The United States has made significant progress in producing its own energy storage systems, with batteries accounting for 28 percent of new power plant capacity this year. President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has incentivized domestic battery production, leading to self-sufficiency in grid battery enclosures and cells. By the end of 2025, the US is projected to have the capacity to produce 145 gigawatt-hours of finished grid storage systems annually. The industry now faces the challenge of potentially exporting surplus batteries to maintain manufacturing potential. LG Energy Solution Vertech is leading the rapid growth in grid-battery manufacturing, with plans to increase cell production capacity to 50 gigawatt-hours across North America this year. The Department of Energy is investing $500 million in funding to strengthen battery supply chains domestically, emphasizing the importance of a resilient and responsive supply chain for delivering power quickly. U.S. manufacturing can improve delivery certainty and shorten project timelines, with industrial reshoring seen as a way to protect against geopolitical uncertainties and disruptions caused by the White House. A local supply chain helps protect against U.S.-led disruptions in the global trade.
Category: Industry, Materials & Waste
Cut Emissions:
– Improve Materials
– Improve Processes
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Use Waste as a Resource
– Shift Energy Sources
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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and business community showcase leadership in advancing a competitive, clean economy
Business leaders in North Carolina, including companies like American Airlines and Duke Energy, are discussing ways to strengthen the state's clean energy economy and reduce emissions. They are seeking greater access to clean energy to meet their targets while managing costs. The roundtable focused on how public and private sector leaders can work together to strengthen North Carolina's leadership in the clean energy economy, keep costs down, and create high-quality jobs statewide. Companies like SAS Institute, Scout Motors, and Sierra Nevada Brewing are investing in clean energy and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of modernizing the state's energy system. Ceres, a nonprofit organization advocating for clean energy and a resilient energy grid in North Carolina, emphasizes the importance of smart policies to maintain the state's competitiveness and inspire investors and companies to address sustainability challenges. Their efforts aim to transform industries, create new business opportunities, and promote innovation and job growth in support of a cleaner, more just economy. North Carolina has the opportunity to lead on energy affordability and economic growth by expanding access to clean, reliable energy.
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Fossil fuels face higher taxes than electricity under EU bill
The European Commission is set to unveil a bill that will tax electricity at a lower rate than fossil fuels as part of a strategy to shift towards more renewable and nuclear energy sources. This initiative comes in response to the energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aims to make energy more affordable and reliable. The EU executive is preparing measures to mitigate the economic impact of the Iran war, which has disrupted oil and gas supplies from the Gulf region. The goal is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase electricity generation from renewables and nuclear power.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/fossil-fuels-face-higher-taxes-than-electricity-under-eu-bill/
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Adani launches 1GW HVDC link in Mumbai, India
Adani Energy Solutions has launched a 1GW HVDC transmission link in Mumbai, India, to bolster grid stability and energy security. The project features a 30km overhead line and a 50km underground corridor, along with compact HVDC substations tailored for urban areas. By enabling higher electricity intake from external sources, the link reduces dependence on local generation and lowers the risk of outages. Utilizing VSC-based HVDC technology allows for precise power flow control and enhanced voltage stability, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources into urban grids and enhancing grid resilience. This initiative represents a significant stride towards a cleaner and more robust energy future for Mumbai.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/adani-launches-1gw-hvdc-link-mumbai/
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Span and Nvidia to develop AI data centers in your backyard, lowering electric bills
Span has partnered with Nvidia to develop XFRA, a network of devices that convert unused electric capacity in homes and businesses into a distributed compute cloud. The nodes are placed at customer locations and connected to a smart service panel to manage energy usage, aiming to utilize untapped power capacity in residential homes and increase grid utilization. Homeowners and small businesses hosting the nodes will receive benefits such as discounted rates for electricity and internet, with the potential for optional solar installations to improve economics in high-cost markets. The XFRA program aims to create a synergistic, virtuous cycle that improves grid utilization and drives down per kilowatt hour electricity prices, offering significant opportunities for Span and broader benefits to all utility ratepayers in the long term.
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Batteries included: Amazon makes record haul of hybrid renewable PPAs to power Australian AI push
Amazon has made its largest ever renewables investment in Australia, signing nine new wind, solar, and battery storage power purchase agreements, including utility-scale solar-battery hybrids. The projects will have a combined capacity of 990 MW, enough to power over half a million households a year. Amazon's focus on projects with storage reflects the market's interest in hybrid solar and batteries, with plans to continue investing in solar and wind projects to support its expanding data centre infrastructure. The company is expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure powered by carbon-free energy and battery storage, aiming to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040 as part of the Climate Pledge goal. Amazon is committed to not contracting fossil fuels and has become the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Australia, focusing on reaching power offtake deals with partners to accelerate the clean energy transition.
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Stegra lands funding to complete world’s first major green-steel mill
Stegra has secured 1.4 billion euros in funding to complete its green-steel mill in northern Sweden, utilizing green hydrogen to significantly decrease carbon emissions. The project's goal is to decarbonize Europe's industrial sector and pioneer lower-emissions technology. The facility will initially produce 2.5 million metric tons of steel annually, with intentions to double production in the future. Despite previous financial challenges and delays, Stegra is now accelerating construction activities and anticipates commencing steel production within 18 to 24 months.
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/green-steel/stegra-funding-complete-mill
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Australian company says its magnetic technology could be key to its green steel ambitions
DryFlow Magnetics, an Australian company, is launching a commercial pilot at an iron ore mine in South Australia using magnetic technology to extract higher-grade iron ore for green steel production. This technology aims to reduce water usage by 95% and cut emissions by 90% compared to traditional steelmaking processes. With government support and investment in the industry, the company plans to scale up its technology to process 200 tonnes of material per hour, making Australia a dominant supplier of high-purity iron for green steel production.
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Find The Lego: How Indonesia Can Turn Diesel Generator Retirement Into A Scalable Program
Indonesia is strategically shifting towards replacing remote diesel generation with solar and batteries to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency. The estimated capital cost for this transition is around $2.5 billion to $3.4 billion, with a payback period of 3 to 6 years. The country's challenge lies in the complexity of institutional economics and the geographical spread of its population across 17,000 islands. The focus is on creating repeatable infrastructure systems for diesel replacement, rather than custom engineering solutions, to drive down costs and increase efficiency in the renewable energy transition. The goal is to establish a durable and scalable deployment system that will lead to measurable reductions in diesel usage and improved performance across the board.
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RWE installs CO2-reduced steel tower and recyclable blades
RWE's Thor wind farm in the Danish North Sea is set to be fully operational by the end of 2027, featuring 72 turbines with up to 15MW capacity each. The project incorporates reduced-CO2 steel towers, recyclable rotor blades, and GreenerTower technology on 36 turbines, with 120 recyclable blades. Offshore construction is on track, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of offshore wind energy production. The project not only creates local job opportunities but also promotes a more sustainable approach to wind energy production.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/rwe-installs-co2-reduced-tower/