Attendance at United Nation’s climate change Conference of Parties (COPs) has been increasing over the years, reflecting growing global concern and engagement with climate issues. Last year’s COP28 in Dubai officially became the largest UN climate summit ever, with 80,000 participants registered. An estimated 50,000 people are expected to attend COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan this… Continue reading Historical UN Climate Conference Attendance
Renewable Natural Gas: Backing up AI
Data centers looking for greener backup are looking at RNG
Power Generation and the Economy
Electricity generation across the US and Canada varies by region from differences in geography, available natural resources, and energy policies. Solar power is dominant in regions with abundant sunlight, particularly the US Southwest. Alberta and Ontario have lower levels of available sunlight but benefit from supportive renewable energy policies. A North American wind corridor stretches… Continue reading Power Generation and the Economy
The Status of Key Nuclear Start-ups
A wave of new nuclear companies has emerged, driven by the need for clean baseload power. Particularly Big Tech companies and data center builders are driving enthusiasm for the technology. Start-ups are revitalizing the nuclear sector with advanced technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors and fusion reactors. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are compact reactors,… Continue reading The Status of Key Nuclear Start-ups
BECCS: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Will harvesting wood for energy help or hurt us?
The 2024 Data Center Fantasy Draft
The winners and losers of the data center boom
The Return of US Manufacturing Jobs
Can the US create more manufacturing? Since the 1940s, manufacturing has been a cornerstone of the US economy, employing tends of millions of Americans. By the 1990s, nearly 18 million Americans worked in manufacturing for industries like automotives, textiles and electronics. Like the decline of grunge music in the 1990s, the decline of US manufacturing… Continue reading The Return of US Manufacturing Jobs
Over Time: The Electricity Mix of the Seven Swing States
Data source: Orennia Ion_AI Power Generation Dashboard As the 2024 US presidential race nears its end, the energy landscape in key battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—has become a focal point in discussions about the future of energy policy and economic growth. Despite the headlines, which have been dominated by the… Continue reading Over Time: The Electricity Mix of the Seven Swing States
The Controversial Practice of Agrivoltaics
Should we be putting solar panels on prime farmland?
The Big Trend in Wind: Repowering
Many of the early wind power projects installed in North America are ripe for an upgrade. Wind repowering is a process that involves replacing old wind turbines or their components to capture more energy, improve performance and often requalifying for tax credits. There are two main types of repowering: full and partial. Full repowering: In… Continue reading The Big Trend in Wind: Repowering
2024 Trends: Wind and Solar
Wind and solar power in the U.S. are heading in opposite directions. Based our forecasts at Orennia, 37 gigawatts of utility-scale solar power and 7 gigawatts of wind power are expected be added this year. This is on top of ~6 gigawatts of distributed solar estimated by the US Energy Information Administration. Wind energy, once… Continue reading 2024 Trends: Wind and Solar
Green Dollars: The State of North American Carbon Markets
Examining today’s carbon markets
Comparison: Key North American Carbon Markets
Carbon markets are increasingly popular as a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They offer financial incentives to companies to decarbonize by placing a cost on carbon emissions while offering credits for overachieving reductions. Active compliance markets There are several carbon market types in action across North America. Some are broader markets, like regional… Continue reading Comparison: Key North American Carbon Markets
The Growth of Power Projects: Follow the Money
Clean power projects, particularly solar and storage, are growing quickly across North America. What are unique ways to capture investor sentiment? Rule of 40: Typically used to benchmark SaaS companies, investors will add annual revenue growth and operating margins together. The goal is to find companies with either high margins, high growths rates or both… Continue reading The Growth of Power Projects: Follow the Money
Turning Down the Heat: The Race to Decarbonize Industry
Addressing a source of emissions 2x larger than all passenger vehicles
North America’s Largest Hydro Dams
North America has a rich history of large-scale hydroelectric projects, which have played a significant role in shaping the continent’s energy landscape. These projects harness the immense power of rivers to generate electricity, providing a renewable and reliable energy source. Iconic hydro projects in North America Grand Coulee Dam (Washington, USA): The Grand Coulee Dam,… Continue reading North America’s Largest Hydro Dams
The Energy-Water Nexus
The surprising importance of water in the current (and future) energy sector
