Weekly Energy Vid: Week 5, August 2024: Xcel Energy Wants to Build and Own 400+ MW Distributed Solar/Battery Resource

Xcel Energy is first U.S. utility to file a plan with regulators to build its own virtual power plant. Northern Power in Minnesota wants to combine 440 MW of distributed solar with 400 MW of battery storage (duration not mentioned) located strategically on the grid so they can be operated in a concerted fashion.

Form Energy receives $147 million U.S. DOE grant for 85 MW, 8,500 MWh iron air battery at former paper mill site in northern Maine, w/focus on easing wind-related congestion issues. Anticipated commissioning date is 2028.

The US BOEM and Maine agree on location for the nation’s first floating offshore wind energy research lease, stretching over 15 square miles and located 28 nautical miles offshore. Lease could host up to 12 machines at 12 MW each, and will help assess the viability of floating wind.

GE Vernova sees yet another offshore turbine blade suffering damage – this one at the UK’s Dogger Bank project, the second incident at Dogger bank – another blade failed in May. The cause remains under investigation.

Cirba Solutions opens $400 mn battery recycling plant expansion in Ohio, the first large energy facility to come online after receiving support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The plant will produce annually 15,000 tons of black mass –combined lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese – that can be separated and integrated into new batteries.

Ford continues back-pedaling on EVs in face of losses, eliminating plans for a three-row electric SUV and going the hybrid route instead. Ford will not launch any new EVs unless it can see a path to profitability in the first year.

BMW out-sells Tesla in Europe for the first time in July; w/14, 869 EVs to Tesla’s 14,561.