July 29, 2003 -- Central Newfoundland Energy (CNE), a non-regulated subsidiary of Fortis Inc. (TSX: FTS), and Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (TSE: A, NYSE: ABY) officially inaugurated the redevelopment of the Bishop's Falls hydroelectric plant on Monday, July 28, 2003. The Partnership was established between CNE and Abitibi-Consolidated in September 2001 to redevelop Abitibi-Consolidated's hydroelectric plant at Bishop's Falls and to construct a new plant at Grand Falls-Windsor, NL.
"The redevelopment ensures a continuing source of stable, renewable energy to the paper mill in Grand Falls-Windsor and will also provide supply to meet some of the growing energy demand in Newfoundland," says Philip Hughes, Chair of the Exploits River Hydro Partnership. "This project was completed in less than 12 months, which is a tremendous testament to the cooperation amongst all of the parties involved. The majority of the work was carried out by contractors from the province and approximately 40 individuals were employed during peak construction."
Gordon Oldford, Vice President, Newsprint International Operations, Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. adds, "The Bishop's Falls Hydroelectric Plant has been an important part of the paper mill operations in Central Newfoundland for nearly a century. This redevelopment will enable us to maximize the full potential of the river."
Abitibi-Consolidated will continue to use its historical generation at the newsprint mill in Grand Falls-Windsor while the additional energy produced as a result of the equipment upgrades will be sold to Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under a long-term power purchase agreement.
Prior to redevelopment, the Bishop's Falls plant operated at a generating frequency of 50 Hertz (Hz) instead of the North American standard of 60 Hz. The project to modernize and improve the efficiency of the plant consisted of the replacement of six turbines, refurbishment of generators and switchgear, construction of new substations, modernization of plant controls and numerous repairs and enhancements to the powerhouse structure.
U.S. Data Center Power Demand is straining electric utilities and grid reliability as AI, cloud computing, and streaming surge, driving transmission and generation upgrades, demand response, and renewable energy sourcing amid rising electricity costs.
Key Points
The rising electricity load from U.S. data centers, affecting utilities, grid capacity, and energy prices.
✅ AI, cloud, and streaming spur hyperscale compute loads
✅ Grid upgrades: transmission, generation, and substations
✅ Demand response, efficiency, and renewables mitigate strain
U.S. electric utilities are facing a significant new challenge as the explosive growth of data centers puts unprecedented strain on power grids across the nation. According to a new report from Reuters, data centers' power demands are expected to increase dramatically over the next few years, raising concerns about grid reliability and potential increases in electricity costs for businesses and consumers.
What's Driving the Data Center Surge?
The explosion in data centers is being fueled by several factors, with grid edge trends offering early context for these shifts:
Cloud Computing: The rise of cloud computing services, where businesses and individuals store and process data on remote servers, significantly increases demand for data centers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Data-hungry AI applications and machine learning algorithms are driving a massive need for computing power, accelerating the growth of data centers.
Streaming and Video Content: The growth of streaming platforms and high-definition video content requires vast amounts of data storage and processing, further boosting demand for data centers.
Challenges for Utilities
Data centers are notorious energy hogs. Their need for a constant, reliable supply of electricity places heavy demand on the grid, making integrating AI data centers a complex planning challenge, often in regions where power infrastructure wasn't designed for such large loads. Utilities must invest significantly in transmission and generation capacity upgrades to meet the demand while ensuring grid stability.
Some experts warn that the growth of data centers could lead to brownouts or outages, as a U.S. blackout study underscores ongoing risks, especially during peak demand periods in areas where the grid is already strained. Increased electricity demand could also lead to price hikes, with utilities potentially passing the additional costs onto consumers and businesses.
Sustainable Solutions Needed
Utility companies, governments, and the data center industry are scrambling to find sustainable solutions, including using AI to manage demand initiatives across utilities, to mitigate these challenges:
Energy Efficiency: Data center operators are investing in new cooling and energy management solutions to improve energy efficiency. Some are even exploring renewable energy sources like onsite solar and wind power.
Strategic Placement: Authorities are encouraging the development of data centers in areas with abundant renewable energy and access to existing grid infrastructure. This minimizes the need for expensive new transmission lines.
Demand Flexibility: Utility companies are experimenting with programs as part of a move toward a digital grid architecture to incentivize data centers to reduce their power consumption during peak demand periods, which could help mitigate power strain.
