Articles tagged with "grid-modernization"
Trump Is Losing The Renewable Energy War, Part Infinity
The article "Trump Is Losing The Renewable Energy War, Part Infinity" highlights the ongoing struggle between the Trump administration's fossil-fuel-friendly policies and the growing momentum of renewable energy initiatives at the state level in the United States. While President Trump has attempted to hinder renewable energy development—most notably by targeting the offshore wind industry through federal lease cancellations and regulatory reviews—these efforts have faced legal challenges and resistance. A federal judge ruled against the Interior Department's disruptive review of existing leases, and the industry continues to contest stop-work orders, indicating that Trump's attempts to stall renewables are not fully succeeding. Meanwhile, state governments are actively advancing renewable energy policies that counteract federal obstruction. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports significant progress in states like California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia. California has passed legislation to foster electricity partnerships and expedite clean energy projects, while Colorado is accelerating grid connections and launching virtual power plant programs. Illinois recently enacted the Clean and Reliable
renewable-energyclean-energysolar-energyenergy-storagevirtual-power-plantenergy-policygrid-modernizationNuvve Selected for 40 MWh of Battery-as-a-Service Projects from Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico - CleanTechnica
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) in northern New Mexico has selected Nuvve New Mexico, a subsidiary of Nuvve Holding Corp., to deploy and operate two advanced battery energy storage systems totaling 40 MWh under a Battery-as-a-Service (BAAS) model. Each system will be 5 MW / 20 MWh (4-hour duration) and is designed to provide peak load mitigation, grid resiliency, and market participation via the Western Energy Imbalance Market. The BAAS model allows KCEC to access these critical grid assets without upfront capital costs, as Nuvve assumes ownership, financing, operations, and maintenance responsibilities. The battery systems will feature grid-forming and black-start capabilities to support microgrid operation during outages, enhancing resiliency for essential community services such as healthcare, fire, rescue, and assisted-living facilities. This partnership reflects KCEC’s focus on resiliency, affordability, and innovation, enabling deployment of advanced storage while maintaining financial flexibility. Nuvve
energybattery-energy-storagegrid-resiliencyBattery-as-a-Servicemicrogridgrid-modernizationelectric-cooperativeWhy the electrical grid needs more software
The electrical grid, traditionally unnoticed when functioning smoothly, has recently come under intense scrutiny due to crises like California wildfires and Texas freezes, as well as rising electricity demand driven by the AI boom and data center expansion. In 2025, concerns about grid capacity, pricing, and resource strain intensified, prompting utilities to urgently upgrade infrastructure and build new power plants. This environment has created opportunities for software startups offering innovative solutions to optimize grid management, site selection for new infrastructure, and integration of distributed energy resources. Startups such as Gridcare and Yottar use data analytics to identify optimal locations for grid expansion and facilitate connections for medium-sized users amid the data center surge. Others, like Base Power and Terralayr, aggregate distributed battery storage into virtual power plants to provide backup and grid support, while companies like Texture, Uplight, and Camus focus on coordinating renewable energy sources to improve efficiency. Major tech players like Nvidia and Google are also applying AI to enhance grid resilience and streamline connection processes
energyelectrical-gridsoftware-startupsvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcesAI-in-energygrid-modernizationInfravision raises $91M for power line maintenance drones
Infravision, a company specializing in aerial drones for power grid construction and maintenance, has raised $91 million in Series B funding to accelerate the adoption of its TX System. This system integrates drones, intelligent ground equipment, and stringing hardware to provide a faster, safer, and more cost-effective alternative to traditional power line stringing methods, which often face delays and high costs. The TX System has been successfully deployed on major projects worldwide, including Powerlink Genex in Australia and emergency response efforts with PG&E in California, demonstrating its capability to handle complex and high-voltage transmission tasks while reducing outages and community disruptions. Led by GIC with participation from Activate Capital, Hitachi Ventures, and Energy Impact Partners, the funding will support Infravision’s expansion into the U.S. market, enhance its engineering talent pool, and scale manufacturing and operations. Since its 2018 launch, Infravision has completed over 40 major projects across four countries, saving clients millions of dollars
dronespower-line-maintenanceaerial-roboticsenergy-infrastructuregrid-modernizationautomationpower-transmissionTrump DOE decides to keep at least one Biden-era energy program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to upgrade approximately 5,000 miles of existing transmission lines owned by American Electric Power (AEP) across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. This project, initiated under the Biden administration just before President Trump’s inauguration, aims to enhance the capacity of current grid infrastructure without adding new routes, thereby improving electricity flow and reducing congestion. The loan guarantee will enable AEP to secure lower interest rates, saving at least $275 million, with anticipated benefits including lower electricity costs in the Midwest. The upgrades will involve rewiring lines with new conductors, similar to other grid modernization efforts focused on maximizing existing rights-of-way rather than building new power lines. While the Trump administration has canceled several other Biden-era energy grants—such as a $467 million grant in Minnesota for solar and wind capacity and a $250 million grant in Oregon for renewable project connections—it has chosen to proceed with the
