Utilities vs. grid edge upstarts: Turf battles in an increasingly DER-centric world
You’ve heard of the Internet of Things… devices using a network to transfer data such as door bells, Alexa, light switches, TVs, thermostats, etc.
What about solar panels or car chargers? Think about this:
The fastest growing portion of the US electric market is in solar panel installation and EVs (Electric Vehicles).
Consider the following growth:
PV Solar and EVs produce as near real-time information about their energy production or usage.
This data is the issue.
Utilities want the data to be part of the electric grid while almost everyone else disagrees.
Regulators will be hearing both sides of the arguments about data control and best-practices. Given the importance of the issue for all parties, a final decision is likely years away but, initial decisions seem to favor the utility.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utilities-vs-grid-edge-upstarts-turf-battles-in-an-increasingly-der-centr/572718/
Projected Load Growth
Many changes have occurred over the past several years with energy capacity. Coal-fired plants actively retiring, renewable energy installations increasing, and storage capacity surging in the near future are some aspects taken into consideration when projecting load growth rate. The anticipated rates through 2029 are showing growth from -0.5 to 2% for NERC regions. The focus now is to assess the current resource base to accommodate these expectations.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.spglobal.com/en/
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,591 Bcf as of Friday, November 29, 2019, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 19 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 591 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 9 Bcf below the five-year average of 3,600 Bcf. At 3,591 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
Tech Breakthrough Could Spark A Geothermal Energy Boom
One of the cleanest energy sources, geothermal energy, recently had a breakthrough in exploration. Finding sites to drill has been one of the main challenges especially when searching underwater. Researchers discovered a method to ease that task. Geochemical data along with the charting of lake floors in the new system were not previously possible. It can provide more precise locations and essential information for harvesting this green energy.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Tech-Breakthrough-Could-Spark-A-Geothermal-Energy-Boom.html#
Secretive energy startup backed by Bill Gates achieves solar breakthrough
Concentrated solar power has never made enough heat to be used in certain industrial processes such as creating cement, steel, or glass.
Until now.
Bill Gates’ startup Heliogen uses technology that uncovered the ability to generate heat over 1,000°C. Using their software and materials, greenhouse emissions can be dramatically decreased in the industry that creates “more than a fifth of global emissions”.
Although the investment may be high at first, it will save companies money while also providing green heat. Among these developments, Heliogen is also using their discoveries to produce clean hydrogen and further their renewable energy uses.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/19/business/heliogen-solar-energy-bill-gates/index.html
Virtual power plants could solve renewable energy’s biggest problem
Unpredictable weather can be a problem for renewable energy sources such as those that rely on clear skies or a steady wind. A virtual power plant can potentially close the gap between those challenges without supplements from fossil fuels. By connecting various sources of clean energy production, generation, and storage through a cloud-based platform, these aspects can be controlled to ensure adequate energy meets distribution needs.
Forecasts, production and storage data along with market prices help match demand with supply in real time. However, it is not without faults and finding a balance between all locations is key. Cyber security is also a threat and must be a priority investment. Another large step towards a green energy future in the making.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.channel3000.com/news/virtual-power-plants-could-solve-renewable-energys-biggest-problem/1140159601
DOE must implement 4 long-delayed efficiency standards, 9th Circuit Rules
Imagine the ability to save $8.4 billion and the US Government won’t.
You might think:
- Company conspiracies preventing action
- Bureaucracy issue
- Politics
Well, the answer is 3.
The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) sued the US Department of Energy (DOE) to FORCE them to release new standards to cover electric equipment.
The story is that when Trump was elected, he froze all new regulations. Caught up in those were these updates to the Energy Policy Act.
Technology advances improved and the DOE needed to update these standards. The NRDC did all Americans a service to reduce energy consumption and save us money.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-must-implement-4-long-delayed-efficiency-standards-9th-circuit-rules/564809/
Trader Abbie – Natural Gas
The NYMEX front-month natural gas contract settled slightly lower on Wednesday as the market juggled colder weather forecasts and excess supply.
The front-month contract fell 3.6 cents to settle at $2.349/MMBtu, trading within a range of $2.293-$2.384/MMBtu.
“[Natural gas] continues to bounce off the $2.20[/MMBtu] level and is seeing some resistance coming up at the $2.40[/MMBtu] level. Talks of colder weather in the Midwest are giving it a little bit of a lift.”
According to a survey conducted by S&P Global Platts, storage inventories are expected to increase to 108 Bcf for the week ending October 10. This injection sits 27 Bcf above the yearly average of 81 Bcf and sits 26 Bcf above the storage injection level at this time last year.
The most recent 8 to 14-day weather outlook from the National Weather Service calls for a likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures in the Southwest and parts of the Northeast, with a likelihood of cooler-than-average temperatures in the Midcontinent, Southeast, parts of the Northeast, and Texas.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Transforming Energy Education In The Digital Age
Advancements within technology have allowed the furthering of knowledge across nearly all topics. However, it is believed that we can greatly increase learning around the energy industry. Data sharing could grow efficiency, improve safety, decrease educational costs and enable many benefits across the board. Starting with our academic system, we can provide education and train students to lead to more opportunities and developments. The potential to affect various sectors of the industry is large and we need to focus on bettering all involved in its entirety.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
Donald Trump Renews Campaign Against Wind Power With New, Baseless Claim
Realgy’s President, Michael Vrtis has been involved with wind power development since 1982. He was a Project Developer with Kenetech which was the largest wind developer in the US at the time.
To hear the US President make and exaggerate claims that were baseless over 40 years ago is alarming. His statements are based on either his lack of understanding or he seeks to sow seeds of distrust toward an industry and technology that is proven financeable and supported by some of the largest companies and governments in the world.
Wind energy is the fastest growing portion making up the world energy supply.
The US supports wind power development and misrepresentations about the technology will not change the facts.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: