Also Noted: SmartGrid Careers
The benefits and perils of big data and much more... White House "caving to coal?"
Federal court rulings against utility coal operations have been hailed as a victory by various environmental groups. However, after a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed coal plant water pollution standards sent to the White House' Office of Management and Budget (OMB), these same environmental groups claim that the OMB "caved to industry pressure and took the highly unusual and improper step of writing new, weaker options into the draft rule prepared by the EPA's expert staff."Article
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eGallon prices driving EV interest
Electric vehicle (EV) sales doubled in the first 6 months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE's most recent pricing data -- eGallon, a quick and simple way for consumers to compare the costs of fueling electric vehicles vs. driving on gasoline -- shows that prices rose slightly to $1.18 from $1.14 in the latest monthly numbers, but remain far below the $3.49 cost of a gallon of gasoline. Article
Poland's smart grid momentum shifting
Poland's progress path toward smart energy has been fraught with challenges because of unclear vision of implementation models and uncertain cost-benefit ratios, according to Frost & Sullivan. However, the momentum is shifting, as utilities are responding to customer behavior and incorporating more smart elements in their energy networks. Article
News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. Unaware customers are unsatisfied customers
2. Self-reliant buildings could be future face of resilience
3. Entergy in spotlight after falsified records discovered
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Today's Top News 1. Utility CLEAN programs driving distributed solar
Georgia Power, Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Fort Collins Utility (FCU) are joining utilities in Sacramento, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Gainesville, FL, in implementing CLEAN Programs, with the Georgia, New York and Colorado utilities planning to bring a total of 840 MW of solar energy online by 2016.  | | Credit: The White House/Wikimedia Commons | Georgia Power will expand its Advanced Solar Initiative (ASI) from 210 MW to 735 MW, as approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) -- at least 190 MW of which is distributed solar being brought online through a CLEAN Program. "Commissioner McDonald's motion adding 525 MW of solar to our 20-year energy plan is a hedge against more coal regulation and natural gas price volatility," said Georgia PSC Commissioner Tim Echols. Increasing local renewable generation is a smart economic investment for utilities across the country. LIPA is also pursuing greater distributed solar energy through a CLEAN Program. The day after the Georgia Power announcement, LIPA announced plans to expand its CLEAN Solar Initiative (CSI) from 50 MW to 150 MW. The CSI expansion includes a premium of 7 cents per kilowatt-hour for solar projects sited at critical points on LIPA's grid, which will enable the utility to defer expensive transmission investments. "LIPA's detailed assessment that distributed generation can provide at least 7 cents per kilowatt-hour of incremental value by avoiding additional costs associated with transmission-dependent generation provides an important lesson for the rest of the country," said Craig Lewis, executive director of the Clean Coalition. "The locational value of wholesale distributed generation is substantial and the compensation of such will ensure that energy generation is deployed where it is needed most -- and in a timely fashion." Just last week, FCU unveiled its Solar Power Purchase Program -- a CLEAN pilot program that will bring 5 MW of distributed solar online by 2015 and serve as a model to expand local renewable generation throughout Colorado. For more:
- visit this website Related Article:
LIPA largest CSI on Eastern Seaboard Read more about: Fort Collins Utility, Solar Power Purchase Program, Georgia Power
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2. More states support utility efficiency programs
More states are adopting policies that enable electric utilities to promote energy efficiency as a sustainable business, according to IEE, an Institute of the Edison Foundation, allowing electric utilities to fully and seamlessly integrate energy-efficiency programs into their long-term financial and system planning. As a result of this state support, electric utilities are increasing their spending and budgets on energy-efficiency programs. In fact, electric efficiency budgets in 2012 totaled $6.9 billion—a 27 percent increase above 2010 levels. By 2025, IEE predicts that electric efficiency budgets will exceed $14 billion. Three types of regulatory mechanisms are critical from a financial perspective for utilities to treat energy-efficiency programs as equivalent to supply-side investments: direct-cost recovery, fixed-cost recovery, and performance incentives, according to IEE. All states with ratepayer-funded energy-efficiency programs have direct cost recovery of program expenditures. Since July 2012, 31 states have some type of fixed-cost recovery mechanism to align utility fixed costs with investments in energy-efficiency programs, up from 27 in 2012. Three additional states are awaiting decisions by regulators. Of these 31 states, 13 have revenue decoupling with one additional state awaiting approval, and 18 have lost revenue adjustment mechanisms with two additional states awaiting approval. Currently, 28 states have performance incentives in place, up from 23 in 2012. Performance incentives have been recently approved in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Missouri, and South Dakota while Mississippi, Montana, and West Virginia are evaluating performance incentives. "Supportive regulatory frameworks are the key to expanding the electric power industry's already large commitment to electric efficiency even further," said Lisa Wood, IEE executive director. "Through them, the power industry provides integrated programs to help customers manage energy use, more fully utilize flexible demand resources on the power grid making it more efficient, and serve as a consistent and comprehensive point of contact to support all customer energy needs." For more:
- see the report Related Articles:
Energy efficiency deserves attention of utilities
Building energy codes offer utilities opportunities
Policies sought to incentivize utilities to increase efficiency Read more about: energy-efficiency programs
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3. Utilities demonstrate energy savings of DHPs