energygrid-modernizationtransmission-linesrenewable-energyDepartment-of-Energyloan-guaranteeelectricity-infrastructureLeaked doc reveals the chaotic politics behind Trump Energy Department cuts
The Department of Energy (DOE) under the Trump administration recently canceled approximately $9 billion worth of awards, a move publicly framed as prioritizing fossil fuels over renewable energy. However, documents obtained by TechCrunch reveal a more nuanced picture: the cancellations affected a broad range of projects, including some aimed at reducing methane emissions in oil and gas operations and carbon capture initiatives. Notably, the Gas Technology Institute, which serves the natural gas industry, had $417 million in awards canceled, and carbon capture projects lost around $200 million. The cancellations disproportionately impacted states that voted for Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, with California losing over $2.2 billion and other blue states like Colorado, Illinois, and New York also facing significant cuts. In contrast, states that voted for Trump saw far smaller losses. Several large-scale projects were among those canceled, including a $1.2 billion award to Minnesota intended to modernize electrical grid interconnections across seven Midwest states, potentially unlocking 28 gigawat
energyrenewable-energyDepartment-of-Energygrid-modernizationcarbon-capturefossil-fuelsinfrastructureHow parked electric vehicles could stabilize the US power grid
The article explores the transformative potential of turning parked electric vehicles (EVs) into distributed energy resources to stabilize the US power grid. With millions of EVs equipped with large batteries sitting idle for much of the day, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can enable bidirectional charging—allowing these parked cars to send electricity back to the grid during peak demand periods. This approach could reduce reliance on costly and polluting peaker plants, which utilities currently activate to meet spikes in electricity use, especially during heat waves and increased home and data center energy consumption. As EV adoption accelerates rapidly, traditional grid planning methods, which rely on predictable, centralized power generation, are becoming obsolete due to the variable and decentralized nature of EV charging. V2G technology leverages sophisticated power electronics and real-time control software to safely manage the flow of energy both to and from EV batteries. Unlike conventional one-way chargers, bidirectional chargers act as power converters controlled digitally to balance voltage, current, and thermal conditions
energyelectric-vehiclesvehicle-to-gridpower-grid-stabilizationrenewable-energybattery-storagegrid-modernizationHow Bill Gates’s fellowship program is adapting to global uncertainty
Bill Gates’s climate tech organization, Breakthrough Energy, is adapting its fellowship program to address growing global uncertainty, including economic challenges and shifting policy priorities. The program, which supports startups led by budding entrepreneurs, has announced a new cohort of 45 fellows across 22 startups, marking its most globally diverse group yet—with half of the teams based outside the U.S., including locations in Asia, Canada, Germany, the U.K., and South Africa. This international emphasis is partly driven by the opening of a new fellowship hub in Singapore in partnership with Temasek and Enterprise Singapore, reflecting the recognition that climate change solutions must be globally sourced and locally tailored. The new cohort focuses on areas such as hydrogen, circularity (recycling materials), critical minerals, agriculture, and grid modernization, with particular attention to regional priorities like Asia’s interest in hydrogen and recycling due to its manufacturing footprint. The fellowship’s curriculum has also evolved to emphasize techno-economic analysis, encouraging startups to rigorously assess the economic viability of
energyclimate-techhydrogen-economycircular-economycritical-mineralsgrid-modernizationstartup-innovationWhy the US power grid upgrade could top $1 trillion
The U.S. electric grid is facing a critical need for a massive upgrade, potentially costing over $1 trillion, due to aging infrastructure, rapidly increasing electricity demand, and the challenges posed by integrating renewable energy sources. The grid, much of which dates back to the post-World War II era, was originally designed for a stable, one-way flow of electricity from large coal and nuclear plants. However, the rise of intermittent renewable energy like solar and wind, combined with surging demand from electric vehicles, heat pumps, and energy-intensive AI data centers, has created a volatile supply-demand dynamic that the current grid cannot reliably manage. The American Society of Civil Engineers has rated the nation’s energy infrastructure a D+, underscoring its vulnerability. Addressing these challenges requires unprecedented investment: targeted modernization efforts involve billions in federal funding and over a trillion dollars in private utility spending projected through 2029. Efforts are already underway, including the installation of high-voltage DC transmission lines to transport solar power over
energypower-gridrenewable-energysmart-gridenergy-infrastructuregrid-modernizationelectricity-demand