Ryan Hamilton

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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In this episode of The Solar PVcast, Steve Unger, Lead of Microgrid Development at Shift, discusses the future of net-metering as it transitions to net-billing under new self-generation policies adopted by utility companies. Steve breaks down the reasons behind this shift and what it means for solar users. We explore the pros and cons of the new net-billing model, helping listeners understand how these changes could impact their solar energy systems and what they need to know to adapt. #ShiftToSolar #Podcast #NewEpisode #NetBilling #WePowerChange

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💡 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered grid operator PJM Interconnection to plan for future transmission needs, a necessity for the advancement of solar, wind, and storage projects. 💡 Over 167 GW of large-scale solar, wind, and storage projects are awaiting interconnection studies by PJM due to the lack of transmission capacity. 💡 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed plans for a major “national interest” transmission corridor in the PJM region for a clean energy grid. As changes in the world of solar power pave the way for a greener future, the FERC has called for a transmission planning process that will satisfy the future needs of our ever-growing energy grid. With an impressive 167 GW of large-scale solar, wind, and storage projects currently awaiting interconnection studies, the need for a well-organized plan is clear. This step will ultimately support the rising momentum of solar home usage. As a consumer, you stand to gain from these advancements in the form of better reliability and lower costs. The DOE's plans for a major transmission corridor in the PJM region ensures a streamlined transition towards a clean energy grid catering for future growth. Despite some apprehension, PJM has shown a readiness to adapt to the unique circumstances and regional demands to fully implement FERC’s order. Together, these shifts indicate an encouraging future for those considering solar power. Stay tuned for more updates on this promising sector. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com. 🌞

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Elevate Renewables’ Tonja Wicks said PJM has been messaging that new entry isn’t set to keep pace with deactivations and accelerating load growth, driving the need for process to quickly replace retiring generators with new resources. She also noted that only a small subset of projects that have cleared PJM’s interconnection queue in recent years have entered commercial operation, an issue she argued could be helped by focusing on proposals that can be quickly studied and are likely to be assigned minimal network upgrades. “We need new approaches to address this new problem that we’re seeing as we deploy new technologies,” she said. “We didn’t have reserve deficits 10 years ago.” Wicks said the Elevate package would establish a nine-month study process that would remain quicker than the two years she said it would likely take resources to typically clear PJM’s new approach. Not only would that allow some resources to receive ISAs faster, she said, but it would resolve a timing misalignment between when resources deactivate and when their CIRs can be passed on to a new resource. https://lnkd.in/g_yWWWuG #ElevateRenewables #PJM #regionaltransmission #RTOInsider #capacityinterconnectionrights

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Wholesale power prices for new capacity spiked higher in an auction this week at the PJM Interconnection, which serves the Northeast (including Dominion and Northern Virginia). Analysts say strong demand from data centers are among the reasons, along with generation plant retirements and grid planning snafus. Some data points from Utility Dive: - Analysts say retail price impact is "unclear," but capacity costs were about 8% of customer bills last year. - About two-thirds of the new capacity is sourced from fossil fuels, with nuclear at 21% and wind, solar and hydro at 7%. - Stronger pricing should attract new generation, but interconnection and transmission challenges remain. Here's the Utility Dive piece:  https://lnkd.in/eGvK7NeF Bloomberg and WSJ have additional analysis for those with subs to those sites. Energy markets are complex, but this reinforces the potential for resource constraints to impact pricing. It's a trend to watch. #datacenter #power #utilityygrid #energy #ai

