AI Rewrites the Rules of Power Resilience

Baseload Capital, a leader in sustainable energy solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristín Vala Matthíasdóttir as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective August 2024. With more than 15 years of experience in the geothermal industry, Kristín Vala will spearhead the establishment of an application containing project development, operation and maintenance information to support local developers across the globe.

Kristín Vala holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lund, Sweden. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her background in the Icelandic geothermal industry, where she focused on geoscience, reservoir management and power plant operations. Throughout her career, Kristín Vala has held various executive positions, overseeing the production, operation and maintenance of geothermal power plants, and was actively involved in monitoring and controlling geothermal reservoirs operated by HS Orka.

In addition to her extensive operational experience, Kristín Vala has collaborated with international developers to evaluate geothermal prospects worldwide, providing crucial technical support for their assets. She served on the board of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) from 2016 to 2021, working to advance geothermal energy on a global scale.

Prior to joining Baseload Capital, Kristín Vala was the Head of Supply Chain for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Iceland.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kristín Vala to the Baseload Capital team,” said Alexander Helling, CEO of Baseload Capital. “Her diverse expertise in the renewable energy and international business sectors and deep understanding of relevant technologies will be invaluable as we continue to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future.”

“I am excited to join the ambitious team at Baseload Capital and work towards changing the energy mix worldwide,” said Kristín Vala. “By fostering partnerships and challenging traditions, we will scale up the entire industry. Geothermal energy is my passion, and I am thrilled to reconnect with my inner scientist in a sector where my heart truly belongs. The Earth has power – let’s switch it on!”

Baseload Capital | https://www.baseloadcap.com/

Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) ("Stardust" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been approved to offer the Tesla Powerwall product line throughout the United States. Following the onboarding and training, Stardust Solar and its franchisees are now certified resellers and Tesla Powerwall installers in all U.S. regions. The company will sell, install, and provide ongoing support for the Tesla energy storage systems through its expanding network of franchises.

"This approval marks a key milestone in our expansion into the U.S. market. The Tesla Powerwall is an industry leader in residential energy storage systems, and being able to offer it to U.S. customers significantly strengthens our value proposition," said Mark Tadros, CEO of Stardust Solar. "We have already seen great success with Powerwall installations in Canada, and we're confident that U.S. homeowners will appreciate its performance and reliability."

"The ease of installation and commissioning of Tesla Powerwall products makes it a perfect fit for our franchisees," said Evan Kraemer, CTO of Stardust Solar. "Tesla's focus on a seamless user experience ensures that homeowners can operate their systems with minimal technical support, enhancing overall satisfaction for our end customers."

Integrating Tesla Powerwall into Stardust Solar's product offerings significantly benefits existing and new franchisees. Powerwall is a compact home battery that stores energy generated by solar or from the grid, allowing homeowners to power their devices and appliances day or night, during outages, or when going off-grid. With customizable modes, Powerwall helps optimize stored energy for outage protection and electricity bill savings. Now available in the U.S., franchisees can offer this premier energy storage solution, creating a valuable revenue stream and enhancing their service portfolio. Tesla's trusted brand gives franchisees a competitive advantage, helping attract customers seeking reliable, cutting-edge solutions. This integration also strengthens Stardust's broader strategy to capture a significant share of the U.S. solar market.

Stardust Solar | www.stardustsolar.com

Sunnova Energy International, Inc. ("Sunnova") (NYSE: NOVA), an industry-leading adaptive energy services company, announced that in the wake of significant destruction from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, 98% of its resilient Sunnova rooftop solar systems were unaffected – a strong demonstration of the resilience of Sunnova’s power solutions.

Sunnova systems remained intact for approximately 19,000 customers in Florida during Hurricane Milton, and more than 13,000 customers across the U.S. Southeast during Hurricane Helene when power infrastructure was crippled and unable to deliver electricity to residents. In total, Sunnova systems for more than 100,000 customers in hurricane-affected areas, including Puerto Rico and Texas, this season have experienced no material damage.

CEO John Berger and team in Sunnova’s Global Command Center as Hurricane Milton approaches

Sunnova solar + storage customers living in the hurricane-affected areas benefitted from battery power for an average of 25 hours in the seven days after Hurricane Milton’s landfall. Similarly, Sunnova solar + storage customers benefitted from battery power for an average of 26 hours in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the following seven days following the storm while millions of people were without power.

“Our thoughts go out to all those who experienced the devastating impact of Hurricanes Milton and Helene,” said William J. (John) Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer at Sunnova. “We understand the importance of having power when you need it most. I am proud of our teams that did their part to help our customers and communities in this time of need. Powering families through these deadly storms has highlighted the robust reliability of our solar + storage systems.”
Sunnova technicians responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton

“When extreme weather hits we are all made acutely aware of the vulnerabilities of a centralized grid and transmission system,” said Paul Mathews, Chief Operating Officer at Sunnova. “We provide a valuable alternative solution in the form of a dependable, resilient off-grid power solution backed by industry-leading service to ensure performance in the most demanding of environments.”

