Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants

In an article on The Conversation website, Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, discusses the growing role of virtual power plants as electricity demand is surging. What is a virtual power plant? An energy expert explains After nearly two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand is surging, driven … Continue reading Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants →

UK passes Energy Act

Laws have been passed in the UK to help unlock £100bn of private investment in energy infrastructure, accelerate development of offshore wind and bring more competition to networks. The UK Energy Act 2023, which has received Royal Assent, will deliver a more efficient energy system in the long term, helping to keep costs low. … Continue reading UK passes Energy Act →

Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023

We are now about two months away from COP28 in Dubai. All of us are anxious that real progress is made because the signs of climate crisis are growing and there definitely is a need to ramp up ambition and action. We were discouraged this week when EU member states this week adopted a common … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023 →

New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions

Following the report by EEA-ACER on power systems this week, the IEA has also come out on a new report on electricity grids. The first-of-its-kind global study finds the world must add or replace 80 million km of grids by 2040, equal to all grids globally today, to meet national climate targets and support energy … Continue reading New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions →

New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity

EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in renewables from variable sources, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for ‘flexibility’ in the EU electricity system. A joint report released this week by two EU agencies, EEA and ACER, demonstrates how … Continue reading New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity →

UK’s National Grid is preparing to pay people to reduce their electricity usage at peak times again

Emily Gosden writes on The Times website about the plans to pay people to reduce their electricity use at peak times next winter. Are readers aware of such initiatives in other countries? National Grid set to revive ‘demand flexibility’ payments for saving electricity National Grid is preparing to pay people to reduce their electricity … Continue reading UK’s National Grid is preparing to pay people to reduce their electricity usage at peak times again →

Blog from Jane Marsh: What Specialized Equipment Do We Need for a Renewable Energy Grid?

Grid modernization is one of the essential conversations in the environmentalist agenda worldwide. Renewable energy investments ramp up, and regulatory bodies have goals to meet, but there’s little publicly known explanation of the technologies required to make this dream practical. Power outages and extreme weather are becoming the norm, and the urgency to adapt the … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: What Specialized Equipment Do We Need for a Renewable Energy Grid? →

The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today

Sebastian Sterl, Assistant Professor, Energy Meteorology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses the five challenges to develop sustainable energy systems for today’s world. Africa’s energy sector will need to transform radically - these are the five biggest challenges The future of Africa’s energy sector is getting increasing … Continue reading The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today →

Blog from Jane Marsh: The first half of 2022 marked by renewables generating over 25% of electricity in the US

A shift toward renewable power is more evident than ever amid calls to reduce energy consumption and bolster energy security in the United States. According to recorded data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), energy from sun, wind and heat resources enabled a 25% increase in electricity generation in 2022 — a feat the U.S. … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: The first half of 2022 marked by renewables generating over 25% of electricity in the US →

Blog from Jane Marsh: Can solar energy become a regular part of the grid?

The idea of off-grid living — free of failing public utilities and exorbitant bills — is a lifestyle many have only dreamed of. However, decentralizing the electric grid isn't as unfeasible as some may have thought with the advanced renewable energy options now available. Regardless of the legal implications and stringent safety requirements of tapping … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: Can solar energy become a regular part of the grid? →