DeepSummary
The first half of 2020 saw renewables surpass fossil fuels in electricity generation across the European Union for the first time, with wind, solar, hydro, and bioenergy making up 40% of the region's power mix compared to 34% for fossil fuels. This milestone is viewed as a significant step towards decarbonization, though some experts caution that more flexibility and energy storage will be needed to fully integrate variable renewable sources.
In the United States, over 30 major companies in the wind and solar industries have formed a new lobbying organization called the American Clean Power Association. The group aims to increase the political influence of renewables in Washington, though questions remain about whether distributed energy and other clean technologies will be adequately represented.
Texas is emerging as a major solar market, with the state's interconnection queue now dominated by wind and solar projects that could add over 20% of peak demand capacity in the coming years. Factors driving this boom include strong renewable resources, easy permitting and grid access, and the increasingly competitive costs of large-scale solar.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Renewables exceeded fossil fuel generation across the European Union for the first half of 2020, a major milestone.
- Over 30 major U.S. wind and solar companies formed a new lobbying group called the American Clean Power Association, aiming to increase their influence in Washington.
- Texas is experiencing a boom in large-scale solar development driven by factors like strong renewable resources, easy grid access, and competitive costs.
- While a positive sign, renewables growth alone does not necessarily equate to successful decarbonization without increasing grid flexibility and energy storage.
- There are doubts about whether the new lobbying group will adequately represent distributed energy resources and other emerging clean technologies.
- The episode highlights the role of key political figures and committees like the Senate Finance Committee in shaping renewables policy through tax credits.
- Experts emphasize the economic inevitability of the clean energy transition regardless of policy support as renewables become the lowest-cost option.
- Poor media coverage of climate change remains a major issue, even as the financial risks grow more apparent.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You're in a situation where 90% of pretty much everything that gets added to the ERCOT grid over the next few years is going to be clean energy.“ by Jigger Shah
- “So Senator Grassley from Iowa was the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which, of course, is what mostly the wind and solar industry have been focused on, especially wind. And Berkshire Hathaway was very close to Grassley's office and he is rolling off as chair of finance committee.“ by Katherine Hamilton
- “But their conclusions are that climate change poses a major risk to the stability of the US financial system and its ability to sustain our economy.“ by Katherine Hamilton
Entities
Company
Organization
Person
Episode Information
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
9/11/20
In the first half of 2020, renewables beat out fossil fuels on the grid in Europe for the first time. They didn’t only beat out coal -- they beat out all fossil fuels put together. We’ll look at what the milestone means.
Then, 30 major companies have come together in a new joint lobbying organization to flex united power for clean energy. Will it make renewables a bigger political force? And what will they be fighting for?
Then, your view of Texas is probably out-of-date. We look at the dawn of Big Solar in Texas and peek at the ERCOT interconnection queue -- it’s almost all green.
Recommended reading:
- Danish Startup ‘Tomorrow’: Global Real Time Carbon Intensity Map of Electricity
- Climate Home News: Renewables overtake fossil fuels in EU electricity generation
- Forbes: European Renewables Just Crushed Fossil Fuels. Here’s How It Happened
- Johannes vd Bosch: Twitter thread about Renewables in Germany
- E&ENews: AWEA, Clean Energy Companies Join Forces for Lobbying
- Greentech Media: AWEA Introduces New Trade Group
- Recharge: AWEA and power giants plan new body 'to make renewables dominant'
- Texas Observer: Texas Solar Hits a Turning Point
- Jigar Shah LinkedIn post
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