Solar Energy

Solar energy surges ahead, set to eclipse hydro, nuclear, and wind capacities

Published

8 months ago

January 18, 2024

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Solar energy surges ahead, set to eclipse hydro, nuclear, and wind capacities

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 18, 2024

A comprehensive review of the latest data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has underscored a significant shift in the U.S. energy sector, with solar energy emerging as a dominant force. The SUN DAY Campaign’s analysis of the FERC’s November data paints a clear picture: solar is not just a rising star in the energy arena, but it’s on track to outshine traditional powerhouses like hydro, nuclear, wind, and coal.

According to FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update” report, as of November 30, 2023, solar energy contributed a remarkable 13,169 megawatts (MW) of new domestic generating capacity in the year, accounting for 46.5% of the total. This not only exceeds any other energy source for the year but also nearly matches the combined new capacity from natural gas (9,205-MW) and wind (4,424-MW). This marks a 43.1% increase in solar capacity additions compared to the same period in the previous year.

November 2023 itself set a new monthly record for solar capacity additions with 1,982-MW, making up 73.7% of new capacity placed into service. The rest of the capacity for the month was largely supplied by wind (677-MW), with minor contributions from natural gas (15-MW), oil (8-MW), geothermal (4-MW), and biomass (3-MW). Remarkably, renewables as a whole accounted for 99.1% of the month’s capacity additions. Year-to-date, renewables have supplied nearly two-thirds (63.3%) of all new generating capacity, with natural gas trailing at 32.5% and nuclear power at 3.9%.

This rapid growth in solar capacity has increased its share of total available installed generating capacity to 7.5%. For comparison, wind’s current share stands at 11.7%, while hydropower is at 7.9%. Including biomass (1.2%) and geothermal (0.3%), renewables now boast a 28.6% share of the U.S. utility-scale generating capacity.

At the start of 2023, solar’s share was a lesser 6.4%, while wind and hydropower were at 11.4% and 8.0%, respectively. The total renewable mix then accounted for 27.3%. If current growth trends persist, solar is expected to surpass the individual capacities of hydropower within months and nuclear power (8.1%) in less than a year. It is also likely to overtake both wind and coal capacities in the near future.

FERC’s projections highlight a dramatic trajectory for solar. Between December 2023 and November 2026, “high probability” solar additions are expected to reach 91,152-MW, which is over four times greater than the forecast for wind (19,291-MW) and nearly 25 times more than that for natural gas (3,670-MW). Hydropower is anticipated to see a modest growth of 543-MW, while coal is projected to contract by 17,733-MW.

Moreover, the actual growth in solar capacity might even surpass these projections. FERC suggests the possibility of as much as 216,466-MW in new solar additions over the next three years. This upward trend in solar’s “high probability” additions is consistent across FERC’s monthly reports.

If these projections hold true, by late autumn 2026, solar could constitute almost one-seventh (13.6%) of the nation’s installed generating capacity, surpassing wind (12.3%) and significantly outdoing both hydropower and nuclear power (each at 7.4%). Solar’s share would nearly match that of coal (13.9%).

However, it’s crucial to note that FERC’s data focuses on utility-scale facilities, omitting the capacity of distributed renewables like rooftop solar PV. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that small-scale solar PV accounted for 30.7% of the nation’s solar electricity generation in the first ten months of 2023. This suggests that the combined capacity of distributed and utility-scale solar is substantially higher than FERC’s reported 7.5%, potentially nearing 10.0%, and on track to exceed 18.0% within three years.

In this evolving landscape, natural gas is projected to remain the largest contributor to the U.S. generating capacity at 41.4% by 2026. However, solar, emerging as a formidable competitor, is poised to take second place. The combined capacity of all renewable sources could reach 34.7% of utility-scale capacity, and potentially 39.0% of all generating capacity, including smaller-scale solar.

Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign, aptly summarizes this shift: “Solar is proving to be a giant killer. Within two or three years, it will be the largest renewable energy source by capacity and second only to natural gas among all energy sources.”

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Solar Energy

Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

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Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Argonne National Laboratory to lead the newly established Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), a national hub focused on advancing energy storage technologies. The ESRA, co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is one of two new Energy Innovation Hubs announced by the DOE.

Bringing together nearly 50 leading researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities, ESRA aims to address the most critical challenges in battery technology, such as safety, high-energy density, and the development of long-duration storage solutions using cost-effective and abundant materials. The initiative is designed to push the boundaries of energy storage science, fostering innovation and strengthening the competitive edge of the U.S. in this crucial field.

“The demand for high-performance, low-cost and sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise, especially those with potential to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid,” stated Shirley Meng, ESRA director and chief scientist at the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. “To achieve this, energy storage technology must reach levels of unprecedented performance, surpassing the capabilities of current lithium-ion technology. The key to making these transformative leaps lies in a robust research and development initiative firmly grounded in basic science.”

