• America’s Oil Country Increasingly Runs on Renewables

    America’s Oil Country Increasingly Runs on Renewables

    Texas, the biggest oil-producing state, has turned to solar power and battery storage to see it through extreme weather. But with demand rising, much more power will be needed.

    By J. David Goodman / Reporting from Houston / Sept. 18, 2024, 11:16 a.m. ET

    During the scorching summer of 2023, the Texas energy grid wobbled as surging demand for electricity threatened to exceed supply. Several times, officials called on residents to conserve energy to avoid a grid failure.

    This year it turned out much better — thanks in large part to more renewable energy.

    The electrical grid in Texas has breezed through a summer in which, despite milder temperatures, the state again reached record levels of energy demand. It did so largely thanks to the substantial expansion of new solar farms.

    READ MORE AT THE NEW YORK TIMES

  • CPS Energy

    CPS ENERGY SECURES 350 MW OF FUTURE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FOR GENERATION PORTFOLIO

    This addition will bring the utility’s total battery energy storage to 400 MW under contract

    August 28, 2024 (SAN ANTONIO) – CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned electric and natural gas utility in the United States, has entered into two storage capacity agreements (SCAs) with Eolian L.P. (Eolian) for a total of 350 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage, adding to a 50 MW SCA signed with Eolian in 2023, as the utility continues the execution of its Vision 2027 generation plan.
    The battery energy storage projects, called “Ferdinand” and “Padua 2”, have a storage capacity of 200 MW and 150 MW, respectively.  Both projects are located in South Bexar County, Texas and will be newly constructed and expected to be online in the first half of 2026.  Having storage resources strategically located in CPS Energy’s service territory contributes to overall grid resiliency and benefits customers.

    Not including the 10 MW operational in the current portfolio, the signing of these SCAs brings CPS Energy’s total battery storage capacity under contract to 400 MW combined.

    READ MORE

  • 'Football fields' of batteries have helped Texas's grid when electricity demand is highest

    'Football fields' of batteries have helped Texas's grid when electricity demand is highest

    Texas's battery storage capacity has increased about 2,500% since the 2021 winter storm. The booming industry has helped prevent Texas grid emergencies.

    Author: Matt Houston (WFAA)

    Published: 4:48 PM CDT August 20, 2024

    FORT WORTH, Texas — Curious cattle lowed at the herd of people examining rows of shipping containers about thirty yards away on an overcast May morning. A heavy-duty fence surrounds the inconspicuous gray boxes. Air conditioners cooling their precious cargo emit a gentle hum. The property borders ranchland and an asphalt maker, all about three miles south of Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth. Electricity transmission lines cast a long shadow over the industrial site. "A lot of people saw, like us, the opportunity to fill a need," Stephanie Smith said, walking the gravel path between the boxes. As she turned into the array, an engineer unlocked one container to reveal its components: dozens of metal canisters resembling old computer hard drives, with neatly organized wires protruding from their ends. A "high voltage" sign warns onlookers away from the machines. "What's happening in Texas is really exciting," Smith said. "I love what batteries can do for the grid."

    Smith is chief operating officer at Eolian, which operates the Chisholm Grid battery farm. Eolian buys power off nearby transmission infrastructure to charge its array when electricity is plentiful and its wholesale price is low. It will sell that stored electricity back to the grid when demand drives up prices. The process is similar to stock trading. "You're trying to take advantage of the times when there's extra power, and then you're putting it in the market when the market needs it," Smith said.

    READ MORE AND WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE SMITH, COO 

Eolian in the News

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PRESS RELEASE Stephanie Seiferth PRESS RELEASE Stephanie Seiferth

Global Infrastructure Partners Announces Acquisition Of MAP® Energy's Renewable Energy Business

NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global, independent infrastructure investor, today announced the acquisition of MAP® RE/ES, the renewable energy business of MAP® Energy (MAP®). GIP's fourth flagship fund, GIP IV, will acquire 100% of the MAP® RE/ES investment platform, team, and renewable energy assets under management from MAP®, a private fund manager and energy investor. The assets include a portfolio of producing royalty interests across more than 16,000 MW of operating wind and solar projects in the United States, as well as a nationwide development pipeline managed through joint ventures with leading national and regional development partners. The MAP® RE/ES business will continue to be led by its existing investment team.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Cordelio Power Acquires 150 MW Solar Development Project in Missouri

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Cordelio Power (“Cordelio”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 150 MW solar project (“Winfield”) under development in Lincoln County, Missouri.

Cordelio acquired the Winfield project from a joint venture between Dakota Power Partners, LLC (“Dakota”) and MAP Energy (“MAP”), the original developers of the project. Dakota will initially provide transition development services for the project, with Cordelio ultimately managing the project’s development as part of its growth efforts in the Midwest.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Rocky Mountain Power contracts to deliver renewable energy for six large customers

SALT LAKE CITY— The Utah Public Service Commission provided final approval of an application by Rocky Mountain Power, on behalf of six large organizations in the state, to purchase electricity and renewable energy attributes from a large new solar project in Tooele County that is owned and being developed by D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI). The application makes use of the Schedule 34 Renewable Energy Tariff, allowing large customers of Rocky Mountain Power to work through the utility to source renewable energy to meet the organizations’ clean energy goals.

The six customers include three local governments (Salt Lake City, Park City, and Summit County), one higher-education institution (Utah Valley University), and two ski resorts (Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain).

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments announces the signing of 155MWac of PPAs in Utah with Facebook and PacifiCorp

Rocket Solar is an 80 MWac solar facility to be built outside of Corinne in Box Elder County, Utah. Horseshoe Solar is a 75 MWac solar facility to be built outside of Grantsville in Tooele County, Utah. Both projects are scheduled to begin operations in 2022 to supply clean solar energy to Facebook under the Schedule 34 Renewable Energy Tariff, which enables customers to work with Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp and part of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, to meet their renewable energy goals by facilitating the construction and contracting of new renewable energy projects. The projects will help Facebook meet its goal of supporting its operations in the region with 100% renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75%.

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