A Massachusetts state energy office has issued a report finding that Massachusetts has the potential to develop for 600 MW of energy storage by 2025, which could lower costs, reduce carbon emissions, and improve grid reliability. Legislation earlier this year authorized the creation of an energy storage procurement target; the Department of Energy Resource’s State of Charge report could lead to further policy changes supportive of storage.
While electricity has traditionally been challenging to store efficiently, advanced energy storage technologies – such as batteries, flywheels, thermal and compressed air technologies – now allow utilities and consumers to store and release energy as needed. Last year, the Baker-Polito administration launched an Energy Storage Initiative to advance the energy storage segment of the Massachusetts clean energy industry.
This summer, the Massachusetts legislature enacted a broad energy diversification law, authorizing among other things the creation of an energy storage procurement target, if the Department of Energy Resources deems such a target prudent. Section 15 of H.4568 requires the Department of Energy Resources to determine, by December 31, 2016, whether to set “appropriate targets for electric companies to procure viable and cost-effective energy storage systems” to be achieved by January 1, 2020. If the Department finds it appropriate to adopt procurement targets, the law requires it to do so by July 1, 2017, with reevaluations of the procurement targets not less than every 3 years.
Meanwhile, on September 16, 2016, the administration released its State of Charge report. The report found that energy storage could yield significant cost savings for Massachusetts ratepayers, reduce the impacts of peak demand on the state’s energy infrastructure, and enable improved integration of renewable resources and reduced carbon emissions.
The report recommends policy changes, ranging from regional coordination on energy storage, broadening the Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS) with respect to advanced energy storage, to using energy storage in existing energy efficiency programs or as a utility grid modernization asset, and seeking “renewables plus storage” contracts in future long-term clean energy procurements.
According to the report, adopting these recommendations could yield 600 MW of advanced energy storage technologies deployed on the Massachusetts grid by 2025, with projected ratepayer cost savings of over $800 million and approximately 350,000 metric tons reduction in greenhouse emissions over a 10 year time span.
The Department of Energy Resources will now hold a stakeholder engagement process relating to energy storage, starting with a meeting scheduled for September 27. DOER is expected to determine whether Massachusetts should establish an energy storage procurement target before the end of 2016.
Energy powers society; society's choices shape energy policy. A blog about our energy resources and the choices they present for society.
Showing posts with label target. Show all posts
Showing posts with label target. Show all posts
New York's 2015 Energy Plan
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
The state of New York has released a sweeping plan for its energy future, featuring strengthened commitments to clean energy over the next four decades. The 2015 New York State Energy Plan includes reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, increased generation of renewable energy, and improved energy efficiency.
Article 6 of New York's energy law requires the state's energy planning board to develop period state energy plans. The state released its two-volume 2015 report on June 25, presenting "a comprehensive strategy to create economic opportunities" in New York based on Governor Andrew Cuomo's previously-announced "Reforming the Energy Vision" or REV program.
Among the 2015 plan's elements are a series of clean energy targets, including a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels; 50% of electricity generation coming from carbon-free renewables; and 600 trillion Btu in energy efficiency gains, which equates to a 23% reduction
from 2012 in energy consumption in buildings.
Whether and how New York will implement its 2015 State Energy Plan remains to be seen. Notably, the plan was produced by the state's executive branch; it is unclear whether legislators will support or thwart it. Will the Empire State follow its latest plan? If so, will it lead to the anticipated economic opportunities?
Article 6 of New York's energy law requires the state's energy planning board to develop period state energy plans. The state released its two-volume 2015 report on June 25, presenting "a comprehensive strategy to create economic opportunities" in New York based on Governor Andrew Cuomo's previously-announced "Reforming the Energy Vision" or REV program.
Among the 2015 plan's elements are a series of clean energy targets, including a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels; 50% of electricity generation coming from carbon-free renewables; and 600 trillion Btu in energy efficiency gains, which equates to a 23% reduction
from 2012 in energy consumption in buildings.
Whether and how New York will implement its 2015 State Energy Plan remains to be seen. Notably, the plan was produced by the state's executive branch; it is unclear whether legislators will support or thwart it. Will the Empire State follow its latest plan? If so, will it lead to the anticipated economic opportunities?
Nova Scotia unveils tidal energy goal
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Canadian Maritime province of Nova Scotia has unveiled a plan to develop its tidal energy resources.
Nova Scotia has articulated a vision to be a global leader in the development of technology and systems that produce environmentally sustainable, competitively priced electricity from the ocean. Since 1984, when the 20 MW Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Plant was commissioned, Nova Scotia has been home to the only tidal barrage plant of its kind in North America.
This week, Nova Scotia Energy Minister Charlie Parker released a document known as the Nova Scotia Marine Renewable Energy Strategy (44-page PDF). Citing the magnitude of the province's Bay of Fundy tidal resource - more than 160 billion tonnes of water flow with each tide, which the province calculates can deliver a commercial potential of approximately 2,400 megawatts of power - the strategy offers plans to address research, development, and regulatory initiatives.
Although the strategy includes wave and offshore wind power, its primary focus is on tidal energy production. The Marine Renewable Energy Strategy sets a target of 300 MW of commercial tidal development by 2020, an amount roughly equal to 10% of the province's electricity consumption.
To achieve this goal, the Strategy proposes awarding one or more Power Development Licenses to large-scale project developers, likely partnerships of technology and utility or power generation companies. Given the language in the Strategy, which references "[i]ndustry interest in developing a large-scale, 300 MW commercial project", it appears possible that the province is targeting a single, 300 MW tidal project to achieve its goals. If so, it could lead to the development of the largest tidal power plant in the world, larger than the French La Rance project or the Korean Sihwa Lake project.
Nova Scotia has articulated a vision to be a global leader in the development of technology and systems that produce environmentally sustainable, competitively priced electricity from the ocean. Since 1984, when the 20 MW Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Plant was commissioned, Nova Scotia has been home to the only tidal barrage plant of its kind in North America.
This week, Nova Scotia Energy Minister Charlie Parker released a document known as the Nova Scotia Marine Renewable Energy Strategy (44-page PDF). Citing the magnitude of the province's Bay of Fundy tidal resource - more than 160 billion tonnes of water flow with each tide, which the province calculates can deliver a commercial potential of approximately 2,400 megawatts of power - the strategy offers plans to address research, development, and regulatory initiatives.
Although the strategy includes wave and offshore wind power, its primary focus is on tidal energy production. The Marine Renewable Energy Strategy sets a target of 300 MW of commercial tidal development by 2020, an amount roughly equal to 10% of the province's electricity consumption.
To achieve this goal, the Strategy proposes awarding one or more Power Development Licenses to large-scale project developers, likely partnerships of technology and utility or power generation companies. Given the language in the Strategy, which references "[i]ndustry interest in developing a large-scale, 300 MW commercial project", it appears possible that the province is targeting a single, 300 MW tidal project to achieve its goals. If so, it could lead to the development of the largest tidal power plant in the world, larger than the French La Rance project or the Korean Sihwa Lake project.
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