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Solar Alliance signs agreements for multiple commercial solar projects totaling $775,000 as mid-sized project momentum accelerates Small and medium-sized project growth in addition to continued large project opportunities being pursued Toronto, Canada and Knoxville, Tennessee, July 23, 2024 – Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (‘Solar Alliance’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V: SOLR, OTC: SAENF), a leading solar energy solutions provider focused on the commercial and utility solar sectors, is pleased to announce the signing of agreements for several commercial solar projects totaling $775,000. The five projects are all scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024: ·   A 74-kilowatt (“kW”) solar system for a Tennessee manufacturer with a capital cost of $211,000. ·   A 45-kW, $261,000 solar and battery storage system for a mechanical and engineering firm in Tennessee. ·   Three 54-kW projects totaling $303,000 for a business in Kentucky.   “Solar Alliance continues to see strong demand for commercial solar projects, and projects like the five announced today provide a strong foundation for our continued growth,” said U.S. General Manager Jon Hamilton. “We have built a lean, flexible and technically proficient team that fills a need in the commercial solar industry. Our clients are benefiting from an optimal combination of incentives for solar in our area and they are also demonstrating to other businesses that solar with energy storage can positively impact their bottom line by reducing their electricity costs.” “The mix of small, medium and large projects we are delivering to customers allows for sustainable growth in a large addressable market,” said CEO Myke Clark. “We remain committed to growing the Company with an emphasis on profitability and we believe our business plan and contracted backlog support this strategy moving forward. Our business development efforts now include assessing specific regional requests for proposals for solar projects in the multi-megawatt range, where Solar Alliance believes it has a competitive advantage as a result of our installation experience and regional brand awareness,” concluded Clark.   For a Full Profile View & Press Release of Solar Alliance Energy Visit: https://lnkd.in/exTSu5a    #stockstowatch #stocks #smallcap #greenenergy #smallcaps #Investment #investing #stockstobuy #investors #renewables #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #solar #greenenergy #solarenergy #energy #solarpower #gosolar #solarpanels #sustainability #climatechange #environment #sustainableenergy #solarinstallation #sunpower @solaralliance $SOLR

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One of the top priorities for all utilities will need to be clearly and effectively communicating all the costs associated with the "energy transition." "Half of the average consumer bill has nothing to do with what fuel is used to generate electricity. It reflects the cost of transmission and distribution. And those costs are rising fast, according to consumer advocates. Utilities are spending heavily to ramp up their transmission infrastructure as electricity demand grows because of the advent of electric vehicles and data centers for artificial intelligence applications. Increasingly, those costs will be passed along to consumers." “I expect it to accelerate,” wrote David Springe, executive director of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, in an email to Barron’s. “A lot of spending has yet to hit the consumer bill.” Ten percent rate increases are beginning across the country during a period where natural gas prices are rock bottom and the cost of capital is rising like the sun. Hard to buy the argument that inflation will soon moderate and the Fed will cut rates soon. But if inflation does moderate somewhere down the road, it will not be because of lower electricity prices. There is no kicking this can down the road #communication #utilities #inflation #electricity #costofcapital #interestrates

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Today MAREC Action Executive Director Evan Vaughan is offering public testimony on HB 2277, which would codify Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS).    MAREC Action views HB2277 as a strong piece of legislation - it represents the single largest new market opportunity for energy investment currently under consideration by any state legislature in PJM. Through HB2277, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to diversify its electricity mix with clean and reliable energy storage projects paired with wind or solar.    MAREC Action is strongly supportive of the inclusion of energy storage in Tier 2 under HB2277. One note of concern about the legislation, however, is the strict limitations placed on regional market participants. The legislation as introduced prohibits any regionally sited clean energy projects larger than 150 MW from being able to participate in the Pennsylvania clean energy market. Leveraging the regional market for a portion of Pennsylvania’s electricity supply results in greater competition and the best outcomes for consumers. MAREC Action looks forward to continuing its work with the Pennsylvania General Assembly as the legislation moves forward.   For more information check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/e5_xNBuu

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Alaska local governments who need support addressing their energy needs should consider joining the webinar tomorrow to learn more about the technical assistance available via ETIPP.

