Author: Graham Foster

The electricity grid is an intricate system that balances supply and demand. Developed in the early 20th century, its centralized structure was designed to manage the generation, transmission, and delivery of electricity. This system has continued to operate under a monopoly, relying on fixed revenues from customers rather than driving innovation. The fundamental approach has often been to create surplus generation capacity to support utility investments. As our electricity usage continues to grow and evolve, maintaining the current utility monopoly model has become increasingly costly and unreliable. Instead of sticking with a century-old framework, we could rethink utilities to function…

Key Points: The White House has announced an artificial intelligence (AI) action plan that aims to streamline regulations and encourage the building of more data centers and energy resources. The administration intends to bypass certain environmental regulations for data centers to accelerate the permitting process. The plan emphasizes the need to maintain operational power generation and suggests finding innovative ways to utilize existing power sources during peak demand. Insights: The recent action plan aligns with previous policies aimed at extending the life of fossil fuel plants and promoting nuclear energy. It focuses on reliable energy sources and new technologies, including…

Eni, the Italian oil giant, is banking on its renewable energy ventures to match its oil and gas profits in the coming decade. This ambitious outlook diverges from its peers, like Shell and BP, who have scaled back on green projects amid disappointing returns. Claudio Descalzi, Eni’s CEO, stated that by 2035, the profits from their new energy initiatives will equal those from traditional oil and gas, and by 2040, they could surpass them. This commitment highlights Eni’s determination to invest in low-carbon energy even while other major oil companies are refocusing on fossil fuels. Currently, Eni’s oil and gas…

Dive Brief: General Motors (GM) has teamed up with battery recycling company Redwood Materials. They signed a non-binding agreement to enhance energy storage solutions using new and used batteries from GM’s electric vehicles. This collaboration is part of Redwood’s new division, Redwood Energy, which focuses on creating and implementing cost-effective energy storage systems. These systems aim to support the rising power needs of AI-driven data centers and other sectors. Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of batteries, highlighted the urgent need for quick and affordable energy storage solutions to meet the increasing electricity demand in the U.S. Dive Insight: Redwood Materials is…

In 2020, Virginia’s legislature approved the Virginia Clean Economy Act, mandating that Dominion Energy, the state’s primary utility, must source all its electricity from renewable resources by the year 2045. However, the utility has leveraged a loophole involving data centers to sidestep these requirements. Virginia has become a leader in data center operations, hosting the largest collection globally, with over 150 hyperscale centers already in place. As Dominion’s recent integrated resource plan demonstrates, the anticipated energy demand from these data centers is a major reason for postponing the closure of older power facilities, including the Clover Power Station, a coal-powered…

Over the last two weeks, Puerto Rico’s electricity grid has relied heavily on tens of thousands of batteries spread throughout the island to meet energy needs and supply power to roughly 3 million residents. This initiative is proving effective. What began as a small pilot project in 2023 has evolved into the first operational behind-the-meter virtual power plant in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is becoming a vital part of the territory’s struggling energy infrastructure, according to Javier Rúa-Jovet, chief policy officer of the Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico. “It’s grown in the blink of an…

Dive Brief: Schneider Electric has launched a new digital platform aimed at helping companies reduce carbon emissions in their supply chains, particularly focusing on challenging scope 3 emissions. The platform, called **Zeigo Hub**, provides tools that allow businesses to connect with suppliers of various sizes, monitor emissions, and manage sustainability efforts effectively. Designed to aid in sustainability reporting, the hub aligns with major global standards like the Carbon Disclosure Project and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, improving transparency and compliance. Dive Insight: Zeigo Hub features an analytics engine that offers insights into supplier engagement and emissions trends, helping companies…

Almost one in four households in the UK are falling behind on their energy bills, revealing the ongoing struggles of families to pay their bills despite a drop in global energy prices over the past two years. A recent report by consultancy Baringa shows that 24% of households are late with payments. This figure has increased from 18% in December 2024, although it’s down from 29% in May 2022, following a spike in prices linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The report indicates that those who haven’t set up repayment plans owe an average of £1,700. About 71% of all…

BP and Shell are stepping back into Libya, marking a new chapter in the country’s oil sector after years of turmoil. Both oil giants have signed agreements to explore new opportunities in this oil-rich nation, which is still recovering from a decade-long civil conflict. Libya boasts significant oil and gas reserves and is one of Africa’s top producers. However, it has faced a decline in investment as international firms retreated following the political upheaval that occurred after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Currently, Libya’s political landscape is split, with a UN-backed government in the west and a rival…

Oil Demand Predictions Diverge Greetings from London and Calgary! Recently, there has been much debate regarding the growth of oil demand this year, with various forecasts showing significant discrepancies. Last Friday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that it anticipates global oil consumption to rise by only 700,000 barrels per day (b/d), the slowest growth rate since 2009, excluding the pandemic. This is down from an earlier estimate of 720,000 b/d. Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed a different outlook, projecting an increase of 800,000 b/d for 2025. Contrarily, OPEC+, the group responsible for about 40% of the world’s…