Charted: Increased US Cleantech Spending
Clean energy investment in the US has been growing substantially in recent years, reflecting a broad-based shift towards sustainable energy solutions. Renewables: The cost of wind and solar power has dropped significantly, making them competitive with traditional energy sources. While wind received substantial investment in 2020 and 2021, it has cooled in recent years… Continue reading Charted: Increased US Cleantech Spending
CO2 Mineralization: Permanent Carbon Storage
Harnessing a billion-year-old geologic process
States Paying More for Electricity
Since 2020, residential power prices in the US have jumped, driven by a combination of factors that vary by region but share some common threads. The impact has been felt across the country, with some regions experiencing sharper price hikes than others due to local energy policies, fuel costs, infrastructure issues, and broader economic pressures.… Continue reading States Paying More for Electricity
Four Forces Energy Transition CEOs Need to Know
It starts in the future
North American Carbon Capture Hubs
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a technology aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and the power sector. The process involves capturing carbon dioxide, compressing it, and then either storing it permanently or using it for industrial or commercial uses. Key components Capture: Carbon dioxide is separated from other greenhouse gases.… Continue reading North American Carbon Capture Hubs
The Emerging Potential of Vehicle-to-Grid
Electric vehicles will do more for the grid than just pull from it
Data Centers 101
An introduction to the hottest topic in energy
Ammonia’s Potential as a Low-Carbon Fuel
Ammonia’s Potentail as a Low-Carbon Fuel
Industrial Heat: It’s Getting Hot in Here
Industrial heat refers to the thermal energy needed for various industrial processes. It’s critical for manufacturing, driving everything from chemical reactions to material transformation. The heat can be used for everything from low-temperature drying to high-temperature metal forging and glass production. How it’s Made Industrial heat is mostly produced through the combustion of fossil fuels,… Continue reading Industrial Heat: It’s Getting Hot in Here
Will Dynamic Line Ratings Transform the Grid?
How sensors and the Internet of Things can address transmission issues
Mapped: Methane Emissions Across North America
Methane poses a critical environmental challenge due to its potent impact on climate change. In both the United States and Canada, key sectors are key contributors for methane emissions, each with its unique regional hotspots. Key sectors contributing to methane emissions Coal mining: Methane is released during activities involved with mining coal, both from the… Continue reading Mapped: Methane Emissions Across North America
Mapped: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Across North America
Carbon dioxide emissions dispersed across North America, though concentrated in regions with high populations and industrial activities. Areas with more aggregated emissions are focus areas for carbon capture technologies, low-carbon fuel development and clean manufacturing. ___ UNITED STATES Emissions are spread across the US, concentrated in regions with significant populations and large industrial or manufacturing… Continue reading Mapped: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Across North America
Are Electrical Panels a Hidden Bottleneck?
The importance of the big gray box in your cold, dark utility room
The 20 Largest: Utilities in North America
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia Utilities in North America are crucial for providing essential services such as electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage to millions of households and businesses. They are foundational to economic stability, public health, and overall quality of life across the continent. ___ MAJOR TYPES OF UTILITIES Power: Generate, transmit, and distribute… Continue reading The 20 Largest: Utilities in North America
Who’s Driving Demand for SAF?
Options seem limited as the airline industry looks to cut emissions
Can We Solve Grid Congestion?
It has to get worse before it gets better
Visualized: Cleaning Up the US Electricity Sector
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia The reduction of carbon intensity in the US electrical grid during the 21st century has been a significant focus of environmental policy and technological development, driven by both technology and policy. Shift to renewables: There has been a substantial increase in the use of renewable sources, including wind, solar and… Continue reading Visualized: Cleaning Up the US Electricity Sector
Power Politics: Energy Preferences
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia In late 2022, YouGov surveyed 1,000 American on their view of 17 different types of energy. The poll reveals distinct differences in how Democrats and Republicans view various energy sources. As you might expect, there was a strong divide between the parties. ___ DEMOCRATIC VIEWS: Renewables: Democrats overwhelmingly favor renewable… Continue reading Power Politics: Energy Preferences
Could Virtual Power Plants Save the Grid?
