FERC/NERC to Investigate SE U.S. Power Outages During Deep Freeze
Storage co Energy Vault and PG&E planning long-duration - 293 MWh - energy storage microgrid w/both li-ion batteries and green H2; winter storm Elliott reveals utility forecasting deficiencies in multiple locations, results in rotating outages in SE U.S.; automaker Stellantis to build Archer Midnight electric aircraft, a VTOL four-seater plane w/range of about 100 miles; Chinese EV & charging co NIO completes 10th battery swap station in Europe, w/seven add’l stations soon operational. NIO plans 120 European stations by the end of 2023; NY State publishes a framework to develop 6,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, equal to 20% of peak demand.
1) Storage co Energy Vault working w/CA utility PG&E on long-duration energy storage microgrid pairing li-ion batteries w/green H2. Project would provide 293 MWh of energy to city of Calistoga's downtown, encompassing serving fire and police stations, w/48 hours of energy for planned wildfire outages & other events. PUC approval required.
2) Winter storm Elliott and accompanying cold snap pushed grids to the limits across U.S. ISO-NE burned 31 million gallons of oil, while PJM models under-forecast peak load by almost 10%. SE U.S. saw rotating curtailments, w/Duke outages in N. and S. Carolina affecting 1.7 million people. Duke significantly under-forecast demand. TVA faced similar situation, w/rotating outages, and NERC/FERC launching probe to learn lessons.
3) At CES, automaker Stellantis announces plans to build Archer Midnight electric aircraft, a vertical takeoff and landing four-seater w/100 mile range. Manufacturing to start in 2024.
4) Chinese EV company NIO installs 10th battery swap station in Europe, w/seven add’l stations ready soon, and 120 European stations by the end of year. NIO 1,300 locations in China, w/additional 400 stations by the end of 2023.
5) New York State publishes framework to install 6,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, equivalent to about 20% of the state's peak electricity demand.