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Merchant vs hedge in battery storage... That's what I'll be discussing at the Solarmedia Battery Asset Management Summit November 12 in San Diego I'll be on a panel with my friend Joe Crespo, Sandeep Arora of REV Renewables, Erdal Kara, PhD of Vistra Corp., Li Xu of LXI Capital and Sebastian Blake of Octopus Energy talking about risks and rewards, and sharing my Plus Power perspective #energystorage #batterystorage #batteries https://lnkd.in/eQDiv_Ax

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PJM issued a Hot Weather Alert with expected temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s over the next 10 days. To ensure grid reliability during this hot spell, the alert is in effect from June 17 through June 21, and may be extended based on updated forecasts. This alert prepares transmission and generation operators for significant increases in electricity demand. However, PJM Interconnection’s currently has the generation capacity and transmission capability to meet the expected demand on the system during the heat wave, but extended periods of extreme heat does have the potential to stress the electric system and cause reliability challenges. It's interesting to note that in comparison to 2023, on the solar side, the biggest projects include the 427 MW Fox Squirrel Solar Farm, 150 MW phase of the Fox Squirrel Solar Farm, which will have 577 MW of capacity once fully operational later this year, however, the 325 MW AEUG Union Solar Project in Union County, Ohio is expected to support the grid this summer. The 2023 Cumulative Capacity of the renewables in PJM was around 220,827 MW, and they plan to add over 10,000 MW in the following years wherein 95% of the projects are all renewable generation sources. Solar energy will definitely play a key role this summer.

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DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors (my latest for PV Magazine USA) Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s #PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

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NEW COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT: "Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission" - https://lnkd.in/eexd22Uv It seems like every time news outlets report on new utility-scale solar projects coming online, the megawatt (MW) capacity keeps getting bigger. With an increasing number of high-capacity solar projects in development, many industry professionals are finding themselves in need of rapidly expanding their knowledge related to transmission interconnection. To help bridge the knowledge gap for solar professionals, HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor has launched the "Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission" course. This course, along with its optional prerequisite "Introduction to Electric Transmission", make up the "Electric Transmission and Solar PV Interconnection Bundle," a comprehensive program designed to equip professionals with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex world of utility-scale solar PV interconnection to transmission systems. Go here to learn more and enroll in the "Electric Transmission and Solar PV Interconnection Bundle" - https://lnkd.in/eR2m-Zwc

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👉👉ICYMI: I wrote something for pv magazine USA about one of the tricky issues facing the ☀️ #solar industry right now - the tug of war surrounding #tariffs the U.S. government is imposing on solar equipment coming in from China. On the one hand, I am sympathetic to the people, including some well-meaning senators and congresspeople who argue U.S. taxpayers should be subsidizing Chinese firms who shift their 🏭 #manufacturing to the United States in an effort to qualify for #InflationReductionAct subsidies. But as a developer, I can see the other side, too. As yet, we haven’t built enough of a domestic #manufacturing backbone to completely cut ourselves off from Chinese products. Set against the background of a crucial U.S. election, it pays to have this conversation now so we’re prepared for whatever the future holds. Let me know what you think after reading the piece. https://lnkd.in/eCDtsgzs #Deliveringacleanenergyfuture #commercialsolar #communitysolar

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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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For anyone who will be at IEEE Power & Energy Society T&D Conference feel free to stop by our panel session on #EVs and #gridreliability. Will be an interesting cross-sector discussion including technology provider, independent system operator, and utility perspectives among others. E-mobility is driving the blending of Transmission and Distribution system planning, design, and operations. Particularly with the growing prevalence of distributed energy resources, IoT and grid-edge technologies, and virtual power plants (#VPPs).

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💡 Really important messages in this short brief for decision makers: National harmonization of standards will expedite interconnection queue processing and reduce costs to interconnection customers, transmission providers, and customers. However, regulatory bodies are not actively adopting IEEE 2800-2022, which has and will continue to be a core component of IBR standardization in the coming years (decades). Therefore, it is more important now that ever for transmission providers (utilities, ISO/RTOs, etc.) to adopt IEEE 2800-2022 in as standardized a manner as possible. Our recent work shows there has been some uptick in 2800 adoption but nothing widespread and comprehensive. ⏩ Next Critical Step: Support transmission providers in their adoption of IEEE 2800-2022, providing clear guidance on decision points and implementation methods to help streamline and standardize adoption where possible. Thanks Julia Matevosyan and Jens C. Boemer, Ph.D. for the important collaboration and teamwork putting this together.

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