Whether a hurricane or simple system issue, Sunnova offers an industry-leading 25-year service guarantee to all residential solar customers through Sunnova Protect™.

Serving an extensive customer base of more than 400,000 customers spread across 51 U.S. states and territories, Sunnova remains dedicated to advancing the energy landscape through its mission of powering energy independence^TM.

Sunnova Energy I  http://www.sunnova.com

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q3 2024 edition of The 50 States of Solar. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with a focus on net metering, distributed solar valuation, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential demand and solar charges, third-party ownership, and utility-led rooftop solar programs.

The report finds that 42 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, took some type of distributed solar policy action during Q3 2024 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions continuing to address net metering policies (51), and residential fixed charge or minimum bill increases (48), and community solar policies (36). A total of 157 distributed solar policy actions were taken during Q3 2024, with the most actions taken in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.

Q3 2024 Policy Action on Net Metering, Rate Design, and Solar Ownership

The report identifies three trends in solar policy activity taken in Q3 2024: (1) states refining multi-family building participation in net metering, (2) states reviewing size caps for solar systems, and (3) states re-examining previously approved solar compensation mechanisms.

“Several regulatory proceedings were initiated this quarter to consider changes to existing net metering system caps,” said Justin Lindemann, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Regarding significant proposals, utility regulators in Alaska proposed an increase to the state’s aggregate net metering capacity limit that is more than 13 times higher than the current limit.”

The report notes the top five distributed solar policy actions of Q3 2024:

• Appalachian Power filing a net metering successor tariff with Virginia regulators;
• Connecticut regulators approving new rules for multi-family net metering;
• The Governor of California vetoing changes to multi-tenant and public school net metering;
• A Florida municipal utility detailing planned residential and solar rate design changes; and
• Alaska regulators proposing an increase in the aggregate cap for net metering from 1.5% to 20% of the electric utility’s average retail demand.

“Solar rules continue their evolution this quarter,” noted Vincent Potter, Senior Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Policymakers in several states are considering and/or implementing changes for solar customer-generators, including time-of-use rate impact analysis in Maryland, transition planning for Minnesota’s permanent community solar program, and successor net metering programs and community solar credit rate updates in Virginia.”

View the 50 States of Solar Q3 2024 Quarterly Report Executive Summary

View and Purchase the 50 States of Solar Q3 2024 Quarterly Report

View other 50 States Reports – Solar, Grid Modernization,  Electric Vehicles and Power Decarbonization

NC Clean Energy Technology Center | http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu

Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), a Cooperative provider of electric services in Alaska, is advancing its renewable energy efforts with the help of wind Lidar technology to remotely sense the available wind resource at prospective wind farm locations. As part of its goal to reduce carbon emissions, GVEA is exploring opportunities to expand electric supply from renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. To enhance its wind resource assessments, the cooperative is using the ZX 300 Lidar.

Under the expert guidance of DNV, Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) deployed the ZX 300 wind Lidar, paired with a MOBISMART HYBRID Clean Power Trailer, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite the area's extreme weather — ranging from 85°F (30°C) in summer to -36°F (-38°C) in winter — the Lidar has been successfully operating autonomously, powered reliably by the off-grid MOBISMART HYBRID power trailer, ensuring a continuous and compatible energy supply and wind profile from the site.

Keith Palchikoff of GVEA shared his satisfaction with the deployment, stating, "We are thankful for the funding provided through the Renewable Energy Fund at Alaska Energy Authority to allow this project to commence as the state strives towards promoting renewable energy development. To date, we are delighted to have experienced no downtime whatsoever since the Lidar and power trailer were installed. Alaska presents unique weather challenges, and it's great to have technology that operates autonomously in such conditions. At GVEA, we are committed to exploring every opportunity to provide sustainable power to our customers.” 

It is planned that data gathered by GVEA from the energy assessments will be made public, encouraging private developers to submit proposals and potentially enter long-term power purchase agreements.

Irene Efston from MOBISMART added, "We are thrilled to support GVEA with a remote off-grid power solution for this project. Our HYBRID solar with integrated fuel cell power trailers are designed to work seamlessly with the ZX 300 wind Lidar because they're easily deployed and will provide autonomous and dependable power 24/7, while monitored remotely in various environments and extreme climates.  To support the growing demand for wind measurements, our power trailers can be available within 6 weeks from order, allowing fast deployment of the Lidar on site.”

With over 15,000 deployments in 100 countries globally, the ZX 300 wind Lidar is built to last and operate in extreme environments, simple and complex terrain, and in clear air, all with its survive-in-field attitude.

Interested in seeing more? Watch the video of the operating ZX 300 wind Lidar working in the extreme cold and snowy conditions of Alaska being powered by the MOBISMART HYBRID Clean Power Trailer here.

ZX Lidars | www.zxlidars.com

MOBISMART Clean Power Solutions | www.mobismart.com

US power demand has remained essentially flat for the past decade, but this is all about to change as a pending surge in demand growth will be the biggest challenge for utility companies in decades, according to the latest Horizons report from Wood Mackenzie.

