Latest news with #energygrid
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Grid reform key for decarbonising auto sector: SMMT
Reforms to the UK's energy grid are key to decarbonising the automotive sector in the country, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In its 26th Sustainability Report, the trade body emphasises the automotive sector's strides in reducing its environmental footprint. The report notes a 2.4% decline in energy required for vehicle production and a 6.2% reduction in average new car tailpipe CO₂ emissions. According to the SMMT, UK vehicle plants have achieved a record 60.3GWh of renewable electricity generation, largely due to investments in solar panels and wind turbines. It marks nearly a one-third increase compared to 2023, saving approximately 12,500t of CO₂. However, the rise in electrified models, accounting for 35.4% of UK new car production in 2024, necessitates more clean energy. The SMMT added: 'With new zero-emission models and gigafactories in the pipeline, overall demand for affordable clean energy is set to grow exponentially.' In June, the UK's new car market saw a growth for the second month in a row, with registrations rising by 6.7% to 191,316 units. Last month, EV registrations reached a 48.5% market share, with battery-electric vehicles rising 39.1% to 47,354 units, accounting for 24.8% of the market share. Manufacturers are investing in on-site renewable energy generation to reduce reliance on external sources, but lengthy grid connection timelines, averaging nearly 14 years, pose a challenge. This, SMMT said, requires 'changes to planning and the UK's energy mix'. Meanwhile, the UK is paying the highest electricity prices in Europe, affecting its competitiveness. The government's Industrial Strategy aims to address this, potentially reducing electricity bills by 20%. The proposed relief on standing charges for battery production and other energy-intensive industries should extend to automotive businesses, the trade body said, adding that this would support their role in achieving net zero and improve competitiveness, given the UK's high electricity prices. The automotive sector has made significant progress in developing zero-emission vehicles, decarbonising manufacturing, and investing in skills. With reduced energy costs and improved grid connections, the SMMT believes that the industry could further enhance its low-carbon manufacturing capabilities, fostering job creation and growth in the UK. "Grid reform key for decarbonising auto sector: SMMT" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Natural Gas Gets A Political Jolt—But Pipeline Gaps Risk The Payoff
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 04: President Donald Trump holds up the "One, Big Beautiful Bill" Act that was ... More signed into law as during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. After weeks of negotiations with Republican holdouts Congress passed the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The bill makes permanent President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts, increases spending on defense and immigration enforcement and temporarily cuts taxes on tips, while cutting funding for Medicaid, food assistance and other social safety net programs. (Photo by Alex Brandon - Pool/Getty Images) President Trump's July 4th signing of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' delivered a political jolt to fossil fuels—complete with sweeping tax incentives and expanded access to federal lands. But while the law spotlights natural gas as a clean, reliable workhorse, it may overpromise and underdeliver without infrastructure to match. Natural gas already fuels 43% of the U.S. grid and plays a critical balancing role alongside renewables. Yet, the bill pares back support for wind and solar projects that typically complement gas plants—potentially leaving the grid more exposed, not less. The political message was clear: fossil fuels are back. But the market—and the grid—aren't so sure. Without new pipelines, faster permitting, and support from clean energy partners, the strategy will increase volatility rather than stability, especially as electricity demand rises and coal plants continue to retire. 'The purported rivalry between natural gas and renewables is often greatly overstated because there is a lot of collaboration there,' says Dustin Meyer, a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute. He spoke at a virtual press event hosted by the United States Energy Association, where I participated as a panelist, asking questions. For nearly two decades, natural gas has powered the country's electric grid, replacing coal and ramping up when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. It has long been considered a 'bridge fuel' to a renewable future. But that cleaner future is now in doubt because the new law has withdrawn the incentives to build sustainable energy plants—ones that work in tandem with natural gas units that back them up. This matters for gas, which increasingly relies on renewables to stabilize the grid and promote itself as clean. Undermining green energy growth removes one of gas's most important allies—and, paradoxically, could constrain its future. But Trump's rollback of clean energy incentives comes amid strong backing from the fossil fuel industry, which contributed more than $74 million to his 2024 campaign, according to OpenSecrets. The new law phases out wind and solar tax credits for projects starting after June 2026 and rescinds billions in climate-related investments authorized under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Princeton University's REPEAT Project estimates that the rollback alone could reduce future clean power capacity by over 70,000 megawatts—roughly enough to power 50 million homes. A Fragile Victory for Natural Gas Diversified Energy employees stand by natural gas well in Franklin Township, Washington County, ... More Pennsylvania, on September 6, 2024. Once a Democratic stronghold with a strong union presence, Washington County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2008. Trump's strong support for fracking has helped him here as it has across the Appalachia region, where a controversial shale gas boom since 2008 minted millionaires almost overnight and created rare, well-paying blue-collar jobs in an area undergoing deindustrialization. Harris's past support for a fracking ban which she has reversed in her current presidential run has left many in Washington County skeptical. