This Week’s Energy Roundup & Clean Power 2025 Preview
Summary:
Momentum is surging across microgrids, EV charging, utilities, and storage policy. Highlights include Texas’s solar-and-storage resilience during a heat wave, Gravity Technologies’ ultra-rapid chargers in LA, and Virginia’s veto of expanded storage mandates. We’re also gearing up for Clean Power 2025 in Phoenix May 19–22, where we’ll dive into AI-driven microgrid demos, FERC Order 2222 explained, and the latest incentives like the microgrid controller tax credit.
Microgrids & Resilience
Texas Grid Stands Firm Under Heat
During an early-season May heat wave, ERCOT met record peak demand without issuing a Conservation Appeal—thanks in part to solar and battery resources added since August 2024 ERCOT.
This performance underscores the critical role of renewables and storage in averting blackouts and preserving grid stability under stress ERCOT.
Meanwhile, microgrids are adopting AI-driven forecasting for load balancing and predictive maintenance, enhancing contingency readiness across critical facilities CSP Daily News.
Kaiser Permanente’s Renewable Resilience
Last week, Kaiser Permanente commissioned a 2 MW solar + 9 MWh battery microgrid at its Ontario, CA medical center—the largest hospital-based renewable microgrid in the U.S. Henrico Citizen.
In January storms, the system ran in island mode for over 48 hours, shielding ICU ventilators and refrigerated medications from outages without interruption Global Market Insights Inc..
This project exemplifies how microgrid project development can deliver real-world energy resiliency and patient safety simultaneously.
EV Charging Infrastructure
55,580+ DC Fast Ports Nationwide
The U.S. DC fast-charging network surpassed 55,580 ports by Q1 2025, including over 30,000 Tesla Supercharger ports—ensuring broader EV adoption support Electrek.
Growth in non-Tesla networks is driving more ports per station (3.9 vs. 2.7 year-over-year), enhancing reliability for diverse EV models Electrek.
Startup Gravity deployed eight 500 kW “five-minute” chargers across Los Angeles, significantly cutting charging times for fleets and personal EVs alike Electrek.
NEVI Funds Lawsuit
On May 7, a coalition of 16 states plus DC sued the U.S. Dept. of Transportation over the suspension of $5 billion in NEVI funding—arguing that halting awards breaches infrastructure law and stalls EV station rollouts bigskybusinessjournal.com.
The suit warns that delays could imperil climate targets and investor confidence across major EV markets like California and New York bigskybusinessjournal.com.
Utility Sector Trends
AI & Data-Driven Transformation
Utilities are evolving into dynamic platforms that harness AI and big data for outage restoration and DER integration. Pilots by PG&E and Ameren show AI-based management cutting restoration times by 5–10% and optimizing storage dispatch in real time .
Open Power AI Consortium
EPRI’s Open Power AI Consortium is forging an open-source AI framework to accelerate grid modernization—bringing together utilities, vendors, and researchers to apply AI in generation, transmission, and distribution msites.epri.com.
Energy Storage & Policy
$1.49 Trillion Storage Market by 2034
The U.S. energy storage market, valued at $106.7 billion in 2024, is projected to balloon to $1.49 trillion by 2034—a 29.1% CAGR fueled by renewables integration and modernization grants Global Market Insights Inc..
However, recent vetoes by the Virginia governor on bills to speed storage deployment highlight ongoing policy risks at the state level Energy Storage.
On Capitol Hill, a House budget proposal could trim clean-energy tax credits, potentially slowing storage growth unless counterbalanced by IRA incentives and FERC Order 2222 explained benefits Utility Dive.
Clean Power 2025 Preview
Phoenix Convention Center • May 19–22, 2025
We’ll be onsite exploring microgrid project development demos, attending FERC Order 2222 explained sessions, and learning how to leverage the microgrid controller tax credit.
Don’t miss:
-
Live AI-powered microgrid controls demos
-
Policy workshops on IRA incentives and state resilience grants
-
Networking at CLEANPOWER in Color and EmpowHER Summit
Join us in Phoenix and let’s discuss how to turn these trends into resilient, ROI-driven energy solutions!
Recent Comments