An Ignoble Experiment

2. APS, ACC disagree on net metering

Energy and water are inherently linked on both the supply and end-use sides, hence the energy-water nexus. New research from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy can help utilities recognize the connection between energy, water and energy efficiency in order to save water, energy and costs.

According to the research, collaboration between utilities to jointly run water and energy-efficiency programs has been limited but, when approached correctly, can be highly effective. The research makes these recommendations for taking the first steps to implementing water and energy utility-run programs in collaboration with other utilities:

Start a dialogue about opportunities and establish relationships.
Create utility partnerships for joint messaging.
Collaborate to identify unique funding opportunities.
Develop a format to add energy savings calculations to water programs and vice versa.
Work with energy regulators to establish credit for embedded energy savings from water-efficiency programs and vice versa.
Create a strategy with measurable goals to help clarify priorities and roles, and communicate it clearly.

The benefits of joint water and energy programs run by utilities are vast. These joint endeavors can help make efficiency measures more cost effective through sharing of resources and expenses while dual water and energy audits, rebate programs, and education and outreach can reduce the number of times utilities have to knock on doors. Further, relationships with manufacturers and retailers can be leveraged to increase the market penetration of programs and technology.

For more:
- see this report

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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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3. Duke takes two spots for top coal plants

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is recommending the rejection of two Arizona Public Service Company (APS) net metering proposals. A recommendation from the Arizona Corporation Commission staff calls for the rejection of two Arizona Public Service Co. alternatives to deal with how solar customers are compensated for producing excess energy. The ACC report contends that the current net metering structure is not fair for all customers and must be changed.

A solar home in Arizona. Credit: APS

For example, the report contends that, "with increasing levels of DG (distributed generation) penetration, the potential of shifting costs from customers with DG systems to those customers without such systems becomes apparent. As more customers offset a portion of their monthly bills by using energy produced by their DG systems, they purchase less energy from the utility. Because residential rates are typically designed to recover much of the utility's fixed costs through volumetric energy rates, DG customers effectively pay less of these fixed costs."

But Arizona is not unique in this regard, as several other states have seen a rapid penetration of customer-sited distributed generation. APS sees this as an opportunity to move forward with productive discussions on the best solution for customers; however, the ACC's recommended alternatives don't go far enough to fix the fairness issue, according to APS.

A statement issued by the company said, "We stand by our initial proposal and we look forward to working with the commissioners, staff and other stakeholders on developing the right solution for our customers. We need to act now. This issue will get worse for customers and harder to solve the longer we wait to address it."

For more:
- see this article

By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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4. EV charging facing financing, other challenges

POWER magazine has named its "Top Plants" -- the most noteworthy coal-fired power plants worldwide.

Cliffside Steam Station. Credit: Duke Energy

Duke Energy's supercritical Cliffside Steam Station Unit 6 in Cliffside, North Carolina has been recognized for a first-of-its-kind carbon mitigation plan, andboasts some of the highest operating conditions in North America. The plant is 23 percent more efficient than the units it replaced.

Duke Energy's integrated gasification combined cycle plant, the Edwardsport Generating Station in Knox County, Indiana, is being hailed as a milestone in the development of next-generation coal power technology despite cost overruns. The plant's emissions, water use, waste generation, and gross thermal efficiency all surpass what's possible at the best pulverized coal plant.

The 1600 MW mine-mouth Prairie State Energy Campus in Washington County, Illinois is the largest U.S. coal-fired plant to be built in three decades. The supercritical plant's state-of-the-art emissions controls result in emissions that are one-fifth the national average for coal-fueled plants.

The Shentou Second Power Plant, Shuozhou City in Shanxi Province, China is setting an example for China and the world with an innovative process that recycles its low-grade waste heat to produce hot water for central heating. The solution has enabled the closure of smaller, more polluting facilities in a nation trying to provide both cleaner air and more power for its people.

Mundra UMPP in Gujarat, India is the first of several planned ultra-mega power projects (UMPP) and weighs in at 4 GW. The plant, which has already won several awards for construction, design, and safety practices, is the first in India to use 800 MW supercritical boiler technology.

For more:
- see this report
- see this report

Read more about: Duke Energy, Cliffside Steam Station
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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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5. FPL launching three solar pilots

The market for electric vehicle charging/supply equipment (EVSE) has expanded rapidly in the last 18 months, driven by strong growth in plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and government programs supporting EVSE deployments, according to Navigant Research.

NCDOTcommunications/ Wikimedia Commons

Most of the demand is for residential chargers, but commercial chargers, including workplace charging stations, public charging locations, and private locations like apartments or fleet depots, is also growing.

"As the EVSE market has matured, some of its early challenges, such as a lack of compatibility of charging units with various PEV models, have dissipated," said Lisa Jerram, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. "Today, there is increasing choice for consumers, including chargers with a wide range of power ratings, home chargers that are competing on price, public chargers with more options for payment and access, the first commercially available wireless charger, and an increasing number of high-speed DC chargers."

However, challenges do remain -- specifically, streamlining access to public charging from multiple vendors and determining how to expand public charging without the assistance of government subsidies, as a number of government funding programs for EVSE installations wrap up.

For more:
- see this report
- see this report

Read more about: Lisa Jerram
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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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