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images) And while fossil fuels gained new financial incentives, natural gas didn't get the one thing it arguably needs most: infrastructure. Pipeline bottlenecks and sluggish permitting have already hampered the ability to deliver gas where it's needed—especially as coal plants are phased out and we continue to decarbonize. According to the Department of Energy, U.S. pipeline capacity is projected to grow by just 38 to 42 billion cubic feet per day between 2015 and 2030—about a third of the pace seen in the 15 years before. 'The permitting process is fundamentally broken,' says Meyer. 'It's impacting oil, gas, and renewables—infrastructure across the board.' Even successful projects illustrate the problem. A long-delayed Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline expansion in West Virginia just won final approval in June—eight years after it was first proposed. Climate is the chief concern. Environmentally-friendly plans are on the drawing board, but so far, many ideas remain elusive. The long-term outlook for gas also depends on how quickly emerging technologies mature. If green hydrogen, utility-scale batteries, or next-generation nuclear become cost-competitive, natural gas could face stiff competition not just from renewables, but from cleaner, dispatchable alternatives. 'People are looking at CCS and hydrogen-ready designs to future-proof gas plants,' says Michael Caravaggio of the Electric Power Research Institute, referring to carbon capture and hydrogen integration as possible ways to square gas with climate goals. Still, he admitted, the transition is anything but simple. The federal push for natural gas also clashes with more ambitious domestic and international climate agendas. In California, for example, natural gas still powers more than half the grid—but the state is working to cut emissions by 48% by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2045. That goal is likely incompatible with a long-term reliance on gas, says Austin Hastings, PG&E's vice president of gas engineering. 'California is going to flatly reject anything that comes from the federal government labeling natural gas as green,' Hastings said at the USEA event. 'Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, but the state is going to look at it as a fossil fuel.' States and Countries Push Back People watch the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, Golar Tundra (Rear), a floating storage and ... More regasification unit, on March 20, 2023 in the port of Piombino, Tuscany, after it arrived overnight from Singapore. A new floating storage and regasification unit considered crucial to Italy's energy independence arrived in Tuscany on March 19, 2023. The Golar Tundra will receive liquified natural gas (LNG) from other carriers which it will turn back into a gaseous state that can be fed into Italy's national gas network. The project is a key part of Italy's plan to reduce its reliance on Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine, which has also new deals with partners such as Algeria and Libya. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images) Globally, the signals are just as mixed. The European Union aims to slash fossil fuel use by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Even as it imports American liquefied natural gas to offset the loss of Russian supplies, many countries on the continent—such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands—are scaling up wind, solar, and battery storage. Local protests frequently stall new gas projects. Branko Milicevic, with the UN Economic Commission for Europe, captured the dilemma in blunt terms at the press event: Germany said no to nuclear, no to coal, and no to Russian gas. 'They've settled on natural gas as good,' he said, at least as a temporary solution. 'Now, whether it's green, I don't say. But it's simply the only choice—and the only rational choice.' The irony of Trump's energy strategy is that it strengthens natural gas politically while weakening the clean energy system that helps make it viable. Globally, investors are betting big on renewables. According to the International Energy Agency, clean energy investment is projected to hit $2.2 trillion this year—more than double what's going into fossil fuels. These aren't just good business bets; they're climate imperatives. Natural gas, meanwhile, might be better served by embracing its role as a partner with renewables, not their competitor—at least as far as the electricity sector is concerned. But without new pipelines—and renewable energy sources to help offset its emissions—the global gas boom could sputter out. That would undermine both economic growth and climate goals. Worse, it could make the U.S. grid more brittle and more dependent on aging fossil fuel systems. 'My job is to maintain a reliable system, and natural gas plays a vital role,' Rudy Garza, CEO of CPS Energy in San Antonio, told the audience. 'But the people who put pressure on us to decarbonize aren't going to buy the renewable nature of natural gas.' The U.S. has now placed a major bet on natural gas. But without pipeline investment, permitting reform, and a coordinated clean energy strategy, this approach could backfire—exposing the grid to greater fragility and leaving utilities with limited long-term fuel strategies. That's like building a bridge without guardrails. And without such protections, the road ahead may be more dangerous than advertised.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is CEG Redefining Clean Energy With Customer-Focused Innovation?
