Author: Graham Foster

Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has proposed a new approach to energy bills that could see households charged differently based on their income and wealth levels. This idea, described as a “progressive approach,” aims to ensure that the costs associated with transitioning to cleaner energy are distributed more equitably. Ofgem stated, “We believe this is the right moment to reassess how the shift to a greener and more reliable energy system should be funded by consumers.” This discussion is part of a broader review initiated on Wednesday, focusing on energy system costs. In April, Ofgem’s chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, hinted at…

Key Highlights: New research from the MIT Future Energy Systems Center suggests that data centers that adjust their workloads can reduce pressure on the electric grid and save money for consumers. However, this may lead to higher emissions from power plants in some areas. The study noted that load shifting in data centers can help with the incorporation of renewable energy and better use of existing energy sources. The emissions impact varies based on which factor is more dominant. Aligning data center operations with renewable energy deployment is crucial. As data center electricity demand is expected to grow, utilities and…

Dive Brief: The state of New York has introduced its first bulk energy storage solicitation, aiming to procure 1 GW from storage developers. This initiative supports New York’s goal to add a total of 6 GW of energy storage by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will use a new system of index storage credits. Each credit represents one MWh of discharge capacity each day, based on a model similar to the state’s renewable energy certificates. Kristina Persaud, a leader at Advanced Energy United, noted that this is one of the largest energy storage procurements…

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…