| This week's sponsor is Oracle. |  | Whitepaper: Customer Experience for Service
This Executive Brief explores the role of service and support in creating great customer experiences, the service goals market leaders use related to customer experience and the Oracle approach for empowering new service experiences.
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Also Noted: Smart grid sentiment on high and much more... Science on the side of Dominion Cove Point LNG opponents
A letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) underscores scientific evidence that supports opposition to the proposed Dominion Cove Point LNG export terminal on the Chesapeake Bay.Article
Environmental regulations drive closure of FirstEnergy coal plants
By October 9, 2013, FirstEnergy Corp. will deactivate two coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania due to the cost of compliance with current and future environmental regulations in conjunction with the continued low market price for electricity. About 380 employees are expected to be affected. Article
Smart Grid Clash of Titans
Two industries which have developed entirely independently are on a collision course in the smart grid. Feature News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. ANSI/NEMA standard streamlines smart grid interoperability
2. Smart grid sentiment hits all-time high
3. UK water meter infrastructure presents communications challenge
| | | | This week's sponsors are FierceEnergy & FierceSmartGrid. |  | Fierce Innovation Awards 2013: Energy Edition
This utility-reviewed awards program from the publishers of FierceEnergy & FierceSmartGrid is designed to recognize the innovative companies and products that are defining the future of the energy & smart grid industries. Applications due August 23. Apply Today! |
Today's Top News 1. New industry standard could reduce solar costs by 50 percent
The price of solar could soon drop further with the release of an industry standard that will decrease photovoltaic inverter costs. The standard will be the first for distributed power architecture that supports interoperability among PV component suppliers. The HDPV (high definition photovoltaic) Alliance, which strives to reduce photovoltaic (PV) balance of system (BOS) costs while increasing energy production from PV plants, has published its HDPV Inverter Standard, containing the protocols to help PV inverter manufacturers optimize product functionality to deliver up to twice the rated output power to reduce inverter costs by up to 50 percent. Interoperability standards like this take advantage of distributed power conversion (DPC) architectures and make it easy for project developers and integrators to identify and source products that provide the advantage of HDPV. "HDPV's Inverter Standard gives suppliers and customers alike a structured compliance mechanism for understanding and assuring the requirements of interconnectivity and interoperability will be met both now and over time as products and technologies evolve," said David Devir, HDPV Alliance Interoperability Committee chair. "Through defined standards, tested compatibility, and shared best practices, HDPV is building and marketing a strong member network of HDPV compatible suppliers and confident buyers." This standard is the first in a series that will ensure end-to-end compatibility among components involved in distributed power architecture. "The solar industry faces intense pressure to drive down costs, and a distributed power architecture provides a viable solution," said HDPV Alliance Chair Mark Kanjorski. "Both buyers and technology suppliers want to have standards so that components come together seamlessly within this optimized system architecture." For more:
- see this article Related Articles:
Solar PV prices falling
DOE expands research to lower solar costs
ORNL researching tech to lower solar costs Read more about: Solar power
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2. NY-Sun racking up solar MWs
Under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's NY-Sun Initiative, $54 million has just been awarded for 79 large-scale solar energy projects across the state -- adding 64 MW to the state's solar capacity. The awards have been made to 20 recipients to finance the installations at businesses, factories, municipal buildings, colleges, and other larger commercial and industrial companies and institutions.  | | Caption: Omega Center for Sustainable Living, Rhinebeck, New York. Credit: OCSL | These awards have been made under the second of three rounds of the NY-Sun Competitive PV solicitation, which is a key component of New York's Renewable Portfolio Standard program. As a result of the NY-Sun initiative, more photovoltaic systems are being deployed in the state than in the prior decade. Thanks to a steady decline in solar costs in the past two years, incentive amounts have been reduced, allowing for more projects to be awarded. In the past two years, the portfolio-weighted average incentive has dropped from $1.30 per watt to $0.93 per watt, then to $0.88 per watt. These awards represent a portfolio-weighted average incentive of $0.84 per watt, or about 31 percent of the cost to build these projects. "With these major investments through the NY-Sun initiative, New York State is leading the nation in solar energy generation, addressing climate change and growing our clean energy economy," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "Not only will these projects benefit our environment by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and using renewable energy, but they are also creating well-paying jobs for New Yorkers. These are necessary investments for a bright future in our state." Although the projects are meant to produce power for on-site use and not for direct sale to utilities, unused power can be added to the grid in exchange for future utility credit under some circumstances. Including these most recent awards, a total of 299 MW of PV has been installed or is under development as part of NY-Sun. Some projects may be on line by the end of this year, but most are expected to be completed in the first half of 2014. Governor Cuomo has also proposed legislation to extend NY-Sun (currently funded through 2015) through 2023. The bill is pending. For more:
- see this fact sheet Related Articles:
Will NY miss solar opportunity?
