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Good morning, and welcome to the latest Resources Intelligence Report.
Big Tech made big news this past week with its further embrace of nuclear power. The news itself probably was not a big surprise to anyone who has been following the rapid growth of data centers, but the details are interesting.
First, Google announced a 500 MW power purchase agreement with Kairos Power involving the molten salt small modular reactor (SMR) that Kairos is developing.
Two days later, Amazon announced agreements with X-energy and Energy Northwest involving the gas-cooled SMR that X-energy is developing, and a memorandum of understanding with Dominion Energy Virginia to explore commercial and financing structures for SMR development in Virginia.
John Cropley has both of these stories and writes that the deals will help Kairos and X-Energy continue their progress along the long and expensive road to regulatory approval and commercial availability of their designs.
Moving on to offshore wind:
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James Downing looks at Dominion Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, which lays out multiple scenarios to meet rising power demand within its territory. About 80% of the new generation it is proposing would be carbon-free, including 3,400 MW of new offshore wind capacity.
That’s all for offshore wind. Normally, NetZero Insider can count on Cropley for our maritime coverage, but this past week he had other fish to fry. Along with the two pieces on nuclear energy, he has two solar energy stories:
From our curated roundup of reporting by other media outlets, we offer a few themed reading suggestions:
Offshore, The New Bedford Light and Nantucket Current have updates on the blade failure at Vineyard Wind, while CNBC takes a look at a wind farm that went according to plan — the pioneering South Fork Wind, which went into operation earlier this year (near Vineyard Wind) and is held up as a contrast to the problems other U.S. offshore wind projects are experiencing.
Here is a cluster of stories about efforts to expand the green hydrogen sector:
And nuclear power remains a frequent headline topic:
All this and much more is gathered in this week’s Intelligence Report. Thanks for reading!
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U.S.
Global energy companies are currently pushing to build at least four major biomass pellet plants along the West Coast: two in Washington and two in California. MR Online
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International
The Global CCS Institute said deployment of the technology is not occurring fast enough to meet climate targets. Energywire
Texas
Oil companies have a growing interest in carbon storage to help address concerns about their emissions. Energywire
U.S.
The department called for five actions to support the technology, including building out pipelines and other infrastructure. Energywire
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Alabama
Plant Miller outside Birmingham is again No. 1 on the EPA's list of top greenhouse gas producers, and no retirement plans have been announced for the facility. Inside Climate News
International
In June, coal loadings for export soared to 2.9 million short tons, the most in the U.S. Census Bureau data series -- which starts in 2000 -- as terminals worked through their backlog of vessels. Energy Information Administration
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California
VPPs are made up of customer assets and article looks into how many want to give control over them and how much they do give up. Energy Central
California
California Energy Commission program enrolls 515 MW of demand side reductions in a couple of years. Utility Dive
California
The program aims to show how improving distribution circuit utilization can keep customer costs down, by reducing the need for distribution upgrades. pv magazine
Tennessee
TVA rejects FOIA request from Tennessee newspaper that sought information on large customers who get DR payments. Daily Memphian
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U.S.
By leveraging existing regulatory authorizations to make better use of our existing assets and infrastructure, policymakers can best address the grid's problems, former FERC commissioners Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee write. Utility Dive
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International
International Energy Agency says transition to clean energy means there will be a surplus of oil, gas and coal. The Guardian
U.S.
As China ramps up renewable-energy production, the U.S. risks becoming dependent on oil and other outdated energy sources. MarketWatch
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International
Energy adviser now says H2 will only account for 3.9% of the global energy mix by 2050, despite at least 15% being needed to meet Paris Agreement goals. Hydrogen Insight
International
The green hydrogen sector has seen several significant project delays and cancellations in recent months. Hydrogen Fuel News
International
The developer has 'de-prioritised' its green fuels business in Northern Europe. Recharge
International
We have had to put on the brakes due to high costs and the lack of demand for green H2, explains CEO Michael Lewis. Hydrogen Insight
New York
Has Plug Power pulled the plug on its upstate New York facility? Heatmap
Texas
Where natural gas comes from matters for hydrogen production. Heatmap
U.S.
There's little detail available on the $7B federal program to jump-start U.S. clean hydrogen, leaving environmental advocates concerned the projects may be off track. Canary Media
U.S.
