RMEL eNews

Industry Information

US Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 90% Through Existing Measures, Report Says

ICF, a global consulting and technology services provider, released a new report that leverages proprietary climate modeling to project how to put the U.S. on a path toward achieving its goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/solar/us-can-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-90-through-existing-measures-report-says/ to view the full article online.

If This Technology Breaks Through, Solar Energy Will Skyrocket

Microsoft Founder Bill Gates is backing a solar cell maker that can produce more energy than conventional solar cells. Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures has money on Massachusetts-based CubicPV, which makes photovoltaic cells using perovskite — a composite that produces at least 20% more energy than the prevailing silicon technology.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2023/10/10/if-this-technology-breaks-through-solar-energy-will-skyrocket/?ss=energy&sh=2922d8e130cd to view the full article online.

Despite Shift from Fossil Fuels, EIA Projects Global Energy Consumption, CO2 Emissions To Increase Through 2050

Increases in energy consumption by 2050 are likely to outpace efficiency improvements, according to the latest projections by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA is projecting global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to increase through 2050 in all forecasted cases except its Low Economic Growth case.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/emissions/despite-shift-from-fossil-fuels-eia-projects-global-energy-consumption-co2-emissions-to-increase-through-2050/ to view the full article online.

Hydrogen is Our Best Bet to Decarbonize Heavy Industry, U.S. Energy Secretary Says

The U.S. government is making an unprecedented push to invest in clean hydrogen as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gas pollution. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the government believes fuel will be crucial in decarbonizing heavy industrial processes, particularly steel and ammonia production.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2023/10/17/hydrogen-is-our-best-bet-to-decarbonize-heavy-industry-us-energy-secretary-says/?ss=energy&sh=7942b5aea5da to view the full article online.

Digitalization Key to Mitigating Wind Industry Challenges

A new report from analytics solutions firm ONYX Insight reveals supply chain issues, OEM pressures and turbine reliability are the greatest challenges facing the wind industry and recommends systematic adoption of automation and digital technologies to mitigate these threats.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/wind/digitalisation-key-to-mitigating-wind-industry-challenges/ to view the full article online.

FERC Directs NERC to Draft Reliability Standards for Wind, Solar and Storage

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission directed the North American Electric Reliability Corp. to develop reliability standards for inverter-based resources, or IBRs, such as wind, solar and battery systems.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-nerc-ibr-reliability-standards-inverter-based-wind-solar-storage/697287/ to view the full article online.

AI is Enhancing Electric Grids, but Surging Energy Use and Security Risks are Key Concerns

AI’s energy use cases include load and weather forecasting, predictive maintenance, grid management, enhancing the output of wind and solar resources, faster storm recovery, wildfire risk assessment and methane leak detection, witnesses told lawmakers.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/artificial-intelligence-ai-electric-grid-management-Schneider-Electric-EPRI/697368/ to view the full article online.

New ERCOT Battery Rule Could Limit Energy Storage Use in Grid Emergencies, Operators Say

ERCOT’s board of directors unanimously approved the new rule, known as NPRR 1186, requiring batteries to maintain a certain state of charge, or SOC, depending on which ancillary services they are providing. The Public Utility Commission of Texas must still finalize the rule.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ercot-battery-capacity-rule-NPRR-1186-state-of-charge-SOC/697653/ to view the full article online.

New Mexico Approves Early Closure Agreement for Xcel’s Coal-Fired Tolk Power Plant

Xcel Energy’s 1,067-MW coal-fired Tolk Generating Station will shut down by 2028 — and until then will limit its operations — under an agreement approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, or PRC.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-mexico-regulators-finalize-closure-xcel-energy-coal-fired-tolk-power-plant/697727/ to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Arbor Day Foundation Awards OPPD with Tree Line USA Designation 2023

Omaha Public Power District is proud to share it earned an honorable distinction for their commitment to proper urban forest management, including tree planting and care in their service territory. The Arbor Day Foundation has named OPPD a Tree Line USA Utility for the 23rd year.

Visit https://www.oppd.com/news-resources/news-releases/2023/october/arbor-day-foundation-awards-oppd-with-tree-line-usa-designation-2023/ to view the full article online.

