Renewables | EnergyNorthwest.com

DOE Considers Subsidies Modeled on Renewables for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

November 16, 2018

State-imposed standards and financial incentives such as those used to spur widespread adoption of renewables technologies offer a promising model to address challenges to commercialize small modular reactors (SMRs), says a report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Nuclear Energy.

But to make a meaningful impact, nearly $ 10 billion in incentives will be needed to deploy 6 GW of SMR capacity by 2025, it acknowledges.

The report, “Examination of Federal Assistance in the Renewable Energy Market,” was prepared by Kutak Rock and Scully Capital under contract with the DOE and made public on November 15. It notes that while uncertainty attached to the rapidly evolving market environment is shadowing long-term investment decisions at electric utilities in the U.S, current trends in the power sector present an opportunity for SMR development “as a flexible, carbon-free baseload generation resource which can be built on a smaller scale than traditional nuclear plants.” However, efforts to commercialize SMR technologies have lagged owing to several challenges.…

Texas Utility Ready to Ramp Up Renewables

March 14, 2018

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The CEO of Texas-based CPS Energy said March 6 that the utility wants to generate at least 50% of its power from renewable sources by 2040, part of a plan that includes the addition of 550 MW of battery storage, as it looks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. But the city-owned San Antonio utility will continue to operate coal and natural gas-fired power plants, though the city’s mayor has said he would oppose building more fossil fuel-powered units.

CPS CEO Paula Gold-Williams outlined the company’s “flexible path” strategy in a meeting with the utility’s board of directors on Tuesday. The utility last year announced it would close its two coal-fired units at the 840-MW Deely station (Figure 1) in San Antonio, one of several Texas coal plants being retired this year, though it will continue to operate two natural gas-fired units—the Sommers Gas Plant—at the site, with generation capacity of 892 MW.

1. Closing in 2018. The Deely power plant near San Antonio will be closed in 2018.

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Trump Budget Backs Nuclear, Coal; Cuts Funding for Renewables

February 13, 2018

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The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request released February 12 asks for more money to support fossil fuel-based power systems, but seeks funding below current levels for other energy initiatives, including renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The energy funding is part of a $ 4.4 trillion budget that features large increases in military spending, along with deep cuts to several domestic programs and entitlements, including Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and Social Security disability payments. Analysts immediately said it has little chance of being enacted by Congress as written, in part because of fears of what the proposal would add to the federal deficit over the next decade. A New York Times analysis said the proposed budget would add $ 984 billion to the federal deficit next year, and add about $ 7 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years.

The proposal, Trump’s second since taking office in January 2017, is similar in many ways to his administration’s proposed 2018 fiscal year budget, which was rejected by Congress.…

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Solar Projects in Georgia

September 8, 2016

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Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Portfolio, announced on September 7 that it will add six Georgia solar projects to the 2.8-GW renewable energy portfolio the company owns and operates.

The projects are relatively small in terms of capacity—averaging about 1 MW DC each (769 kW AC)—but they are the first Duke Energy has acquired in Georgia, giving it projects in 14 states (Figure 1). SolAmerica Energy developed the sites, located in the southern and central part of the state, under an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement with REC Solar, a Duke Energy affiliate.

1. Duke Energy Renewables U.S. portfolio map. Courtesy: Duke Energy

“In acquiring these solar sites, we add Georgia to our growing U.S. renewables footprint,” said Rob Caldwell, president, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology. “SolAmerica and REC Solar have completed quality projects that will deliver clean energy to Georgia Power’s customers for years to come.”

The projects—constructed with panels manufactured by Yingli—are part of the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.…