The Future of the Grid
The rapid growth of data centers exemplifies the significant challenges facing the aging U.S. electrical grid, with a recent grid report card highlighting dangerous vulnerabilities. It highlights the need for a modernized power infrastructure, capable of accommodating increasing demand spurred by new technologies while addressing climate change impacts that threaten reliability and affordability. The question for utilities, as well as data center operators, is how to balance the increasing need for computing power with the imperative of a sustainable and reliable energy future.
COVID-19 Impact on U.S. Wind Industry: disrupting wind power projects, tax credits, and construction timelines, risking rural revenues, jobs, and $35B investments; AWEA seeks Congressional flexibility as OEM shutdowns like Siemens Gamesa intensify delays.
Key Points
Pandemic disruptions threaten 25 GW of projects, $35B investment, rural revenues, jobs, and tax-credit timelines.
✅ 25 GW at risk; $35B investment jeopardized
✅ Rural taxes and land-lease payments may drop $8B
✅ AWEA seeks Congressional flexibility on tax-credit deadlines
In one of the latest examples of the havoc that the novel coronavirus is wreaking on the U.S. economy and the crisis hitting solar and wind sector alike, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) -- the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry -- yesterday stated its concerns that COVID-19 will "pose significant challenges to the American wind power industry." According to AWEA's calculations, the disease is jeopardizing the development of approximately 25 gigawatts of wind projects, representing $35 billion in investments, even as wind additions persist in some markets amid the pandemic.
Rural communities, where about 99% of wind projects are located, in particular, face considerable risk. The AWEA estimates that rural communities stand to lose about $8 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments to private landowners. In addition, it's estimated that the pandemic threatens the loss of over 35,000 jobs, and the U.S. wind jobs outlook underscores the stakes, including wind turbine technicians, construction workers, and factory workers.
The development of wind projects is heavily reliant on the earning of tax credits, and debates over a Solar ITC extension highlight potential impacts on wind. However, in order to qualify for the current credits, project developers are bound to begin construction before Dec. 31, 2020. With local and state governments implementing various measures to stop the spread of the virus, the success of project developers' meeting this deadline is dubious, as utility-scale solar construction slows nationwide due to COVID-19. Addressing this and other challenges, the AWEA is turning to the government for help. In the trade association's press release, it states that "to protect the industry and these workers, AWEA is asking Congress for flexibility in allowing existing policies to continue working for the industry through this period of uncertainty."
Illustrating one of the ways in which COVID-19 is affecting the industry, Siemens Gamesa, a global leader in the manufacturing of wind turbines, closed a second Spanish factory this week after learning that a second of its employees had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
India Renewable Energy Surge 2024 signals coal's decline as solar and wind capacity soar, aided by policy incentives, grid upgrades, energy storage, and falling costs, accelerating decarbonization and clean power growth.
Key Points
Q1 2024 saw renewables outpace coal in new capacity, led by cheaper solar, wind, policy support, and storage.
✅ 71.5% of new Q1 capacity came from renewables
✅ Solar and wind expand on falling costs and faster permitting
✅ Grid integration needs storage, skills, and just transition
In a landmark shift for the world's second-most populous nation, coal has finally been dethroned as the king of India's energy supply. The first quarter of 2024 saw a historic surge in renewable energy capacity, particularly on-grid solar development across states, pushing its share of power generation past 71.5%. This remarkable feat marks a turning point in India's journey towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
For decades, coal has been the backbone of India's power sector, fueling rapid economic growth but also leading to concerning levels of air pollution. However, a confluence of factors has driven this dramatic shift, even as coal generation surges create short-term fluctuations in the mix. Firstly, the cost of solar and wind power has plummeted in recent years, making them increasingly competitive with coal. Secondly, the Indian government has set ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming for 50% of cumulative power generation capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Thirdly, growing public awareness about the environmental impact of coal has spurred a demand for cleaner alternatives.
This surge in renewables is not just about replacing coal. The first quarter of 2024 witnessed a record-breaking addition of 13,669 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity, with renewables accounting for a staggering 71.5% of that figure, aligning with 30% global renewable electricity milestones seen worldwide. This rapid expansion is driven by factors like falling equipment costs, streamlined permitting processes, and attractive government incentives. Solar and wind energy are leading the charge, and in other major markets renewables are projected to reach one-fourth of U.S. generation in the near term, with large-scale solar farms and wind turbine installations dotting the Indian landscape.
