Author: Graham Foster

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that in 2025, around 63 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generation capacity will be introduced, with a significant portion—approximately 81%—coming from solar energy and battery storage. This information was shared in a report released on Monday. This new capacity represents nearly a 30% increase compared to 2024, during which 48.6 GW was added. According to the EIA, this was the highest installation of capacity in a single year since 2002. Solar energy is expected to contribute over half of the new capacity in 2025. In 2024 alone, power producers added a record 30 GW of…

California is facing a significant spike in electricity prices, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to take action. In October, he issued an executive order instructing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to review the cost-effectiveness of programs funded by ratepayers. The goal is to identify areas where spending might exceed the benefits of these initiatives. One major trend under consideration is the state’s increasing reliance on utility-managed demand response (DR) programs. Back in 2015, California introduced a new category of demand response programs called supply-side demand response (SSDR). This allows demand response aggregators to directly offer their resources in the wholesale…

Brookfield Asset Management is set to acquire National Grid’s renewable energy business based in the United States for $1.7 billion. This move reflects Brookfield’s strong belief in the renewable energy sector, despite challenges posed by political uncertainties. London-listed National Grid announced the sale of its onshore renewables division last year as part of its strategy to concentrate on its core energy networks. The deal follows President Donald Trump’s recent decisions to halt offshore wind approvals and delay financial incentives for green energy. However, Brookfield’s president, Connor Teskey, expressed optimism about the future. He mentioned that he expects the administration’s focus…

Chevron has announced plans to reduce its global workforce by up to 20% by the end of 2026. This decision is part of a broader strategy aimed at cutting costs, simplifying its operations, and fostering growth for the oil giant. According to Vice-chair Mark Nelson, the company aims to optimize its extensive portfolio, leverage technology for better productivity, and rethink how work is conducted. He stated, “We expect these actions to result in workforce reductions of 15 to 20 percent, starting in 2025 and mostly completed by the end of 2026.” These deep cost-cutting measures come even as President Trump…

Wood Group, a struggling oil services and engineering company, has started discussions for a potential takeover with a UAE-based firm, Sidara. This comes after Wood’s market value fell below £200 million this month. Last year, Sidara had made a £1.6 billion offer but ended talks in August before making another approach recently, likely due to Wood’s declining share price. The discussions were still in progress as of Monday morning, though it’s uncertain whether a deal will be reached. Following reports of Sidara’s renewed interest, Wood’s shares surged by as much as 33%, pushing its market cap to over £240 million,…

A recent executive order from the White House sets new requirements for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other independent bodies. However, FERC Chairman Mark Christie points out that many of the actions outlined in the order are already standard practices for the commission. During a media briefing on Thursday, Christie explained that the order essentially consolidates previous practices into a single document. He noted that FERC is already required to share its budget and strategic plans with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, and this has been a longstanding requirement. Christie emphasized that although the…

Europe’s natural gas sector is experiencing some changes as it tries to adjust after significant disruptions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The continent has worked hard to make up for a decrease in Russian gas imports by seeking out more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from places like the United States, while also reducing its overall gas consumption. However, recently, there have been some unexpected developments. Gas storage levels are lower than what is typical for this time of year, leading to a spike in prices that reached a two-year high in early February. Prices have since dropped by…

Britain’s steel industry is sounding the alarm about potential costs exceeding £150 million each year as the government moves to eliminate free carbon allowances for manufacturers. This shift is part of a broader strategy to phase out allowances over a decade starting in 2027, which the industry has described as an “earthquake moment.” UK Steel, the trade group representing the industry, has alerted officials that annual carbon costs could reach as high as £167 million by 2037, coinciding with the anticipated end of the phaseout. This projection is based on the two largest steel producers in the UK transitioning to…

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has announced a review addressing the colocating of large loads, such as data centers, at power plants within the PJM Interconnection. This decision was made during FERC’s monthly meeting on Thursday, with Chairman Mark Christie highlighting the significant implications this could have on system reliability and consumer interests. Christie noted that utilities have a responsibility to accommodate new customers while ensuring fairness in the process. This review is timely due to the growing number of data centers emerging across the U.S., primarily driven by the rise of artificial intelligence. By placing data centers near…

Key Highlights: A recent agreement has been made between Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, and Utah’s Torus. This partnership aims to add 70 MW of commercial and industrial demand response capabilities to the Wattsmart Battery program within the next 12 to 18 months, according to an announcement made by Torus on February 7. Torus has already secured approximately one-third of the project’s expected capacity and is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and approvals for deployment, as stated by Torus founder and CEO Nate Walkingshaw. Governor Spencer Cox of Utah praised this partnership, highlighting it…