fired plants is 38 years.

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PowerEngineeringEIA: More Than 80 Percent of 2015’s Retired Generating Capacity was Coal-Fired

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