Tim Latimer

Want to know just how power markets in Texas work? Maybe you're new to the industry, looking at opportunities in new markets, or just curious... The Energy Academy: ERCOT - hosted by Modo Energy's ERCOT Market Lead, Brandt Vermillion - has you covered. Across ten episodes (and just 30 minutes), you'll learn about: - ERCOT's responsibilities as the system operator. - The operational timelines of its markets. - How locational prices are formed. - Why price spikes occur. - And loads, loads more... Learning about power markets is hard. The information you need is often impossible to find, difficult to understand, and just plain dull. So, if you want an easy "in" to the electricity system in Texas, check out The Energy Academy - link here: https://lnkd.in/ezUJ9XDm #TheEnergyAcademy #ERCOT #PowerMarkets #BatteryEnergyStorage

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FERC has approved interconnection reform - and this is *generally* good for the energy transition. That said the devil in in the details of how states and utilities implement these changes. Some improvements like penalties assessed against utilities for tardy studies, trying to clean out queue squatters, and expressly identifying certain technical flexibility into interconnection design are good. However, we have specifically seen "Cluster Studies" and higher financial security requirements stymie development and create very costly and endless loops of re-studies in many markets (utility and DG). Calling on American Clean Power Association (ACP) Solar Energy Industries Association and importantly state level advocacy and watch dog groups to closely watch and actively participate as the implementation of these changes occur at the state level PUCs and DPUs - ensuring proper accountability and fair play. https://lnkd.in/ewehaH52 NYSERDA New York Solar Energy Industries Association MID-ATLANTIC RENEWABLE ENERGY COALITION Renewable Energy Vermont American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Smart Electric Power Alliance NECEC Cleantech Leaders Roundtable

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Time to go full-on energy nerd for a moment. MISO’s $1.7 billion transmission proposal - should we be cautious about the negative impact on the investment climate when we start spending billions to quickly address congestion problems? MISO and SPP are proposing changes to their tariffs and joint operating agreement to support $1.7 billion in transmission projects along their northern seam. These upgrades aim to enhance grid connectivity between the two regions, potentially enabling up to 30 GW of new generation, primarily from renewable sources. By improving inter-regional transmission capacity, the initiative seeks to reduce congestion and facilitate more efficient power flows across the borders of the two grid operators. However, these changes could also have complex impacts on market dynamics, particularly for merchant power projects. A couple thoughts: 1. Rapid Changes in Congestion Patterns: Expanding transmission capacity can quickly shift how electricity flows across regions, disrupting established congestion patterns. For merchant generators that rely on these patterns to capture higher prices, sudden changes can lead to unpredictable revenue streams and increased financial risk. This volatility can undermine the stability that investors and developers need when making decisions about new projects. 2. Competitive Disadvantages for Existing Generators: As new transmission projects reshape market dynamics, existing generators that were built around historical pricing and congestion can find themselves at a competitive disadvantage. These changes can lead to stranded assets, reduced profitability, or increased curtailment, especially for less flexible or higher-cost generation sources. The risk of these assets becoming obsolete adds another layer of complexity for investors. Navigating these challenges requires careful market assessments and a keen understanding of how regulatory shifts will play out in real time. As the landscape evolves, maintaining a stable and predictable environment for merchant power investments is crucial to supporting the sector's growth and resilience. How do you see these transmission changes impacting the future of investment activity? Let’s discuss!

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I continue my dive into the VCM in this second installment of a three-part blog series. The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is gaining traction as a tool to fight climate change. Companies are buying carbon credits to offset emissions but concerns about credit quality and market standards persist. The new U.S. VCM guidelines aim to change that by focusing on high-integrity credits, transparency, and alignment with global standards. By ensuring carbon credits represent real, measurable emissions reductions and promoting clear project methodologies, the guidelines aim to build trust in the market. Increased transparency and independent verification will help buyers assess credit credibility. Additionally, the guidelines align with existing frameworks to create a more unified VCM. While this is a positive step, challenges remain. Prioritizing internal emissions reductions and clarifying the role of offsets for Scope 3 emissions are crucial. The VCM has potential to accelerate climate action, but continued focus on robust standards is essential. Read the full post here >>  https://lnkd.in/gS-VYTjY Stay tuned for Part 3 as we explore the next steps for this market. #VCM #climatechange #sustainability #carboncredits

