1. H&M Group Signs VPPA with Lightsource bp for Texas Solar
Learning: "H&M Group has signed a VPPA with Lightsource bp for its 125 MW Second Division solar project, currently under construction in Brazoria County, Texas."
Implication: "'Considering fashion’s environmental impact, we see great value in moving away from just using certificates to contributing to more clean energy,' says Ulrika Leverenz, head of green investment, H&M Group.
'By partnering with solar and wind farm developers, we can help build renewable electricity capacity in power grids around the world.'”
2. Moment Energy plans to mass-produce grid storage from used EV batteries
Learning: "Plenty of visionaries have extolled the benefits of putting old electric-car batteries to work instead of throwing them away. Moment Energy is bringing something new to this concept: large-scale manufacturing."
Implication: "In late October, the startup won a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a factory in Taylor, Texas, to produce shippable containers of previously loved batteries."
3. Grid reliability, data center flexibility initiative launched by EPRI
Learning: "A new initiative launched by EPRI — entitled DCFlex — aims to explore how data centers can support both the electric grid and the clean energy transition while enabling better asset utilization."
Implication: "Led by EPRI, DCFlex will coordinate real-world demonstrations at several existing and planned data centers and electricity markets. What’s learned during these demonstrations will help enable broader adoption of flexible operations that benefit all electricity consumers.
Specifically, DCFlex will establish five to 10 flexibility hubs for demonstrating innovative data center and power supplier strategies that enable operational and deployment flexibility, streamline grid integration, and transition backup power solutions to grid assets. Demonstration deployment will begin in the first half of 2025, and testing could run through 2027, according to EPRI."
4. Solar domination of the energy market is now inevitable.
Learning: "On a global scale, solar power in particular has grown spectacularly. And a study published on October 17 in the journal Nature Communications suggests the factors leading to the rapid adoption of the energy source will continue unabated. The study, conducted by a team of economists and energy researchers based primarily in the United Kingdom, deployed data-driven technology and economic forecasting models to look at a number of different energy sources, to see if one of them was on the cusp of breaking out as dominant worldwide."
Implication: "The historical failure of the modelling community to anticipate the rapid progress of solar power could stem from an overreliance on outdated data, the lack of use of learning curves, and the imposition of maximum deployment levels and floor costs... As the primary innovation in this paper, forecasting technology evolution and induced innovation can more effectively be achieved based on evolutionary simulations, using the most recent data available, that focus on the two-way positive feedback between induced innovation and diffusion.”
5. Houston-area solar farm to light up Texas with clean power for 15,000 homes
Learning: "A clean energy developer and operator of solar and energy storage assets has announced the completion and commercial operation of a Houston-area farm that will power 15,000 homes a year.
Recurrent Energy's Liberty Solar project outside of Houston has powered on and will expand solar energy capacity in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator market. Recurrent Energy is an Austin-based a subsidiary of Canadian Solar."
Implication: "Liberty Solar is in Liberty County, which is about 50 miles northeast of Houston and will be a 134 megawatt solar project. Customers include Autodesk Inc., Biogen Inc., EMD Electronics (the U.S. and Canada electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), and Wayfair Inc."