Austin Energy to Launch Early Wildfire Detection Program Powered by AI

Austin City Council approved a powerful new tool to aid Austin Energy in wildfire detection and response as climate change fuels hotter, drier summers in Texas. The city’s public electric utility will implement Pano AI technology to provide Austin Energy crews and emergency first responders with up-to-the-minute information to quickly respond to wildfire threats while protecting lives, property and the environment.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/about/news/news-releases/2023/austin-energy-to-launch-early-wildfire-detection-program-powered-by-ai to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy, Heartland Hydrogen Hub Selected for up to $925 Million Federal Award

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, including multiple clean hydrogen projects from Xcel Energy, for award negotiations to receive up to $925 million. The award will serve as a catalyst for a future hydrogen ecosystem in the Upper Midwest.

Visit https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/about/newsroom/press-release/xcel-energy-heartland-hydrogen-hub-selected-for-up-to-925-million-federal-award-MCNUOXT2AZAVBHBBYDAVZKUETID4 to view the full article online.

JCOAL, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Carbon Capture Research Technology Completed at Integrated Test Center, Dry Fork Station

JCOAL (Japan Carbon Frontier Organization) and its partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), along with representatives from University of Wyoming, Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC), and Basin Electric, held a ceremony to mark the construction completion of their solid sorbent capture technology at the ITC adjacent to Basin Electric’s Dry Fork Station near Gillette.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/JCOAL-Kawasaki-Heavy-Industries-carbon-capture-research-technology-completed-at-Integrated-Test-Center-Dry-Fork-Station to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Selects Tri-State for $26.8 Million in Federal Funding to Increase Power Grid Resilience and Reliability Across Four Western States

The U.S. Department of Energy today selected Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to receive $26.8 million to enhance the U.S. power grid’s ability to deliver reliable, affordable and cleaner energy in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. The funds will advance the Cooperative Energy Ecosystem, a project for distributed energy resource management collaboration between the not-for-profit wholesale power supply cooperative and its member distribution cooperatives and public power districts.

Visit https://tristate.coop/us-department-energy-selects-tri-state-268-million-federal-funding-increase-power-grid-resilience to view the full article online.

PacifiCorp Selected for Federal Infrastructure Funding to Enhance Wildfire Mitigation

PacifiCorp is pleased to announce it has been selected for award negotiations on two major, competitive infrastructure grants by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office. These Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships grants, funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, support wildfire mitigation projects that will greatly benefit our customers and communities.

Visit https://www.pacificorp.com/about/newsroom/news-releases/selected-for-federal-infrastructure-funding.html to view the full article online.

LES Board Approves Emeka Anyanwu as CEO; Mayor, Lincoln City Council Must Approve Next

Emeka Anyanwu, Energy Innovation & Resources officer at Seattle City Light, was confirmed Oct. 20, 2023, as the next CEO of Lincoln Electric System. The Lincoln City Council and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird also must approve his appointment. If he is approved by both, Anyanwu’s start date is Jan. 2, 2024.

Visit https://www.les.com/company/news/les-board-approves-emeka-anyanwu-ceo-mayor-lincoln-city-council-must-approve-next to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Energy Selects CPS Energy to Receive Federal Funding to Increase Resiliency and Reliability

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected CPS Energy to receive approximately $30.2 million to enhance the utility’s ongoing efforts to maintain grid reliability and resiliency. The DOE funds will advance CPS Energy’s Community Energy Resiliency Program, focused on grid innovation such as installing microgrids to sustain the evolving needs of customers and businesses in the south and southwest portions of San Antonio.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/u-s-department-of-energy-selects-cps-energy-to-receive-federal-funding-to-increase-resiliency-and-reliability/ to view the full article online.

White Paper

World May Have Crossed Solar Power 'Tipping Point'

The world may have crossed a "tipping point" that will inevitably make solar power our main source of energy, new research suggests. The study, based on a data-driven model of technology and economics, finds that solar PV (photovoltaics) is likely to become the dominant power source before 2050 -- even without support from more ambitious climate policies.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123409.htm to view the full article online.

Harnessing Molecular Power: Electricity Generation on the Nanoscale

Researchers tested a molecular energy harvesting device that captures the energy from the natural motion of molecules in a liquid. Their work showed molecular motion can be used to generate a stable electric current.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231017123347.htm to view the full article online.

Scientists Develop New Method to Create Stable, Efficient Next-Gen Solar Cells

Next-generation solar materials are cheaper and more sustainable to produce than traditional silicon solar cells, but hurdles remain in making the devices durable enough to withstand real-world conditions. A new technique could simplify the development of efficient and stable perovskite solar cells, named for their unique crystalline structure that excels at absorbing visible light.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231024110645.htm to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League