Energy storage continues on an upward growth trajectory, with new projects seemingly being announced every day. POWER looked at advancements in battery energy storage technology, and trends in the sector, in the March 2023 issue. A number of experts within the energy storage industry provided their views on the issues impacting storage. Among those experts is Kevin Kohlstedt, director of Business Development at California-based Energy […]
Fusion Energy Reaches Prime Time
Over the last three years, electricity generation from fusion has moved from the realm of science fiction to the brink of serious development. A lot has happened, but challenges remain before fusion arrives on the grid. For close to a century, electricity generation from fusion remained the stuff of science fiction, little more than a plot point that served to separate the present from the […]
Europe Ramps Renewables, Looks for New Gas to Reduce Reliance on Russia
European countries have moved quickly to adopt new energy sources after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Governments have reduced imports of Russian-produced energy, with demand for natural gas in the European Union (EU) dropping by 13% last year compared to average annual levels. The International Energy Agency (IEA) in March of this year said that was the largest annual decline in EU gas […]
Winter Demand for Coal, Gas Falls Across EU Despite Energy Concerns
An analysis from an energy research group shows European Union (EU) countries burned less coal and natural gas for power generation than in prior years, despite an ongoing energy crisis driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A study from Ember, a think-tank based in the UK, said coal-fired generation in the EU dropped 27 TWh between October 2022 and March 2023, an 11% year-over-year decrease. […]
Arctic Circle Offshore Wind Farm Will Power Oil Exploration Platform
Development of the first floating offshore wind farm in the Arctic Circle is moving forward, with three Norwegian companies releasing a project plan for the installation. The GoliatVIND project is envisioned as a 75-MW array installed in deep water northwest of Hammerfest, Norway, in the Barents Sea. The installation would be linked into the Goliat oil production facility, which is operated by Vår Energi, a […]
EPRI Head: Duck Curve Now Looks Like a Canyon
The “duck curve,” a concept that has become emblematic of the challenges associated with integrating variable renewables in the power system, now looks like a “canyon,” illustrating a paramount urgency for adequate flexibility, Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), has warned. In a recent post on LinkedIn, Mansoor highlighted changes to the “duck curve,” a phenomenon first unveiled by […]
U.S., European Legislation Puts Real Muscle into Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Job Creation, but Must Evolve to Keep Up with Demand
COMMENTARY With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in December, the U.S. put some real financial muscle behind efforts to combat climate change and incentivize renewable energy with $370 billion in loans, grants, and tax credits to spur clean energy technology development, manufacturing, and job creation. Once the full potential of the bill is realized, federal clean energy spending created by the IRA […]
Norwegian Group Promotes 20 Areas for Offshore Wind Development
A Norwegian energy regulator has told officials it has identified at least 20 areas suitable for offshore wind farm development, as the government seeks to meet a target of installing at least 30 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2040. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, known as NVE, an agency under the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, on April 25 made […]
Challenges with Optimizing Generation Assets in New World with Large Renewable Mix
New rules, regulations, and legislation are changing the way U.S. utilities generate electricity. First, there was the Clean Power Plan (CPP), which was passed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015. This was replaced in 2019 by the EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. Both policies aim to reduce and limit carbon dioxide emissions at coal-fired generating units. Many states have adopted renewable portfolio […]
Fluor to Bolster Commercialization of Laser Fusion Power
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) giant Fluor Corp. will serve as an engineering and construction partner to design and plan laser fusion power plants developed by Longview Fusion Energy Systems—a company leveraging the recent fusion breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Fluor on April 18 announced it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Longview Fusion Energy Systems to help the Orinda, California–based company […]