Production is an important piece of the energy transition, but without the infrastructure to support hydrogen and its unique properties, we won't meet the climate goals set by the private sector or governments. Utility Dive
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Arizona
A judge will decide the fate of Ha'Kamwe' as the Hualapai Nation fights the drilling in court. Grist
Nevada
Construction of the processing facilities is expected to begin in earnest once Lithium Americas closes on a $2.26 billion loan from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. Nevada Appeal
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International
European countries prefer renewables, other options over LNG - limiting its prospects there. Natural Gas Intelligence
International
France wants stricter rules against EU using Russian LNG as bloc's energy ministers meet Bloomberg
U.S.
US exports of gas (pipes to North America and LNG) were flat to start the year, but with 5 LNG facilities under construction (7 in operation) that should change with larger capacity coming. EIA
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U.S.
While the presidential candidates disagree on much, they seem to largely agree on the need to support domestic critical mineral projects. Utility Dive
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Alaska
State of Alaska opposes lawsuit that seeks to stop construction of a natural gas pipeline backed by state law. Alaska Beacon
Montana
Montana regulators reject interim inatural gas rate hike due to cost of living concerns, permanent one still pending. Q2 News
Pennsylvania
Reporter talked to gas executives in Pennsylvania who want VP Harris to clarify her position on fracking. Reuters
Pennsylvania
Trump discusses bringing back Home City coal plant that recently retired, but article points out cheap gas was largely responsible for coal plant closures. 90.5 WESA
Tennessee
The Tennessee Valley Authority did not properly consider options for adding more solar and battery storage, groups told a federal court. Energywire
Tennessee
Opponents take TVA's expansion of natural gas to court, arguing it was rushed and a related pipeline recently lost litigation over Clean Water Act. Nashville Scene
U.S.
Powering data centers could threaten Big Tech's climate goals, three separate Wall Street analyses suggest. Climatewire
U.S.
Natural gas generation hits an all time this summer with cheap prices, retiring coal, etc. RealClearEnergy
Wisconsin
Wisconsin natural gas plant developers pull application for Nemadji Trail Energy Center as federal process leads to delay. Environmentalists have opposed project. WPR
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International
Canada is turning on an LNG export facility next year, but producers are ramping up ahead of time so it might not have much impact on gas prices there. MSN
U.S.
Recent study from Cornell U professor argued LNG was dirtier than coal and FT looks into that claim and reactions to it. Financial Times
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International
Tech companies are under pressure to find energy sources to power data centers -- a key piece of infrastructure behind modern-day cloud computing and AI applications. CNBC
Pennsylvania
The transformer is expected to be the biggest single piece of equipment that will need to be replaced for restart of the plant. Constellation is investing $1.6 billion to revive the operation over the next four years. Reuters
Pennsylvania
Reviving a dying and dangerous 20th century technology to power a 21st century technology that also promises miracles and has high environmental and human costs is ironic, writes sociocultural anthropologist Stephanie Palazzo. Undark
U.S.
From Bill Gates to the Energy Department, momentum is building behind nuclear again after a failed resurgence 20 years ago. Power Engineering
U.S.
A new DOE report suggests that the path to a U.S. nuclear renaissance runs not through SMRs or fusion but the repeated construction of familiar large-scale reactors. Canary Media
U.S.
Up to $800 million will go to milestone-based awards for support of first mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, end users and others. Reuters
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International
Dongfang on Oct. 12 rolled out a 26 MW turbine off the production line, the company said in a statement. That is 31% bigger than the previous record of 18 MW. The Straits Times
International
The FOSS has been designed to convert 1.4 GW to 2 GW of power, with a DC export link of 300 to 525 kV. Offshore Engineer
International
The simplified foundation components allow for lower construction costs than conventional technologies. Intersting Engineering
International
For Sarens which stakes its reputation on its ability to complete the most complex and difficult lifts, perhaps one of the most challenging calculations is working out what equipment it will need over the coming years to satisfy demand for such lifts. Crane & Transport Briefing
International
The new phase is said to play a key role in refining guidelines and closing technology gaps, with participation now expanding to 19 industry players. offshoreWIND.biz
International
The massive scale of components and a drive into new regions of the seabed mean crucial capability gaps need to be filled if offshore wind is to meet its growth ambitions, writes Fabian Hippe of Acteon. Recharge
Maine
The 107-page alternatives analysis concluded that siting a port at the nearby Mack Point shipping terminal in Searsport would be too expensive, complicated and environmentally harmful compared to its Sears Island preference. Maine Public
Massachusetts
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ordered Vineyard to "conduct a site-specific study that evaluates the environmental harm and other potential damage flowing from" the blade failure, and to identify potential mitigation measures. Nantucket Current
Massachusetts
The move comes amid GE's re-inspection of all Vineyard Wind turbine blades, after July's blade failure. The blades are headed to the Port of Cherbourg, where GE has a blade factory. New Bedford Light
Massachusetts
The Vineyard Wind project remains under a suspension order by the federal government following the disastrous turbine blade failure on July 13 that left Nantucket's beaches littered with styrofoam and fiberglass debris. Nantucket Current
New York
The project, which connected to the grid earlier this year, is the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S., providing enough power for 70,000 homes annually. CNBC
U.S.
