Renewable Power Articles & Analysis

In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for 45.3% of gross electricity consumption in the EU, a significant 4.1 percentage points (pp) increase from 2022. This marks the largest annual increase in the share of renewable energy in gross electricity consumption since the time series began in 2004. In addition, the annual increases in 2022 (3.5 pp) and 2020 (3.3 pp) were the second and third ...

By Smart Grid Observer

Danish renewables developer Eurowind Energy A/S plans to add nearly 1 GW of power generation capacity over the next two years, aiming to strengthen its presence in the European market. Announced on Tuesday, the plan involves constructing up to 50 new power plants in key markets such as Germany, Romania, and Poland, with additional projects slated for Southern Europe. Currently engaged in ...

By Eurowind Energy A/S

Methane from dairy cow manure is becoming sustainable renewable natural gas (RNG) at a new DTE Vantage facility that recently began operations in Scipio Center, New York. The project is a collaboration with Sunnyside Farm, which manages approximately 9,000 cows and heifers, and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both the immediate area and transportation markets where the RNG is used. ...

By American Biogas Council (ABC)

ENGIE North America (ENGIE) and Meta announced they recently completed an Environmental Attributes Purchase Agreement (EAPA) for ENGIE to supply 260 MW of renewable energy and associated environmental attributes from its Sypert Branch solar project in Milam County Texas to support Meta’s growing power needs in line with its net zero goals. Meta will purchase 100% of the 260 MW ...

By Smart Grid Observer

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy this week announced selections for four groundbreaking high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission research and development projects that will help affordably integrate more renewable energy generation onto the grid via HVDC lines. The approximately $11 million program, called the ...

By Smart Grid Observer

Surging power demand from data centres, reshored manufacturing and electrification of the economy is set to strain capacities of utilities and transmission operators and could lead to higher prices and a dirtier grid, a new report by research consultancy Wood Mackenzie warns. Electricity demand is set to grow between 4-15% through 2029, rates “not seen since the 1990s”, WoodMac notes ...

By Recharge AS

Despite an unprecedented acceleration in renewable energy deployment in 2023, progress falls short to triple renewables by 2030. Current national plans and targets are set to deliver only half of the required growth in renewable power by 2030.Furthermore, annual investment in renewable capacity would have to triple, from a new record high of USD 570 billion in 2023 to USD 1.5 trillion every year ...

By Smart Grid Observer

Due to supportive policies and favourable economics, the world’s renewable power capacity is expected to surge over the rest of this decade, with global additions on course to roughly equal the current power capacity of China, the European Union, India and the United States combined, according to a new IEA report out this week.The Renewables 2024 report, the IEA’s flagship annual publication on ...

By Smart Grid Observer

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) released a draft Strategic Plan for expanding renewable energy resources in New York State to advance Governor Kathy Hochul’s nation-leading climate and renewable energy goals. The release of the draft plan kicks off a 60-day public comment period, during which NYPA will host five in-person public hearings across the state and one virtual public hearing with ...

By Smart Grid Observer

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity this week announced the launch of the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP). This initiative is designed to assist remote, rural, and electrically isolated communities in developing resilient microgrid systems that enhance energy reliability and security, particularly in historically underserved and/or Indigenous areas. ...

By Smart Grid Observer

Renewables remain competitive despite fossil fuel prices returning closer to historical cost levels, concludes Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2023, released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the Global Renewables Summit during the UN General Assembly in New York this week. Of the record 473 gigawatts added in 2023, 81% or 382 GW of newly commissioned, utility-scale ...

By Smart Grid Observer

As solar PV and wind grow at an accelerated pace around the world, governments must act to ensure that they are well integrated into power systems - or risk losing out on significant benefits, according to a new report from the IEA.Integrating Solar and Wind: Global experience and emerging challenges, published this week, explores one of the biggest hurdles for policy makers as clean energy ...

By Smart Grid Observer

As solar PV and wind grow at an accelerated pace around the world, governments must act to ensure that they are well integrated into power systems - or risk losing out on significant benefits, according to a new report from the IEA. Integrating Solar and Wind: Global experience and emerging challenges, published this week, explores one of the biggest hurdles for policy makers as clean energy ...

By Smart Grid Observer

ETIP-Geothermal is excited to announce the launch of its new vision for geothermal energy for 2030 and 2050, titled “Geothermal Horizons: From Cities to Regions.” This visionary roadmap outlines the potential of geothermal energy to play a vital role in the energy transition across Europe, contributing significantly to achieving the EU’s climate-neutral milestone by 2050. ...

By European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy, through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), this week announced the closing of a $72.8 million loan guarantee to finance the development of a solar-plus-long-duration-energy-storage microgrid. The microgrid will be located on the Tribal lands of the Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band ...

By Smart Grid Observer

The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced $521 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia, including the deployment of more than 9,200 EV charging ports.This new EV infrastructure will increase access and reliability to communities across the ...

By Smart Grid Observer

German solar developer ib vogt GmbH has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) with US material science company Corning Inc (NYSE:GLW) for 88.78 MWp of new solar capacity in Spain. The vPPA will back ib vogt’s Pato solar farm project in Segovia, which is slated to begin commercial operations in the second quarter of 2025, according to a press release from the German company on ...

By ib vogt GmbH

Consumers Energy announced this week that the company is moving forward with an expanded customer-powered clean energy effort after receiving approval today from the Michigan Public Service Commission.Consumers Energy’s new Renewable Energy Program is designed to enable every household and business to match 100% of their energy use with cost-effective wind and solar power. Landlords, businesses ...

By Smart Grid Observer

EVLO Energy Storage Inc., an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) provider and wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, announced this week that it has completed the commissioning of a first utility-scale BESS project in the United States. The contracted 3 MW/12 MWh installation is in Troy, Vermont. The BESS will store energy during strong energy production times for later use ...

By Smart Grid Observer

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) this week released its 2023-2042 System & Resource Outlook (The Outlook), which provides a wide-ranging assessment of future transmission and generation investment opportunities driven by economics and public policy.Electricity demand is expected to increase by 50% - 90% over the study horizon, driven by electrification of housing and ...

By Smart Grid Observer