Brad Hartnett

US distribution utilities must find the upside in disruption if they are to orchestrate an intelligent and interconnected electricity system. As they take on more significant roles and responsibilities, distribution utilities must acquire the capabilities to accommodate the accelerating pace and magnitude of the energy transition. They must leverage their long-standing reputations and stakeholder trust. But they cannot delay.

In recent years the prospects for batteries and advanced energy storage technologies have become increasingly promising with falling costs and better recognition of applications where the full value of storage can be realized. Article explores the technical, financial, regulatory and conceptual barriers that must be overcome for energy storage to truly take off. Includes perspectives from Dr. Jill Cainey, Director of the UK’s Electricity Storage Network.

Despite environmental policy challenges and growth in renewable energy sources, the long-term
global outlook for coal-fueled generation remains strong. Article focuses on Peabody Energy's perspectives on the prospects for coal globally and in the Asia Pacific region where Peabody has established a strategic trading hub. Includes interview with Chris Hagedorn, Peabody Energy's Group Executive and Chief Development Officer.

Article explores the field of behavioral analytics with Opower, which is helping utilities to increase energy efficiency and better understand customers. Includes interview with Roderick Morris, Opower's Senior Vice President of Marketing & Operations.

Part 2 of a special EY feature exploring the energy-water nexus. Article focuses on the World Bank's Thirsty Energy initiative and its efforts to address the impact of significant water constraints on the energy sector in developing countries. Includes interviews with Charles Feinstein, Director of the World Bank's Energy and Extractives Global Practice, and Diego Rodriguez, Senior Economist with the World Bank's Water Global Practice.

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants have some unique advantages over other renewable energy sources. Combined with thermal energy storage, CSP is transformed into a flexible, dispatchable generator. Furthermore solar-to-steam CSP plants can be combined with existing or new gas- or coal-fired plants to reduce carbon intensity or “boost” efficiency during certain times of the day. Article focuses on BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah CSP plant - the largest solar facility of its kind in the… Show more

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants have some unique advantages over other renewable energy sources. Combined with thermal energy storage, CSP is transformed into a flexible, dispatchable generator. Furthermore solar-to-steam CSP plants can be combined with existing or new gas- or coal-fired plants to reduce carbon intensity or “boost” efficiency during certain times of the day. Article focuses on BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah CSP plant - the largest solar facility of its kind in the world - with comments from Joe Desmond, BrightSource’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Government Affairs. Show less

As governments and utilities search for low-carbon generation, the benefits of smaller, cheaper and safely designed small modular reactors (SMRs) look compelling. SMRs include a diverse range of technologies and reactor designs with unit capacities below 300 megawatt electric (MWe). Article considers advantages of SMRs and challenges to their commercialization with comments and perspectives from Mike McGough, Chief Commercial Officer of NuScale Power and Ian Hore-Lacy, Senior Research Analyst… Show more

As governments and utilities search for low-carbon generation, the benefits of smaller, cheaper and safely designed small modular reactors (SMRs) look compelling. SMRs include a diverse range of technologies and reactor designs with unit capacities below 300 megawatt electric (MWe). Article considers advantages of SMRs and challenges to their commercialization with comments and perspectives from Mike McGough, Chief Commercial Officer of NuScale Power and Ian Hore-Lacy, Senior Research Analyst with the World Nuclear Association. Show less

Despite recent challenges, Latin America’s largest economy still presents major opportunities for
energy sector investment. Article explores challenges and opportunities for investment in Brazil's power and utilities sector, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge for foreign stakeholders.

As the costs to produce and store hydrogen fall, new concepts such as “trigeneration” at combined heat, hydrogen and power plants (CHHP) are putting hydrogen on the agenda for many utilities both as an energy storage solution and potential new revenue stream. Article tracks the progress on hydrogen production and storage R&D programs including interviews with Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office and Edward Heydorn, Business Development… Show more

As the costs to produce and store hydrogen fall, new concepts such as “trigeneration” at combined heat, hydrogen and power plants (CHHP) are putting hydrogen on the agenda for many utilities both as an energy storage solution and potential new revenue stream. Article tracks the progress on hydrogen production and storage R&D programs including interviews with Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office and Edward Heydorn, Business Development Manager, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Show less

When Superstorm Sandy slammed into the US Eastern Seaboard in October 2012, as
many as 10 million people lost their electricity. Thousands of miles of distribution systems
and many transformers were knocked offline, and 24 states suffered damage. Article explores lessons learned and asks David Owens, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Edison Electric Institute, what the US power industry must do to meet the challenges of preparing for and responding to extreme… Show more

When Superstorm Sandy slammed into the US Eastern Seaboard in October 2012, as
many as 10 million people lost their electricity. Thousands of miles of distribution systems
and many transformers were knocked offline, and 24 states suffered damage. Article explores lessons learned and asks David Owens, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Edison Electric Institute, what the US power industry must do to meet the challenges of preparing for and responding to extreme weather events. Also examined are weather derivatives as a potential hedging strategy with comments from Tim Andriesen, Managing Director of Agricultural Commodities and Alternative Investments for CME Group. Show less