This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less. Produced by Renewable Energy World and Tigercomm, This Week in Cleantech will air every Friday in the Factor This! podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts.
This week’s episode features Tim McDonnell from Semafor, who wrote about how many in cleantech believe the clean energy transition will happen regardless of who is in the White House, since the growth of U.S. clean energy industries is driven by fundamental economics.
1. Utility regulators take millions from industries they oversee. What could go wrong? — Floodlight News
In the face of climate change, Public Utility Commissions, or PUCs, are more important than ever, since they can help streamline development of clean, affordable electricity. But a new Floodlight analysis found that in 9 out of 10 states that elect their commissioners, more than ⅓ of their contributions of $250 or more are from fossil fuel and electric utility interests, more than twice as much as the renewables industry.
Commissioners backed primarily by individuals with fossil fuel or utility interests may have contributed to slower progress on decarbonization in some states.
2. Oil giant BP is killing 18 hydrogen projects, chilling the nascent industry — TechCrunch
Many hydrogen companies have financially relied on oil and gas companies, but now these hydrogen companies are at risk of losing their support.
Oil and gas companies have decades of experience developing the types of large infrastructure projects that will be necessary if hydrogen becomes a viable way to reduce carbon pollution. This means hydrogen production is an attractive area for investment, as oil and gas companies could readily adapt their capabilities to support a low-carbon energy transition — especially if future regulations or incentives require them to do so.
BP’s decision to kill these hydrogen projects, along with the sale of their U.S. onshore wind operations will save the company $200 billion annually.
3. World’s largest transformer maker warns of supply crunch — The Financial Times
Hitachi Energy, the world’s largest transformer producer, has warned that the industry is struggling to meet the surging demand for grid equipment, and the supplies have been strained by the growing needs of data centers.
Transformers, which ramp electrical voltage up and down, play a critical role in the power grid and more will be needed as we add new generation. They used to be easier to buy with wait times of 6-8 months. Once demand skyrocketed, their wait times extended to 3-4 years if utilities have not reserved one yet.
Some analysts estimate that transformer prices have increased by 40% since 2019 and that the supply crunch will last until at least the end of 2026.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
4. US Regulator Rejects Amazon-Talen Nuclear Power Agreement — Bloomberg
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, rejected a deal that would allow one of Amazon’s data centers to use more power from a nearby nuclear plant. The majority of FERC believed the deal needed to be reviewed more closely. However, FERC Chairman Willie Phillips disagreed and said this decision was “a step backward” for both electricity reliability and national security.
5. Donald Trump will test how fragile the energy transition really is — Semafor
Many in cleantech believe the clean energy transition will happen regardless of who is in the White House, since the growth of U.S. clean energy industries is driven by fundamental economics. They do not believe a full repeal of the IRA is likely, especially since investment from the bill has gone mostly toward red communities. Plus, almost every large company has committed to a net zero goal.
Still, there are concerns that a Trump presidency will prove the transition is more fragile than we’d like to admit.