According to the report, “Gridlock: the demand dilemma facing the US power industry” US electricity demand growth will be between 4% and 15% through 2029, depending on the region, with burgeoning data-centre development, a resurgence in energy-intensive US manufacturing, and greater transport and heating electrification driving electricity demand growth not seen since the 1990s. Demand growth rates for individual utilities may be much higher as the demand being added to the grid is not evenly spread and one large load can have a significant impact on the growth of individual utilities.

All of this will prove a major challenge for utilities to adapt and provide interconnection and new supply, as well as companies with large electricity needs to sustain growth.

“In most industries, demand growth of 2-3% per year would be easily managed and welcomed,” said Chris Seiple, Vice Chairman of power and renewables with Wood Mackenzie. “In the power sector, however, new infrastructure planning takes 5 to 10 years, and the industry is only now starting to plan for growth.

“Moreover, most state public utility commissioners have little experience of regulating in a growth environment. And as technology C-suites realise that energy may be the largest constraint on their growth, they are shocked as businesses that move at light speed learn about the pace at which electric utilities move.”

Demand drivers

Data centers and the burgeoning artificial intelligence industry have become main drivers of activity, with Wood Mackenzie identifying 51 GW of new data-centre capacity announcements since January 2023. In the Horizons report, Wood Mackenzie has considered a scenario in which electricity demand from data centres grows by a mid-range estimate of 15% per year over the next five years, which is about 25 GW of new data centre capacity

Data centers will be competing with a resurgence in US manufacturing, particularly in the areas of battery, solar wafers and cells and semiconductors, which are projected to add up to15,000 MW of high-load-factor demand over the next few years

Lastly, the wider electrification of the economy will drive demand, with electric vehicle use continuing to grow and electrolysers connecting to the grid potentially adding another 7,000 MW of demand through 2030.

2024-29 GWh demand growth as a percentage of 2024 GWh demand

Capacity constraints

Many constraints are impacting the system’s ability to meet this demand growth, such as coal plant retirements, the lack of transformers and breakers needed to interconnect new plants and large loads, and the slow pace at which interconnection studies are completed and transmission capacity is added to the grid. From now to 2030, Wood Mackenzie forecasts annual utility-scale renewable additions to grow from around 29 GW to 40 GW per year.

“The constraint is not the demand for renewables, but the ability to get through permitting, interconnection and building out the transmission system accordingly,” said Seiple. “All things being equal, our renewable forecast additions would accommodate electricity demand growth of about 2% per year. If renewables are only able to barely match the pace of demand growth, it means we won’t be decarbonizing the power sector.”

A new paradigm, with upward pressure on price

Little demand growth the last 15 years in the US and some new supply from renewables has kept wholesale power prices lower, but this may change.

“With new demand growth comes a new era,” said Seiple. “Electricity prices will be under upward pressure. Valuations of fossil and nuclear assets are increasing as the market absorbs this new paradigm. More announcements of deferred coal plant retirements and efforts to reopen previously closed nuclear plants may follow. What will be most interesting is how this plays out in markets where there is no retail choice versus markets where it does exist.”

The report concludes that transmission planning, permitting and construction are the biggest bottlenecks to meeting future demand growth. It will take an integrated approach from utilities, regulators and policymakers to meet this challenge and buildout needed to protect US national security, boost strategic economic growth and decarbonise the power sector to address climate change.

“This will be a major challenge. The last time the US electricity industry saw unexpected new demand growth like this was during World War II,” said Seiple. “Between 1939 and 1944, manufacturing output tripled, and electricity demand rose 60%. It was a closely coordinated national effort that brought together industry and policymakers to address the challenge and find innovation along the way. A similar effort is needed now.”

Read the entire report here.

Wood Mackenzie | woodmac.com

Synex Renewable Energy Corporation (TSX: SXI) ("Synex" or the "Company") announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sea Breeze Power Corp. ("Sea Breeze"), closed its previously announced disposition of Sea Breeze's wind energy project known as Bouleau Mountain Wind Project (the "Wind Project"), located in British Columbia, Canada (the "Transaction"). 

As previously disclosed, the purchase price of the Wind Project pursuant to the Transaction is approximately $4.7 million, subject to entering into an EPA (as defined herein) with respect to the Wind Project, plus a royalty payment equal to one percent of the gross revenue of the Wind Project. Upon closing of the Transaction, the Buyer paid Sea Breeze a cash payment of $400,000, and the remaining balance of the purchase price will be paid upon the Wind Project achieving certain milestones, including the entering into of an electricity purchase agreement (the "EPA") with British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (or other similar regulated utility) and the commencement of commercial operations of the Wind Project. 

"With the sale of the Bouleau Mountain Wind Project, we have demonstrated our ability to monetize our significant wind portfolio at competitive prices. We are also thrilled that the project has been submitted to the BC Hydro Call for Power 2024 RFP, and we are confident that the project can achieve commercial operations in the next four to seven years. This will result in the achievement of all of the applicable milestones and lead to further value creation for the Company," stated Daniel J. Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Synex. 

Synex | www.synex.com