A ductless heat pump (DHP) retrofit demonstration project conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute, along with several utilities deploying the product in the field, has revealed interesting results. With the potential to eliminate air ducts, highly efficient variable-speed DHPs are ideal for room additions, attics or basements converted into living spaces, new construction, and replacement of zonal cooling and heating systems, such as window air conditioners, electric baseboards, and woodstoves. While traditional heat pumps have had difficulty gaining market share outside the mild southern U.S. climate because they are not as dependable as electric-resistance heat in low outdoor temperatures, variable-capacity heat pumps, including DHPs, reduce or eliminate the need for electric-resistance heat in many northern climates. One host utility in the Midwest installed eight treatment DHPs and monitored one traditional HVAC unit to compare their performances. In the South, a host utility installed DHP units at military post. Several varieties of DHPs were installed to collectively deliver about 22 tons of cooling capacity across three buildings. Another Southern utility retrofitted 18 homes in two states. Five of the seven DHP sites in the Midwest used less energy per square foot than the baseline site, according to EPRI. Most customers were satisfied with system performance, reliability, controllability, comfort, and savings. Overall, the results suggest that savings are attainable with DHP systems, although those savings depend upon site-by-site variables, including customer behavior and preferences. Although DHPs are used widely in Asia, and more recently in Europe, they have yet to achieve significant market share in the United States where consumers are generally unaware of their efficiency advantages. Further, DHP carry a higher installation costs than ducted systems or a "new technology premium," according to EPRI, which will likely decrease as more installers gain familiarity. These barriers are offset because the DHPs use small refrigerant lines instead of larger ducts, making them easier to retrofit in many existing homes. In addition, they are quieter both indoors and out, and they provide simultaneous control over the various temperature zones within a residence. Further, in certain regions of the country, utility customers are eligible for a rebate or tax credit, which may offset most of the potentially higher initial cost. For more:
- see this infographic Related Article:
Top 3 efficiency opportunities for utilities Read more about: EPRI
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4. Utilities can tap large energy users with IEMS
It is estimated that manufacturers consume 50 percent of the energy produced worldwide (making industry the largest end-use sector) and are understandably concerned about sustaining operations while energy costs fluctuate or rise.  | | Credit: Wikimedia Commons | In order to remain competitive or gain a competitive edge, large energy users can actively manage their energy consumption and energy procurement activities utilizing industrial energy management systems (IEMS), which include software, upfront services, and ongoing monitoring and management. The detailed information of ongoing energy use patterns and knowledge of present and future energy consumption requirements enable industrial users to advance their initiatives with regard to cost reduction and improved efficiency. IEMS implementation is critical to this understanding, driving a $22.5 billion IEMS market by 2020 -- essentially doubling their 2013 level, according to Navigant Research. The depth of capability of IEMS solutions can vary greatly. Some are passive, performing only a monitoring and analysis function while others are designed to be active, with the ability to control portions of the industrial processes that they monitor. Although an IEMS rarely controls all or even major portions of an industrial process, it can provide significant input into the control processes themselves, according to Navigant. "Energy usage is now considered an important data source that can be combined with other business intelligence to provide a more holistic and complete picture of overall business performance," said Eric Woods, research director, Navigant. "An IEMS enables companies to bring information and knowledge of all aspects of energy-related matters into the present, where cost-effective tactics can be employed before high charges or inefficient usage occurs." For more:
- see this report Related Article:
Transformation of IEMS could benefit utility bottom line Read more about: Eric Woods
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5. SRI testing fracking water treatment technologies
Under the Unconventional Resources Program, Southern Research Institute and the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America are partnering to develop and demonstrate technologies that will advance shale gas hydraulic fracturing water treatment to produce National Pollution Discharge Elimination System quality water.  | | Credit: Joshua Doubek/Wikimedia Commons | Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program, the two-year project will develop advanced technologies that address issues related to processes and methods for handling and disposing of large volumes of hydraulic fracturing flow-back water, as well as water produced during the longer term production phase. The program will optimize four technologies -- two for hydraulic fracturing water treatment and two for the treatment and disposal of residues from hydraulic fracturing water treatment. The hydraulic fracturing water treatment technologies are magnetic ballast clarification for removal of total suspended solids (TSS), metals, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS), and vortex-generating and nano-filtration membranes for removal of TSS and/or total dissolved solids. The residue treatment/disposal technologies are hydrogel adsorbent for metals, NORMs, trace element removal, and precipitation, solidification and stabilization. Several combinations of the technologies will be explored as part of this research project. These technologies, if successful in reducing the economic and environmental issues associated with fracking, could have a major impact on U.S. energy security and sustainability. For more:
- visit this website Related Articles:
NRDC pushes tougher fracking regulations
Wyden pushes for environmentally sound fracking model
New research contradicts safe fracking findings Read more about: fracking
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Also Noted
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