Author: Graham Foster

Brief Overview: A new affordable connector from Ford and Global Power Products is designed to let compatible Ford truck owners use their vehicles for up to five days of backup home power without complex installations. The Ford Vehicle Connector connects Ford F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost Hybrid trucks to GPP’s GenerLink transfer switch, allowing users to power home appliances directly. According to Nic Saeger, the CEO of Global Power Products, this solution makes it easier and cheaper for rural customers to have backup power during outages, which are common in those areas. Insight: Ford estimates that homeowners will need to spend…

Key Highlights: Research from UC Berkeley suggests that renewable energy systems could meet up to one-third of the U.S. industrial heat demand by 2035. The analysis examined various temperature ranges and used data from over 3,000 industrial sites. It found that solar and wind energy, combined with heat pumps and thermal storage, are cost-effective, especially in areas with high natural gas prices. Jose Dominguez, a research manager and report co-author, emphasized that these technologies could provide more stable costs for industries currently dependent on natural gas. Summary: The report primarily examines how the industrial sector, which is a significant contributor…

Salt River Project (SRP) has announced plans to seek board approval in September for the development of the Marigold Energy Center, located around 45 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona. This initiative aims to meet the rising energy demands in Maricopa and Pinal counties. The center will consist of 400 megawatts (MW) of battery storage, 600 MW of solar power, and up to 675 MW powered by natural gas, along with a new substation and four miles of 230-kilovolt transmission lines. Last year, SRP revealed plans for the Marigold project and conducted informational sessions for the local community in Stanfield. They…

For nearly two decades, electricity demand in the U.S. remained steady. Improvements in energy efficiency kept pace with any growth, and the aging grid generally managed well without major issues. However, that time is over as we now face the most significant load growth since the 1950s. The surge is driven not just by technology like AI and data centers but also by the return of advanced manufacturing, the rise of electric vehicles, and a broader shift towards an electrified economy. Our power grid must be prepared to handle this demand. This situation coincides with rising concerns about energy costs,…

Brief Overview: Best Buy has taken a significant step towards sustainability by installing a solar garden on the roof of one of its stores in New York. This addition complements another solar power generation site located near a distribution center in California. The Long Island City store marks the tech retailer’s first brick-and-mortar location to host a rooftop community solar installation. In 2020, Best Buy committed to the Climate Pledge, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, which is an acceleration from its previous target of 2050. Best Buy is also a founding member of the Race to Zero campaign,…

The flexibility sector is facing a challenge, but it’s not the one everyone usually talks about. For nearly ten years, demand flexibility has struggled to gain recognition. Questions loomed: Does shifting energy loads really work? Will customers get involved? Can utilities rely on it during critical times? Thankfully, those questions have been answered through various pilots and extensive research, showing positive results. But why does it still seem like flexibility is lagging in many areas? The answer lies in the difference between proving a concept and implementing it widely. The industry has made great strides in demonstrating that flexibility works.…

One of the biggest challenges facing data centers today is the delay in connecting to the power grid. Many data centers are completed but unable to start up because they lack a reliable power connection. The industry is facing lengthy interconnection studies that can take months or even years, locking up significant investments and resources. The crux of the issue isn’t the construction of data centers; that part moves quickly. Instead, the speed of obtaining power connections creates a bottleneck that affects operations and efficiency. There are three main problems contributing to the delay in obtaining these vital connections. Firstly,…

Energy Costs Overview: According to a recent report from Lazard, while the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is going up for all energy sources, renewable energy remains the most affordable option for new power generation. The report highlights that, despite rising costs due to factors like higher capital expenditures and supply chain issues, unsubsidized renewable sources still hold a competitive edge. Key Findings: Rising Costs Across the Board: The LCOE for various energy types is increasing. This is driven by several factors, including elevated capital costs, sustained interest rates, and changes in supply chains. Wind and Solar Costs: The report…

Key Takeaways: Analysts from Bank of America predict that the U.S. will require over 230 GW of new power generation capacity in the next five years. However, regulated utilities are only anticipated to add around 93 GW, leaving a shortfall of more than 100 GW. Data centers are projected to contribute about 125 GW to the U.S. electricity demand during this period, increasing overall electricity demand growth to a rate of 4.1% per year from 2026 to 2030. With large gas turbines mostly sold out until 2030, developers of data centers might resort to on-site gas engines while utilities extend…

Sunrun is launching an exciting pilot project to create a distributed data center, announced on July 8. This initiative aims to utilize computing equipment in homes that already have Sunrun’s solar panels and battery storage systems. Unlike traditional large data centers, which can stress our existing electricity networks, these smaller computing units will help the power grid by better using the current infrastructure, according to Sunrun. This project follows a similar announcement from SPAN, a startup in electrical hardware, which recently introduced a distributed computing program in collaboration with NVIDIA. Sunrun’s new project targets companies developing advanced AI technologies. By…