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🎙️ New CSIS Energy 360° Podcast: The Future of U.S. Climate Leadership 🌍🇺🇸 Energy and climate professionals, don't miss this insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of U.S. climate and energy policy with ex-hill leaders Emily Domenech, Adrian Deveny, and Peter Stahley. With host Quill Robinson, our expert panel dives deep into: • The impact and future of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law • Permitting reform: The critical bottleneck for clean energy deployment • The emerging bipartisan consensus on "green" industrial policy • Potential policy shifts under different 2024 election scenarios • The interplay between climate goals, energy security, and economic competitiveness Key insights from our distinguished guests: ✅ The IRA has accelerated clean energy deployment, but permitting challenges threaten to undercut its impact ✅ Local opposition often poses a greater hurdle for renewable projects than federal regulations ✅ There's surprising bipartisan alignment on onshoring clean energy manufacturing and reducing dependence on China ✅ The durability of climate policies may depend on their ability to create jobs and enhance U.S. competitiveness Whether you're a policy expert, industry leader, or climate advocate, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the complex interplay of politics, policy, and market forces shaping our energy future. Listen now and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving energy and climate landscape! #ClimatePolicy #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #USPolitics #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eGWxkrfr

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Going #electric at home may appear daunting and costly. However, with state and federal incentives, this shift becomes more feasible. DSIRE's (screenshot below) platform simplifies identifying available state incentives for renewable energy and efficiency initiatives. Companies like Rock Rabbit, EnergySage, Encentiv Energy, Opower, Rebate Bus, Sense, Enervee, Powerley, and others are demystifying these incentives, making them more accessible to homeowners. Learn more in Climate People's latest #1MinuteClimateSnippet: https://buff.ly/3KyG3Nz .

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Yesterday, the DOE released its latest lift-off report on advanced grid technologies – it’s a fascinating and compelling read with some surprising and powerful take-aways. I’m summarizing the highlights here, but I would definitely recommend at least checking out the executive summary for its clarity and conviction. You can access the report here: https://lnkd.in/gMuFwx3c Highlights and key take aways: We all know the grid is experiencing an unprecedented increase in demand: data centers, AI, electric cars and the broader shift to electrify everything is expected to drive 91GW of peak demand growth in the next decade. This risks reversing so many recent decarbonization gains if the default response is to build new gas peaker plants and defer shuttering of existing coal generation. As laid out by the DOE, multiple grid solutions that are commercially available TODAY could increase effective transmission & distribution capacity by 20-100 GW, in other words, potentially allowing us to fully meet the coming surge in demand without the need for new generation capacity These solutions can be deployed in UNDER 3-5 YEARS and at LOWER COST and GREATER VALUE than conventional approaches. The types of technologies being described here fall into four categories: 1) Advanced transmission (e.g., high voltage direct current); 2) Situational awareness and system automation (e.g., advanced distribution management systems); 3.) Grid enhancing technologies (e.g., virtual power plants); and 4) Foundational systems (e.g., system digitization). Sadly, though not surprising, the report also finds “adoption at scale and associated industry know how is lagging largely due to a lack of industry incentives and prioritization” In other words, even though investing in these available technologies is cheaper and more effective than sticking with the status quo, its not happening. The report powerfully reminds us: “ The mandate of the United States electric grid and of its operators is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to customers.” And "The U.S. transmission and distribution grid requires significant investment to address these accelerating trends and pressures." In this moment of disruption, utilities, regulators and grid operators have such incredible power to support and accelerate the green transition; not just in the fight against climate change, but simply to move us toward a more dynamic, resilient and cost effective grid. In the past, when demand was flat, incremental, risk averse, business-as-usual approaches to infrastructure and capacity investment maybe could work; but in a moment where the future looks nothing like the past, actual long term, system-level strategic planning and innovation is needed. From interconnection fees to cost-plus payor rates, its time for us to cast off the vestiges of last century's model of centralized generation and distribution, and embrace a new identity for utilities in the 21st century.

