Momentum is gaining around an industry shift toward utility-scale battery storage systems nationally, finds a new report published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The report entitled, Advances in Electricity Storage Suggest Rapid Disruption of U.S. Electricity Sector, details upstart storage and storage-expansion projects in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, Texas,…
IEEFA update: The American wind-energy horse is out of the barn
Editor’s note: This article comes from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). It is authored by David Schlissel, the IEEFA’s director of resource planning analysis. Almost a decade has gone by now since U.S. wind-turbine power purchase agreements were priced at $70 per megawatt-hour. Technology advances and efficiency gains have since driven a…
IEEFA report: ‘Here and Now’ — Nine electricity markets leading the transition to wind and solar
New research by the IEEFA details how nine major power markets around the world have achieved an outsized share of wind and solar generation while assuring the security of supply and are providing compelling examples of the fast-moving evolution of electricity generation.
IEEFA: Spain demonstrates the high cost of political interference in power markets
The Spanish government’s recent move to block closures of inefficient power plants presents the latest example of a trend toward expensive political interference in electricity markets.
IEEFA Europe: The cost of wind-powered electricity is dropping
Onshore wind auctions in Spain and Germany last week confirmed the trend in the falling cost of wind power or renewables in Europe.
IEEFA: Even without tax credits, U.S. wind & solar costs are falling
This article comes from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and is authored by David Schlissel, the IEEFA’s Director of Resource Planning Analysis. Read the full release here. Wind and solar power-purchase agreement (PPA) prices have declined dramatically in recent years, establishing a trend that continues. The levelized prices for power from utility-scale…
IEEFA report: Japan investing heavily in overseas renewables
This article comes from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and is authored by Tim Buckley and Simon Nicholas. Read the full release here. Among one of the key points made in a recent IEEFA report on Japan’s post-nuclear energy economy is how Japanese energy-investment capital is being pulled inextricably now toward overseas…
IEEFA Update: Renewable energy has gone mainstream and now a rising tide
If the U.S. turns away from the rise of renewable energy, it will be fighting a tide on which others will ride high.
IEEFA update: Wind Is blowing away fossil-generated power in Middle America
This article comes from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and is authored by David Schlissel, IEEFA’s Director of Resource Planning Analysis. Wind generation has grown by more than 11 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in just a year in the huge ERCOT market of Texas. The increase, which has driven wind’s share of generation…
IEEFA Update: IEA, still behind the curve, nonetheless indicates rising stranded-asset risk in fossil-fuel holdings
A history of IEA underestimation of technology change has been partially remedied in this new report, but the agency’s solar and wind forecasts can at best be described still as very conservative.
IEEFA update: Wind power now up to 4.9% nationwide, more on the way
Wind power is a rapidly growing source of electricity in the U.S., doubling its share of generation in just five years, to 4.9% in 2015.
IEEFA Data Bite: Wind on the rise, coal on the wane
By Seth Feaster, Data Analyst IEEFA As coal dependence falters in the U.S., wind-powered electricity generation is on the rise. In less than a decade, the mix of fuels used for generating electricity has gone a major shift. The two maps below show where the changes are most marked. Twelve states, most of them in the…
Wind generated power a better deal all the time
In an increasing number of wind-resource-rich countries, wind is now the low-cost source of new supply.
China delivers global record wind and solar installs while national coal consumption drops
China has formally confirmed two new clean-energy world records in 2015 — one for installing a record 32.5 gigawatts (GW) of wind in a single year, and the second for installing 18.3 GW of solar, both higher than initial estimates. Coal consumption fell 3.7% year on year (yoy) on the back of just 0.3% yoy…
Rise of renewables: The declining state of coal investments
By Tim Buckley Director of Energy Finance Studies, Australasia Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Coal production is slowly losing its appeal, according to some analysts who’ve noted consumption declines in key energy markets in recent years. This trend is driven by new innovation and rapidly falling costs across the renewable and energy-efficiency sectors.…
Commentary: After a tough 2015, independent power producers will seek ways to stick ratepayers
Independent power producers became increasingly prominent after deregulation of the electric power industry drove regulated utilities to divest their power plants into separate companies.
A wind-generation record in the Lone Star State
Editor’s note: The following discussion on wind power’s success in the state of Texas was compiled by Karl Cates, IEEFA’s director of media relations, and Seth Feaster, an IEEFA data consultant. The IEEFA (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis) conducts research and analyses on financial and economic issues related to energy and the environment. The original posting…