Constellation Energy Corporation CEG is actively pursuing opportunities to develop, invest in, and bring to market innovative technologies that are critical to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon energy future. CEG aims to accelerate the transition away and enhance the reliability and resilience of the energy grid. These efforts reinforce its leadership position in the clean energy sector while also creating long-term value for customers, investors and the Energy designs specific plans for each customer, helping them reach their unique carbon reduction goals. The company offers a range of services, including energy efficiency upgrades, data-driven insights, and rebate and incentive programs, to help customers optimize their energy usage and reduce Energy offers innovative energy solutions, such as its 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy matching product, designed to help businesses meet their carbon reduction and sustainability goals more effectively. Additionally, CEG offers customers detailed, granular insights into their energy consumption through advanced data analytics and reporting Energy leverages advanced digital platforms, such as its proprietary Constellation Navigator. The Constellation Navigator platform provides businesses and organizations with a comprehensive suite of tools to monitor, analyze, and optimize their energy consumption across multiple sites and operations. Through this platform, customers can set and track decarbonization goals, and make informed decisions based on real-time focus on customer-driven innovation strengthens trust, enhances customer satisfaction, and positions Constellation Energy as a reliable, forward-thinking energy partner, ultimately driving long-term growth and value for both the company and its customers. Some other companies that are also focused on customer-centric solutions have been discussed below:Duke Energy DUK is actively leveraging innovation and customer-centric solutions to improve its operations and enhance the customer experience. This includes modernizing the energy grid, developing cleaner energy solutions and using technology to improve service delivery and customer Corporation PPL offers real-time usage tracking and predictive outage alerts. It utilizes smart grid technology and data analysis to provide customers with information about their energy consumption. In the past month, CEG's shares have risen 7.8% compared with the industry's 2.4% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Constellation Energy's 2025 and 2026 earnings per share indicates an increase of 9% and 22%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CEG is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 29.7X compared with the industry average of 20.34X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CEG currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PPL Corporation (PPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Highest electricity demand we've seen so far this summer, expert says
Ontario's scorching heat wave isn't just making people sweat, it's cranking power usage to peak levels. With air conditioners humming across the province, this kind of heat is usually more typical midway through the summer - not right at the beginning. This means that Ontario's energy grid is being tested a bit earlier than usual. Experts predict that the peak usage will hit around 7 p.m. Monday night. That peak is expected to reach about 25,000 megawatts and as of this hour, our usage has already climbed past 24,000. To put that in perspective, last year, we hit about 23,000 megawatts as our June peak. So Monday's projected number would be the highest electricity demand we've seen so far during the warmer months. Robby Sohi, chief operating officer and executive vice-president of markets and reliability at Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator says, 'We've been averaging around the 20,000 mark, give or take. So, you know, this will likely be one of our hotter days of the summer. Typically, we see our peaks in July and August, but this one, if you look at maybe the top five, six, seven peaks of the year, it's probably going to be one of them.' Temperatures are expected to come down later this week which would bring electricity demand back to typical summer usage levels.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska needs a nuclear energy strategy
Nebraska Public Power District's Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville, Nebraska. (Courtesy of NPPD) In February 2021, thousands of Nebraskans found themselves in the dark of rolling blackouts. A brutal polar vortex froze wind turbines, strained natural gas supplies and exposed serious weaknesses in our energy grid. However, even as multiple power sources failed, one remained steadfast — nuclear energy. That moment was a wake-up call. We can no longer afford to treat energy policy as a matter of convenience or short-term cost. To avoid future blackouts and maintain affordable, resilient, firm and reliable power, Nebraska needs nuclear energy. Wind and solar are intermittent. Natural gas is a vital bridge fuel, but it is vulnerable to supply shocks in extreme weather. This is about building a reliable and resilient energy source that can deliver for Nebraska families, farmers and businesses when it counts. Nuclear energy, which currently generates 17% of Nebraska's power, brings unique strengths. It provides carbon-free baseload power that runs around the clock regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. During the 2021 deep freeze, Nebraska's lone nuclear plant kept running at full strength while other sources faltered. The United Nations 2021 report, 'Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity Generation Options,' shows that nuclear has the lowest overall impacts on human health and the environment by any measure and from any perspective. The cost of new nuclear energy is within a penny per kilowatt-hour of other forms of new energy sources, including natural gas, wind and solar. Is that one cent too much to have a resilient, reliable power source for Nebraska? We've seen what happens when nuclear gets overlooked. Omaha Public Power District's Fort Calhoun plant and Nebraska Public Power District's Cooper Nuclear Station accounted for about a quarter of Nebraska's net generation capabilities before Fort Calhoun was shut down in 2016. The shut down was nearly two decades ahead of schedule, a casualty of market conditions that failed to account for long-term reliability and energy needs. Hundreds of skilled jobs were lost. Our energy safety net shrank. And just a few years later, that decision looked shortsighted as the grid buckled under pressure. To avoid repeating that mistake, policymakers should ensure that energy markets properly value reliability and resilience. As 26 House Republicans made clear in a late April letter to congressional leadership, protecting the federal nuclear production tax credit (PTC) is one way to do so. It has proven a huge help in incentivizing the development of nuclear power at a time when NPPD is exploring options. For Nebraska, the credit helps create and protect hundreds of high-paying, skilled jobs, generating local tax revenue and sustaining a stable source of affordable power. Another step Congress could take is expanding investment incentives for next-generation technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs). These compact, scalable reactors can serve Nebraska's rural areas and industrial parks where large traditional plants aren't practical, offering flexibility and grid stability. Policies like the Advanced Nuclear Production Credit and bipartisan permitting reform proposals can help accelerate local deployment. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., has advocated for nuclear's role in America's energy future on the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, where it helps Nebraska to have a voice in ensuring that our state's long-term energy interests remain protected. Nebraska's energy future isn't just about keeping the lights on. It's about protecting lives during extreme weather, powering our farms and factories and anchoring high-skilled jobs in our communities. If we want to avoid another round of blackouts, we should encourage policies that keep every reliable tool in the toolbox — including nuclear. Bruce Bostelman, a farmer and veteran from Brainard, served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025, including serving as chair of the Natural Resources Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