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Really cool episode with Michael Liebreich & Jenny Chase ! Agree with Michael - this one has it all. Lovely early NEF stories. And somehow the section on solar eras really made me think about my own story. Jenny mentions that before 2015, there was lots of talk about "grid parity" - and many doubts about the economics of solar. At the time, i was quite oblivious to these discussions. I was busy finishing my last semester of engineering. Nevertheless, I did make time to attend a talk by a prof named Vaclav Smil, which I knew nothing about. His talk was titled : "Energy Revolution? More like a crawl!" I left the lecture in shock - and went to chat with Prof Jeff Bergthorson afterwards to get a bit of guidance. I felt I had been deceived by visions of a green future detached from the material reality... while very real environmental problems (or catastrophes) were brewing. Jeff did give me the very good advice to read an obscure book called "Renewable Energy without the Hot Air" .. Around the same time Alexandra asked me if i knew anything about "fluid systems" , as Siemens Energy were looking for folks in that area for their aeroderivative gas turbines division. I had also just completed a summer doing research with Prof Andrew Higgins related to General Fusion (we were making things explode in a controlled fashion, somewhat. Sorry for the many broken expensive viewing windows!). So I was at a difficult cross-road. I felt torn apart. Fusion and the work being done was very exciting. But a group of people meeting in Paris, at that time, were saying we didn't have much time left to reduce emissions drastically .. so was it ok that I work on that? The role at Siemens was with aeroderivative gas turbines - and they also had a wind division. From the Vaclav Smil admonition, the renewable stuff was to be taken with a grain of salt, and we would need O&G for decades.. so was it ok that i work on that? And being based in Montreal, i wasn't aware of much to be done in Solar (or wind) at the moment (except the work of Guillaume!) . Taking all these factors into account - I thought : "if i want to be useful in this energy transition, i've got to learn good engineering first. I won't be able to have an impact straight out of school. I can probably do that if i go over at Siemens" (and thanks to Keith, David, and a host of other fantastic colleagues, i did !) . ..There are many other chapters to this story (like the great work we're up too at Agnico Eagle Mines Limited these days), but I'll wrap it up with the classic "you can only connect the dots backwards" .. and loop it back to solar to say that - it sure graduated from crawling! ..And i'm looking forward to read Jenny's book!

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Understanding the Role of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in Shaping Our Energy Future As Texas faces growing power demands and the ongoing transition to clean energy, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) plays a pivotal role in regulating and overseeing the state's power grid, managed by ERCOT. Despite the significant reforms implemented since the 2021 freeze, questions about the reliability and sustainability of the Texas grid persist. The recent appointment of Gilbert Hughes, a former American Electric Power executive, as ERCOT's new vice president of public affairs signals a renewed focus on communications and government affairs. However, the actions and priorities of the PUCT will determine the future stability and affordability of our energy system. The PUCT is responsible for ensuring consumer utility bills remain affordable, overseeing the administration of the $10 billion Texas Energy Fund to develop new natural gas power plants, and spearheading efforts to make Texas a leader in nuclear power. Commissioners like Jimmy Glotfelty and Lori Cobos are key figures in these initiatives, focusing on nuclear power studies and transmission line buildouts, respectively. Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The commission's response to recent storms, such as Hurricane Beryl, has come under scrutiny, with formal investigations launched into CenterPoint's storm response. The PUCT's mandate to strengthen power lines and poles against extreme weather is critical as climate change exacerbates weather conditions. While more high-profile entities often overshadow the PUCT's role, it remains central to addressing whether the Texas grid is truly "fixed." The agency’s expanded commission, now comprising five members, is tasked with balancing the urgent need for grid reliability with the pressures of an evolving energy landscape. As we move forward, the importance of the PUCT's decisions cannot be overstated. Stakeholders must stay informed and engaged, ensuring that the commission's actions align with the broader goals of grid resilience and cost-effectiveness. Grid Monitor is free to try. No credit card required. #GridMonitor #ERCOT #TexasEnergy #StormRecovery #Infrastructure #EnergyProfessionals