Leveraging decades of investment in fundamental science, ESRA will focus on transformative discoveries in materials chemistry, a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes at the atomic level, and establishing the scientific foundations necessary for major advancements in energy storage technology.

“ESRA creates an energy storage research ecosystem with the mission to rapidly innovate, shorten the time between basic discovery and technology development, and train the next-generation workforce,” commented Bryan McCloskey, ESRA deputy director for scientific thrusts and a faculty engineer at Berkeley Lab.

The success of ESRA’s efforts will lead to the development of high-energy batteries that are fire-resistant, capable of providing long-duration storage for multiple days, have a lifespan of several decades, and are constructed from low-cost, widely available materials.

“ESRA will pave the way for innovative energy storage solutions that drive both U.S. prosperity and security,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. “As the lead laboratory for ESRA under the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne takes pride in spearheading this collaborative effort that unites world-leading experts and taps the impressive scientific resources available in national labs and academia.”

The DOE has committed up to $62.5 million in funding for ESRA over the next five years.

In addition to its research goals, the Argonne-led hub will prioritize training a diverse, next-generation battery workforce to meet future manufacturing demands. This will be achieved through innovative training programs that involve industry, academia, and government partnerships.

“Cultivating a diverse workforce dedicated to safeguarding America’s energy resilience is key to ESRA’s mission,” noted Wei Wang, ESRA deputy director for crosscuts and director of the Energy Storage Materials Initiative at PNNL. “Through our strategic equity and inclusion initiatives, we plan to create a robust training ground for energy storage science from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.”

With Berkeley Lab and PNNL as co-leads, the ESRA collaboration brings together comprehensive expertise across the energy storage spectrum. Their state-of-the-art capabilities in technology discovery, modeling and simulation, and materials synthesis and characterization complement those of Argonne, setting the stage for significant advancements in energy storage.

Argonne is joined by 14 partners in this initiative, all of whom are deeply involved in ESRA’s scientific endeavors, governance, strategic development, and the training of the next generation of battery scientists and engineers. This collaboration among national laboratories and universities is vital for discovering new materials, accelerating the development of technology, and commercializing new energy storage innovations.

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Solar Energy

UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

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UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

by AFP Staff Writers

Beijing (AFP) Sept 5, 2024

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told African leaders Thursday that expanding ties between China and the continent could “drive the renewable energy revolution”.

Guterres and more than 50 African leaders are attending this week’s China-Africa forum, according to state media.

Guterres told the gathering that “China’s remarkable record of development — including on eradicating poverty — provides a wealth of experience and expertise”.

“It can be a catalyst for key transitions on food systems and digital connectivity,” he said.

“And as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, Africa can maximise the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology,” Guterres added.

Guterres also told the leaders it was time to correct “historic injustices” against the continent.

“It is outrageous… that the continent of Africa has no permanent seat on the Security Council,” he said.

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Solar Energy

Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: minister

Published

5 days ago

September 2, 2024

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Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: minister

by AFP Staff Writers

Doha (AFP) Sept 1, 2024

A large new solar plant planned in Qatar will double the Gulf emirate’s previously projected renewable energy capacity by 2030, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi announced on Sunday.

The photovoltaic farm, which will be built in the Dukhan area some 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of the capital Doha, will increase the gas-rich state’s solar production capacity to four gigawatts by the end of the decade, Kaabi said.

The plant “that will be established in Dukhan area will produce 2,000 megawatts, which is twice more than the capacity of Qatar’s production of solar energy of the current projects,” the minister, who is also chief executive of state-owned QatarEnergy, said.

In October 2022, Qatar inaugurated its first large-scale solar farm at al-Kharsaah, west of Doha. The emirate announced in August of the same year another solar project with two plants at Ras Laffan in the north.

Through the combined projects, including at Dukhan, Qatar would achieve “4,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2030”, Kaabi said.

This will “constitute 30 percent of the total production of energy of the state of Qatar” with a yearly reduction of “4.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions,” he added.

Kaabi said the existing projects should produce 1.7 gigawatts of energy “in first quarter of next year, or early next year”.

The energy minister also announced plans to more than double Qatar’s urea production making the country the largest producer of the fertiliser in the world by the end of the decade.

He said Qatar would “maximise the production of chemical fertilisers” through “a complex with global standards” which would “increase our production capacity from 6 million tonnes annually to more than 12.4 million tonnes annually”.

Qatar is one of the world’s top liquefied natural gas producers alongside the United States, Australia and Russia. Natural gas is a major ingredient in urea manufacturing.

In February, Qatar announced plans to expand its output from its North Field project, saying it will boost capacity to 142 million tonnes per year before 2030.

Over the past year, Qatar has inked a series of long-term LNG deals with France’s Total, Britain’s Shell, India’s Petronet, China’s Sinopec and Italy’s Eni among others.

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