If 30 gigawatts comes to pass, there will be over 6,400 turbine blades, each about 300-feet long, spinning over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Just the News
U.S.
The companies are hoping to address what both call a need for robust domestic manufacturing and construction capabilities as the U.S. offshore wind sector expands. North American Wind Power
U.S.
Industry advocate notes that these two developers were among the last projects bid prior to the onset of inflation in 2022 to renegotiate offtake to meet current costs. Recharge
U.S.
Several developers with projects along the Atlantic coast said while they're nervous about how a Trump White House could impact their business, they're not panicking. WBUR
U.S.
The nearly extinct whale became a mascot for groups with ties to fossil fuels and nuclear power. The Wall Street Journal
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International
IEA report charts future declines in oil and gas use as world shifts to "age of electricity." Reuters
U.S.
Based on past steady growth in production across different Administrations, article argues little will change in natural gas production regardless of election outcome. Natural Gas Intelligence
U.S.
Despite some improvement from earlier surveys, oil and gas execs/employees do not trust the sector's data on efficiency. Rice News
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International
IEA analysis also finds deployment is far from uniform across technologies and markets reNEWS.biz
New York
The power would be provided via the Hudson Transmission Project cable, which currently delivers energy from the PJM Interconnection to the New York ISO. Utility Dive
U.S.
FERC's required $5 million commercial readiness deposit for projects to remain in an interconnection queue is impossible for most tribes, says Ch?ri Smith, CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. Utility Dive
U.S.
The nation is currently on track to cut just 22% of its carbon emissions by 2030, compared to the 50% needed to reach its Paris Agreement goals. ESG Dive
U.S.
Utilities aren't typically known for pushing the envelope with innovative technologies or ideas -- they want to keep things safe and cost-effective. POWERGRID International
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California
The state's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Public Utilities Commission and the state's three investor-owned utilities have moved in lockstep to make it more difficult for residents, small businesses, schools, and farms to adopt solar. pv magazine
International
Widespread coverage of building rooftops with conventional photovoltaic solar panels may increase temperatures on hot days and lower them at night, says new modeling. TechXplore
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U.S.
Solarcycle will both recycle Runergy's decommissioned panels and provide the manufacturer with glass for new panels via its Georgia facility, which is slated to open in 2026. Utility Dive
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Puerto Rico
The island has ambitious climate goals and a ton of rooftop solar, but has so far built few large-scale clean energy projects. Project Marahu could change that. Canary Media
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Arizona
Pinal County's Eleven Mile Solar System has come online featuring one of the largest battery energy storage systems built in a single phase in the U.S. pv magazine
California
CAISO set a new peak battery discharge record of 8.3 GW on October 9, as the state's future EIA energy storage queue holds 177 GW of capacity, with 1.9 GW expected added through the end of the year. pv magazine
Illinois
A pair of proposed bills aimed at improving grid reliability through installing distributed energy resources like rooftop solar is expected to save the electric bill payers $3 billion through 2050. pv magazine
International
While there is much more variety in the BESS supply landscape today, there are relatively few suppliers able to offer products for 'grid-forming, enduring infrastructure assets', developer and operator Dais Energy's CEO said. Energy Storage News
Michigan
It will produce a high-voltage battery pack with up to 34 kWh capacity built around the company's scalable battery module technology. pv magazine
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California
The country's largest area designated for solar energy, Desert Center shows how sprawls of PV panels impact communities. Inside Climate News
Florida
ootage released by Duke Energy shows a swath of solar modules ripped from the single-axis trackers holding them in place. pv magazine
Illinois
Illinois farmer Trent Gerlach had misgivings about solar panels taking up cropland, but he saw a chance to try agrivoltaics, a practice catching on around the US. Canary Media
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International
Brutal domestic price competition among Chinese players has been key driver for their push into international markets to boost profitability. Recharge
International
International markets chief says wind can compete on scale but not yet speed to meet coming demand surge to supply data centres. Recharge
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