NY passes multiple solar bills
New York packing big solar impact
NY taps $146M for solar infrastructure Read more about: Solar
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3. Alliant Energy piloting LED streetlights
Alliant Energy is testing the performance of light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights in a pilot among 20 communities in Wisconsin. The high-performance LED streetlights are being tested in higher-traffic areas and near Lake Michigan, and are expected to last longer than and increase lighting quality as compared to previous units.  | | Credit: Wikimedia Commons/SEWilko | The current streetlights in Wisconsin are high-pressure sodium (HPS), the majority of which feature a 100-watt or 150-watt bulb. The LED streetlights being piloted are 80-watts. Tests of similar wattage bulbs have shown they use considerably less electricity and produce a higher-quality light for the roadway. "We will monitor their energy usage, as well as the quality of light they emit, to see how they work under everyday traffic and weather conditions," Laura Gumm, Alliant Energy key account manager, explained. "While LED technology has been around for a long time, the considerably higher upfront cost of LED streetlights did not make them cost-effective in the past for our company and customers. As the technology has evolved, the overall costs associated with LED streetlights have dropped, which has started to make them a viable alternative." In areas where Alliant has already rolled out LED streetlights, reaction among communities has been positive. The LED light is whiter, more defined, and sharper than HPS-produced light, allowing drivers to see details and colors better. For more:
- see this article Related Articles:
Barcelona home to smart building and smart lighting pilots
Smart cities will boost street lighting projects Read more about: Alliant Energy
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4. EPRI quantifies the value of hydropower in the electric grid
As part of the Hydropower Grid Services Project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and co-sponsored by the hydropower industry, focused on quantifying and maximizing the benefits to transmission grids provided by conventional and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, EPRI has released the results of its research on the performance of three conventional hydroelectric power plants.  | | Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Nwchar | The research analyzed unit and plant performance characteristics and one-minute plant operational data from 2008, 2009, and 2010 and evaluated reductions in overall plant efficiencies under a variety of operation-related and market-related conditions for plants in the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) and PJM Interconnection markets and one non-market region in the Northwest. The plants were owned by two investor-owned utilities and one state power authority. The results revealed that the non-market operation of the conventional plant exhibited more efficient performance than the two conventional plants operating in established markets. The average potential generation improvements from direct optimization, while producing the same power at the same time, ranged from 0.5 percent to 2.7 percent. For these plants, much of the potential generation increase from direct optimization may be achieved through automation and control system improvements. The average potential plant generation improvements based on the operation efficiency analyses was 0.5 percent for the non-market plant and 1.8 percent for the two plants in the market regions. The average potential plant generation improvements based on the generation scheduling analyses was 0.4 percent for the non-market plant and 1.5 percent for the two plants in the market regions. For more:
- see this hydropower roadmap Related Article:
Hydropower growth slows, value remains high Read more about: U.S. Department of Energy
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5. Consumers Energy: Energy efficiency is lowest cost energy option
Customers of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, are seeing significant long-term savings and benefits from energy-efficiency programs. Consumers Energy launched the energy optimization programs in response to Michigan's 2008 energy reform law and in an effort to reduce electric use by at least 5.5 percent and natural gas use by at least 3.85 percent by 2015. In 2013, more than 106,000 residential customers and 29,000 business customers participated in at least one energy-efficiency program ranging from high-efficiency furnaces to energy-efficient lighting. For example, more than 8,000 inefficient furnaces were replaced with highly efficient gas versions. "The savings are real. The benefits are broad, measurable and sustainable," said Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy's vice president of customer experience and operations. "Consumers Energy has made a promise to the people of Michigan to provide low-cost energy when they want it. As we plan for the long term, Consumers Energy knows that the lowest cost energy is the energy that we collectively don't use. By leveraging technology advances and good communication, energy efficiency is an important part of the energy mix…," said Poppe. Participating customers have saved $365 million since the programs were launched in 2009. The savings extend well-beyond -- almost 10 years -- the initial equipment installation date. Electric program savings could power 142,000 Michigan homes for one year, and natural gas program savings could annually heat 60,000 homes. Consumers Energy works with 2,100 energy-efficiency trade allies -- up from 1,700 two years ago -- who provide customers with information about energy-efficiency rebates and equipment. For more:
- visit this website Related Article:
The energy-efficiency/customer connection Read more about: Energy Efficiency
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Also Noted > Fierce Innovation Awards 2013: Energy Edition - Deadline: August 23 This utility-reviewed awards program from the publishers of FierceEnergy & FierceSmartGrid is designed to recognize the innovative companies and products that are defining the future of the energy & smart grid industries. Applications due August 23. Apply Today! > RETECH 2013 - September 9-11 - Washington, D.C. RETECH, the Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition educates and informs its international attendee base with a technical program that addresses cutting-edge topics in renewable energy technologies, power generation, military and government, & business. Learn more at www.retech2013.com > 2013 Smart Grid Hiring Trends Study Zpryme Smart Grid Insights and Smart Grid Careers would like to invite hiring managers or employees who play an active role in hiring, recruiting and/or retaining employees for Smart Grid roles in the U.S. to participate in the 2013 Smart Grid Hiring Trends Study. Participants receive a FREE Executive Summary and a discount on the report. Get started here.
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