By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The solar industry posted a solid first quarter in 2025, but is already seeing a slowdown that will continue through 2030 due to federal tax and tariff policies, according to a Wood Mackenzie-Solar Energy Industries market analysis. The industry installed 10.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar generating capacity in the…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has canceled $3.7 billion in grants to industries aimed at cutting carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency at facilities ranging from cement kilns to a ketchup factory. “DOE found that these projects failed to advance the energy needs of the American people, were…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The repeal of renewable energy tax credits, part of the proposed Republican budget bill, would lead to a 15% decline in wind, solar, and battery storage capacity by 2035 and an increase in wholesale and retail electricity prices, according to an S&P Global forecast. “As renewable generators lose the…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The combination of coal-fired power plant closures, spurred by state and federal initiatives, and generous tax credits for new electric generation under the Inflation Reduction Act created a flood in renewable energy projects now waiting to get connected to the grid. “The surge in investment and development has overwhelmed…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer In the face of tariffs and economic and political uncertainties, the performance of clean energy technologies remains robust with 59 gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation and 31 GW of battery storage set to be installed in 2025, according to two market reports. “Investors and businesses navigating the energy transition…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer In the last 10 years more than $230 billion has flowed into energy startups, but in the face of economic and political uncertainty, that funding stream has slowed, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Between 2015 and 2022, funding for a broad range of startups rose 570%, but…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) – serving all or part of 14 states from Texas to North Dakota – will need as much as $263 billion in new generation and transmission through 2050 to support a peak demand projected to rise 40% to 80%. Those investments can be made…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Efforts to expand and modernize electric grids around the world – to cope with growing demand for power and a shift to renewable generation – are struggling to keep pace in the face of supply chain bottlenecks, according to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report. “Prices and procurement times…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer U.S. utility sector investment in electric, gas, and water projects are projected to rise to more than $780 billion between 2025 and 2028, according to a research report by consultant and market analyst S&P Global. Total U.S utility energy investments are projected to set a record at $202 billion…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer A record-setting 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity was installed in the third quarter of 2024 – a 21% year-over-year increase – but a combination of manufacturing constraints and uncertainty about Trump administration energy policy may cool growth, according to an industry market report. Total solar deployment in 2024…
By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Global energy project financing – with a few areas of risk such as aging wind farms, data centers, and trade impacts for solar – will be largely stable in 2025, according to report from the investment research company Morningstar. The Morningstar analysis covers its portfolio of wind, solar, river…
Renewables, cleantech sector will grow regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election Energize Weekly, September 18, 2024 The results of the U.S. presidential election – even if there is a victory by Donald Trump – will likely not derail growth in the renewable energy and cleantech sectors, according to an analysis by energy consultant…