They may be more important for the energy transition that we think
AI with Data and Analytics
Did we just invent fire, or something else?
The Adoption S-Curve: Renewables and Batteries
Over the past decade, the US has witnessed a significant shift in its energy landscape, characterized by rapid growth in wind, solar, and battery storage technologies. This transformation is driven by a combination of technological advancements, favorable policies, and a growing recognition of the need for sustainable energy solutions. Wind: According to our project data… Continue reading The Adoption S-Curve: Renewables and Batteries
Clean Energy: Decarbonizing the US Power Grid
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia Since 2005, the US power sector has made significant strides in reducing emissions, mainly through the transition from coal to natural gas and the widespread adoption of renewables, particularly wind and solar. These changes have played a critical role in creating a more sustainable energy landscape. Coal-to-gas switching: The shift… Continue reading Clean Energy: Decarbonizing the US Power Grid
How Real is the Natural Hydrogen Hype?
Low-carbon hydrogen may be more abundant than previously thought
Does Small Nuclear Have a Big Future?
This might be the start of a new American nuclear era
Charted: Solar Dominates New Power Growth
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia The landscape of electricity generation in the United States has undergone significant transformations over the past few decades. The timeline showcases the shifts in energy policy, technological advancements, and market demands that have shaped the US’ energy mix. __________________ THE NATURAL GAS BOOM In the late 1990s and early 2000s,… Continue reading Charted: Solar Dominates New Power Growth
When Hail Plays Hardball and Smoke Throws Shade
How projects can prepare for extreme weather
CAISO: Mounting Negative Prices
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia _____________ DATA SPOTLIGHT Negative power pricing in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market occurs when the supply of electricity exceeds demand to such an extent that producers are essentially willing to pay consumers to take their electricity. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors: Renewable overproduction: California has… Continue reading CAISO: Mounting Negative Prices
What’s the Outlook for Long-Duration Storage?
There’s a missing storage link lowering the ceiling for renewable penetration
Production of the Different RNG Types
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia _____________ DATA SPOTLIGHT Renewable natural gas (RNG) is an increasingly popular means to decarbonize natural gas systems and reduce waste methane emissions. How it works: Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a sustainable and renewable energy source produced from organic waste materials. RNG is chemically similar to conventional natural gas but… Continue reading Production of the Different RNG Types
The Geotherm-aissanceTM
A renewed drive to harness the Earth’s energy
Who’s Willing to Pay for High-priced Green Hydrogen?
Early solar PV markets may provide some clues
Introduction to SAFs
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia _____________ DATA SPOTLIGHT Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are alternative fuels that aim to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation by using renewable resources. These fuels are produced from sustainable feedstocks and have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuels. HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids): Derived from… Continue reading Introduction to SAFs
The Energy Transition Means a More Independent America
Solving energy resiliency issues will make America safer and its great industries more valuable
What Power Sources are Coming Online in 2024?
By Aaron Foyer VP, Orennia _____________ DATA SPOTLIGHT The already low-cost supply cost for solar PV paired with incentives has propelled it to be the most installed electricity source by capacity across the US and Canada. More than every other supply source combined. Of the 54 states or provinces installing meaningful capacity this year, we… Continue reading What Power Sources are Coming Online in 2024?
Are LFPs Taking Over Batteries?
Expiring patents may pave the way for rapid innovation
Could AI Derail Electrification Efforts?
Nvidia’s AI microchips could be the canary in the coal mine
What Makes a Great Analyst?
How to accelerate the energy transition without regulatory changes or breakthrough technologies
5 Ways the Energy Transition Can Be Accelerated
How to accelerate the energy transition without regulatory changes or breakthrough technologies.
Increase Returns on Renewables Investments
Double-digit investment returns in renewables are possible. It’s often a matter of having the right data, technology and analytics to get you there.
Is Brown (field) the New Green?
The answer lies in two brownfield competitive advantages.
3 Ways the Right Data and Analytics Win You More Deals
Data and analytics can help increase returns in energy transition investing. Here’s how.
Getting Serious About Carbon Offsets
Many organizations point to emission reduction targets as they strive to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Finding Double-Digit Returns in the Energy Transition
Optimize your energy transition investments with differentiated data and analytics.