The transition away from coal presents both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, cleaner air will lead to significant health benefits for millions of Indians. Additionally, India can establish itself as a global leader in the renewable energy sector, attracting investments and creating new jobs, echoing how China's solar PV expansion reshaped markets in the previous decade. However, challenges remain. Integrating such a large amount of variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the grid requires robust energy storage solutions. Furthermore, millions of jobs in the coal sector need to be transitioned to new opportunities in the green economy.
Despite these challenges, India's move towards renewables is a significant development with global implications, as U.S. renewable electricity surpassed coal in 2022, underscoring broader momentum. It demonstrates the growing viability of clean energy solutions and paves the way for other developing nations to follow suit. India's success story can inspire a global shift towards a more sustainable energy future, one powered by the sun, wind, and other renewable resources.
Looking ahead, continued government support, technological advancements, and innovative financing mechanisms will be crucial for sustaining India's renewable energy momentum. The future of India's energy sector is undoubtedly bright, fueled by the clean and abundant power of the sun and the wind, as wind and solar surpassed coal in the U.S. in recent comparisons. The world will be watching closely to see if India can successfully navigate this energy transition, setting an example for other nations struggling to balance development with environmental responsibility.
Energy Storage for Microgrids enables renewables integration via ESS, boosting resilience and reliability while supporting solar PV and wind, innovative financing, and business models, with strong growth forecast across Asia-Pacific and North America.
Key Points
Systems that store energy in microgrids to integrate renewables, boost resilience, and optimize distributed power.
✅ Integrates solar PV and wind with stable, dispatchable output
✅ Reduces costs via new financing and service business models
✅ Expands reliable power for remote, grid-constrained regions
A new report from Navigant Research examines the global market for energy storage for microgrids (ESMG), providing an analysis of trends and market dynamics in the context of the evolving digital grid landscape, with forecasts for capacity and revenue that extend through 2026.
Interest in energy storage-enabled microgrids is growing alongside an increase in solar PV and wind deployments. Although not required for microgrids to operate, energy storage systems (ESSs) have emerged as an increasingly valuable component of distributed energy networks, including virtual power plants that coordinate distributed assets, because of their ability to effectively integrate renewable generation.
“There are several key drivers resulting in the growth of energy storage-enabled microgrids globally, including the desire to improve the resilience of power supply both for individual customers and the entire grid, the need to expand reliable electricity service to new areas, rising electricity prices, and innovations in business models and financing,” says Alex Eller, research analyst with Navigant Research. “Innovations in business models and financing will likely play a key role in the expansion of the ESMG market during the coming years.”
One example of microgrid deployment for resilience is the SDG&E microgrid in Ramona built to help communities prepare for peak wildfire season.
According to the report, the most successful companies in this industry will be those that can unlock the potential of new business models to reduce the risk and upfront costs to customers. This is particularly true in Asia Pacific and North America, which are projected to be the largest regional markets for new ESMG capacity by far, a trend underscored by California's push for grid-scale batteries to stabilize the grid.
The report, “Market Data: Energy Storage for Microgrids,” outlines the key market drivers and barriers within the global ESMG market. The study provides an analysis of specific trends, including evolving grid edge trends, and market dynamics for each major world region to illustrate how different markets are taking shape. Global ESMG forecasts for capacity and revenue, segmented by region, technology, and market segment, extend through 2026. The report also briefly examines the major technology issues related to ESSs for microgrids.
Google made energy storage news recently when its parent company Alphabet announced it is hoping to revolutionize renewable energy storage using vats of salt and antifreeze. Alphabet’s secretive research lab, simply named “X,” is developing a system for storing renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted. The project, named “Malta,” is hoping its energy storage systems “has the potential to last longer than lithium-ion batteries and compete on price with new hydroelectric plants and other existing clean energy storage methods, according to X executives and researchers,” reports Bloomberg.
COVID-19 Impact on Electricity Demand, per IEA data, shows 15% global load drop from lockdowns, with residential use up, industrial and service sectors down; fossil fuel generation fell as renewables and photovoltaics gained share.
Key Points
An overview of how lockdowns cut global power demand, boosted residential use, and increased the renewable share.
✅ IEA review shows at least 15% dip in daily global electricity load
✅ Lockdowns cut commercial and industrial demand; homes used more
✅ Fossil fuels fell as renewables and PV generation gained share
The daily demand for electricity dipped at least 15 per cent across the globe, according to Global Energy Review 2020: The impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on global energy demand and CO2 emissions, a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in April 2020, even as global power demand surged above pre-pandemic levels.
The report collated data from 30 countries, including India and China, that showed partial and full lockdown measures adopted by them were responsible for this decrease.