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The bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 released by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) takes a much needed step in accelerating the permitting process for critical energy projects in the U.S. As the legislation spornors's state (shared here), our outdated permitting system is stifling our ability to move clean energy projects forward, which in turn has adverse economic effects and inhibits our ability to reduce emissions. I'm glad to see these bipartisan efforts are moving toward fixing a broken permitting system that has shackled American energy production for far too long. #EnergyProduction #EnergyPermitting

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A couple months back I posted a 10 pg read with my thoughts around CCS and considered an alternative approach, due to my concern of the burden CCS will place on the public purse. One more data point confirming that a carbon tax is not high enough, nor is there long term certainty, to support significant investment and we need to consider better alternatives. https://lnkd.in/g2jbi32j.

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Duke Energy sees a need for incremental gas-fired #power to meet demand growth: CEO ▪️ Power demand growth quickly accelerates ▪️ Seeks to relicense all its #nuclear power units ⬇️Story linked in comments #ONGT #electricity #naturalgas

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Duke Energy sees a need for incremental gas-fired #power to meet demand growth: CEO ▪️ Power demand growth quickly accelerates ▪️ Seeks to relicense all its #nuclear power units ⬇️Story linked in comments #ONGT #electricity #naturalgas

Hot off the presses! A new paper by Julia Gawlick Emily Beagle and Thomas Hamacher about coupling of the power sector and hydrogen (considering two pathways: SMR and electrolysis) in Texas. A few takeaways: *Joint optimization is necessary to show impacts of a sector-coupled hydrogen economy. *Hydrogen from renewable electricity induces immense infrastructure requirements. *Levelized costs in Texas are cost-competitive with other global producers. *Subsidies for renewable energies are required despite decreases in investment costs. Note: there are other H2 production pathways (pyrolysis, natural hydrogen, etc.) that might yield different results. Another nice collaboration between Webber Energy Group & Technical University of Munich https://lnkd.in/gvCQpceD

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Elum Energy raises $13 million in Series B led by Energize Capital - Elum Energy has secured $13 million in Series B funding led by Energize Capital, with existing investors Alter Equity and Cota Capital participating. - This investment will support the company's growth plans, including a U.S. launch and product evolution in energy storage and EV integration. - The global capacity for renewable electricity is expected to grow by 65% from 2023 to 2027, with 30% of distributed solar projects anticipated to include battery storage. - Elum Energy specializes in optimizing monitoring and control for solar PV projects, facilitating integration across various settings. - CEO Cyril Colin emphasized the importance of integrating renewable energy into existing grids for sustainable solutions. - In 2023, Elum Energy expanded by opening three new offices in Spain, Nigeria, and Madagascar. - The company has over 2,500 projects in 50 countries and more than 350 clients. - Eileen Waris from Energize Capital noted the increasing demand for modern operating systems that adapt to the evolving energy grid. - Elum Energy's solutions leverage advanced technology for real-time insights and predictive maintenance, enhancing operational efficiency. - Elum Energy's mission is to make renewable energy more accessible and efficient worldwide. https://lnkd.in/gVNbiSmM

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Our panel of energy experts analyzed this summer’s weather, natural gas fundamentals and the record-setting PJM Base Residual Auction results in our September Market Intel webinar. Watch the full webinar recording for key insights on the factors impacting your energy strategy as we approach winter.

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Matthew Ives and team generate "probabilistic cost forecasts of energy technologies using a method that has been statistically validated on data for more than 50 technologies. Using this approach to estimate future energy system costs under three scenarios, we find that compared to continuing with a fossil fuel-based system, a rapid green energy transition is likely to result in trillions of net savings." #trillion #Energy #energytransition https://lnkd.in/gpm7yK4F

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Viridi RNG's Chet Benham recently spoke with Hart Energy about how Viridi is charting a new era in RNG – one in which renewable energy generation doesn't mean having to sacrifice strong economic performance. Watch his full interview here: https://lnkd.in/ePivRsRb #RNG #renewableenergy #energytransition #sustainability

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