Author: Graham Foster

Dive Brief: Gravity Climate has introduced a new Energy Management Marketplace designed to help clients find ways to save both energy and money. This was announced on August 14. The platform uses carbon accounting data to pinpoint how switching to certain energy providers can lower costs or emissions based on specific business practices. It also offers financing options and forecasts the expected savings from energy-saving projects, which customers can monitor over time. Dive Insight: Gravity utilizes AI to track energy use and costs by scanning utility bills and invoices. By connecting with over 9,000 utility and telematics providers, the platform…

As various sectors of the U.S. economy shift from fossil fuels to electricity, state regulators face mounting challenges. This includes the New York Public Service Commission, which must evolve the power grid quickly while maintaining reliability and affordability. In New York, home to some of the oldest grid infrastructure in the nation, addressing this issue is urgent. In response, New York is leading the way in rethinking electricity system planning and operation. A big part of this involves grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), which directly improve the electricity system’s performance. GETs include dynamic line ratings for better power flow under favorable conditions…

 Revolution Wind, a significant offshore wind farm aiming to deliver 700 MW of power to Rhode Island and Connecticut, has paused construction following a directive from the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The developer, Ørsted, announced this halt on Friday. The project, developed in a joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables, has successfully secured full permits and is now 80% complete. Notable milestones include the installation of all offshore foundations and 45 of the planned 65 wind turbines. Ørsted is currently exploring various options to quickly address the situation. This…

Sweden is making a significant shift in its energy policy by planning to build small nuclear reactors, marking a departure from its previous decision to abandon nuclear technology four decades ago. The state-owned energy company Vattenfall announced that it will select between small modular reactors (SMRs) from American firm GE Vernova or the British company Rolls-Royce. These reactors will be installed at Vattenfall’s existing Ringhals nuclear plant, located in southern Sweden. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed optimism about this project, stating, “Now it’s happening — with new nuclear power, Sweden will get more stable, competitive, and climate-friendly energy generation.” Anna…

Summary: Meta is teaming up with Silicon Ranch to build a 100-megawatt solar farm in South Carolina to supply energy for its data center. Silicon Ranch will invest $100 million in the project, with Meta obtaining all the renewable energy credits. There’s no need for local community or utility investments. The solar facility is set to launch in 2027, coinciding with the opening of Meta’s new data center in Aiken. Details: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is a major purchaser of renewable energy. Since 2020, the company has achieved net-zero emissions for its direct energy use…

Heat pump installations have been outpacing gas furnace sales since 2021, a trend expected to continue as manufacturers improve their energy-efficient products. The Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit in the clean energy sector, has highlighted this shift. Despite some uncertainty surrounding the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market, the adoption of heat pumps is likely to keep rising, experts suggest. This growth comes even as the recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act phases out some federal incentives for energy-efficient upgrades. Signed into law in July, this act reduces solar and wind incentives and ends key tax credits for residential…

Rasmus Errboe, the new CEO of Ørsted, the world’s largest offshore wind developer, faces significant challenges as he works to reshape the company after a tough few years. Appointed in January, Errboe quickly reduced investment plans by 25% to stabilize finances without seeking shareholder funds or risking the company’s credit rating. Ørsted has struggled recently; high interest rates and increased interest in fossil fuels have impacted its aggressive expansion. A critical blow came when a U.S. presidential order halted a major wind project by competitor Equinor, leading investors to become wary and jeopardizing Ørsted’s plans to sell a stake in…

### Key Insights Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report alerting to potential blackouts if coal and gas power plants are allowed to retire. However, three clean energy groups assert that this report lacks a serious evaluation of reliability and resource adequacy. They filed a formal request for a rehearing to contest the report’s findings. The organizations—Advanced Energy United, the American Clean Power Association, and the American Council on Renewable Energy—argue that what is labeled as a “report” is merely a tool to bolster DOE’s regulatory efforts. They describe it as “arbitrary and capricious,” aimed at increasing…

Texas is on track to cut power to data centers during grid emergencies, highlighting how strained the state’s electrical infrastructure has become. Over the Fourth of July, devastating floods hit central Texas, leading to major outages and infrastructure damage. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has experienced multiple spikes in energy prices and conservation alerts—not due to a lack of electricity, but because power couldn’t be effectively distributed. This problem is escalating nationwide. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy warned that the risk of blackouts could rise 100-fold by 2030. These issues reveal a much deeper vulnerability: the current…

Centrica, the company behind British Gas, is in exclusive discussions to acquire the UK’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal from National Grid for about £1.5 billion. This strategic move is part of National Grid’s plan to concentrate on its core electricity networks. Centrica has partnered with Energy Capital Partners, a notable investor in renewable energy, to pursue this deal. The announcement could be coming soon, signalling a significant shift in control of a key energy asset in the UK. The Isle of Grain gas import terminal, located in the Thames estuary in Kent, has the capacity to process…