Full lockdowns in countries — including France, Italy, India, Spain, the United Kingdom where daily demand fell about 10% and the midwest region of the United States (US) — reduced this demand for electricity.
Reduction in electricity demand after lockdown measures (weather corrected)
Source: Global Energy Review 2020: The impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on global energy demand and CO2 emissions, IEA
Drivers of the fall
There was, however, a spike in residential demand for electricity as a result of people staying and working from home. This increase in residential demand, though, was not enough to compensate for reduced demand from industrial and commercial operations.
The extent of reduction depended not only on the duration and stringency of the lockdown, but also on the nature of the economy of the countries — predominantly service- or industry-based — the IEA report said.
A higher decline in electricity demand was noted in countries where the service sector — including retail, hospitality, education, tourism — was dominant, compared to countries that had industrial economies.
The US, for example — where industry forms only 20 per cent of the economy — saw larger reductions in electricity demand, compared to China, where power demand dropped as the industry accounts for more than 60 per cent of the economy.
Italy — the worst-affected country from COVID-19 — saw a decline greater than 25 per cent when compared to figures from last year, even as power demand held firm in parts of Europe during later lockdowns.
The report said the shutting down of the hospitality and tourism sectors in the country — major components of the Italian economy — were said to have had a higher impact, than any other factor, for this fall.
Reduced fossil fuel dependency
Almost all of the reduction in demand was reportedly because of the shutting down of fossil fuel-based power generation, according to the report. Instead, the share of electricity supply from renewables in the entire portfolio of energy sources, increased during the pandemic, reflecting low-carbon electricity lessons observed during COVID-19.
This was due to a natural increase in wind and photovoltaic power generation compared to 2019 along with a drop in overall electricity demand that forced electricity producers from non-renewable sources to decrease their supplies, before surging electricity demand began to strain power systems worldwide.
The Power System Operation Corporation of India also reported that electricity production from coal — India’s primary source of electricity — fell by 32.2 per cent to 1.91 billion units (kilowatt-hours) per day, in line with India's electricity demand decline reported during the pandemic, compared to the 2019 levels.
BEST vigilance raid on Wadala electricity theft uncovered a Mumbai power theft racket in Antop Hill and Sangam Nagar, with operators, illegal connections, sub-stations, meter cabins, FIRs, and Rs 72 lakh losses flagged by BEST.
Key Points
A BEST operation that nabbed operators stealing power via illegal connections in Wadala, exposing a Rs 72 lakh loss.
✅ 35 suspects booked; key operator identified as David Anthony.
✅ Illegal taps from sub-stations and meter cabins in shanties.
✅ BEST filed FIRs; Session court granted bail to accused.
In a raid conducted at Antop Hill in Wadala on Saturday, a total of 35 people were nabbed by the vigilance department for stealing electricity to the tune of Rs 72 lakh, in a case similar to a Montreal power-theft ring bust covered internationally.
It was the second such raid conducted in the past one week, where operators have been nabbed.The cash-strapped BEST is now tightening it's grasp on `operators' who steal electricity from BEST sources and provide it to their own customers on a meagre monthly rent, even as Ontario utilities warn about scams affecting customers elsewhere.
After receiving a tip-off about the theft of electricity in the Sangam Nagar area of Wadala, about 90 personnel of the BEST conducted a raid. After visiting the spots, it was found that illegal connections were made from the sub-station and other electricity boxes of the BEST in the area, underscoring how fragile networks can be amid disruptions such as major outages in London that affected thousands.
According to BEST officials, the residents from the area would come up to the accused, identified as David Anthony, and would pay a fixed amount at the end of every month for unlimited supply of power, a dynamic reminiscent of shutoff-threat scams flagged by Manitoba Hydro, though the circumstances differ. Anthony would with draw power directly from meter cabins and electricity boxes in the area. The wires he connected to these were in turn connected to households who made the arrangement with him. An official from BEST also explained that as soon they reach a location to conduct raids and vehicles of BEST officials are spotted by residents, most of the connections are cut off, which makes it difficult for them to prove the theft case However, on Saturday, BEST officials managed to conduct the raid swiftly and nab 35 people.
All who had illegal connections were named in the complaint and an FIR was registered against them, including Anthony, who himself had illegal connections in his house. They were produced in Session court and given bail, while utilities in other regions resort to hydro disconnections during arrears season. Chief Vigilance Officer of BEST, RJ Singh said, "Most of these are commercial establishments in these shanties, which steal electricity. It is very important to catch hold of the operators as they are the providers and we need to break their backbone."
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