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Interconnecting Renewables to the Grid: Opportunities, Challenges and the Future

As energy demand grows, so does the demand to interconnect renewable energy resources to the grid. According to Queued Up: 2024 Edition, an annual study on the characteristics of power plants seeking interconnection in the US published by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), there is currently more than 1,480 GW of zero-carbon generating capacity seeking transmission access. Although generating capacity and demand grow, grid interconnection remains one of the top challenges for renewable energy.

However, with several major rulings and proposals, there have been important developments in the transmission and interconnection space—from increased interconnection request requirements and costs, to getting the most out of the existing grid with Alternative Transmission Technologies (ATTs). The below explores the current setting and how to navigate the challenges of interconnecting renewable resources to the transmission grid.

FERC Order No. 2023

In response to the interconnection backlog, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 2023 which aims to streamline the interconnection process. This reform required a cluster study approach across all the Independent System Operators (ISO) and Transmission Owners (TO), which attempts to study a group of projects within the same electrical region or zone at once. To standardize the process, the order also increased readiness requirements through a first ready, first served approach.

This regulation poses both challenges and opportunities for organized and non-organized energy markets. The cluster study approach minimizes study time and reduces cost, since traditionally the utilities would study projects serially. However, it also introduces delay in the study process and dependency on other projects studied in the cluster.

In large clusters with more than 20-30 projects it is very difficult to isolate multiple “what if” scenarios and understand the cost implications if other projects decide to drop out of the queue or don’t advance forward. The uncertainty in terms of cost and schedule is far more uncertain in a cluster process.

The organized markets (i.e. the ISOs) have already implemented much of what Order 2023 requires. This includes the cluster studies and requirements like withdrawal penalties, site control, and higher interconnection deposits. Since these requirements have already been implemented by multiple ISOs such as CAISO, SPP, PJM, and MISO, the impacts here are minimal.

Where FERC Order 2023 has greater implications is the non-organized markets. This is also where most of the queue was serial and the cost of entry was fairly inexpensive. Although the changes in these markets will eventually be helpful, there have been some challenges and delays to active projects as the utilities try to transition to the FERC Order 2023 guidelines.

The Order still leaves a gap on how to tie the interconnection process to long-term planning needs, thus exposing the generators to cost and schedule risks and uncertainties. It also leads to inefficiencies in how the system is planned, which is not only inefficient but also more expensive — not only for the developers but also for the rate paying customers.

FERC Order 1920

In 2024, FERC issued Order 1920 which aims to proactively plan for the future transmission system, including the interconnection of new generating resources. These reforms require proactive multi-driver and multi-benefit long term planning that considers any system upgrades identified through the interconnection process. This order also takes into account the integration of Alternative Transmission Technologies and Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to offer potential solutions for a more predictable and efficient energy grid. The criteria laid out in order 1920 aims to extend and apply to not only long-term planning but also the joint targeted interconnection queue, long range transmission planning and intra-regional planning efforts led by various ISOs.

The aging grid and new technologies

The U.S. power grid was designed for a different era and now faces the challenge of integrating renewable energy sources. FERC Orders 2023 and 1920 require transmission providers to evaluate Alternative Transmission Technologies such as dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow devices, and advanced conductors. These technologies, while not mandated, offer a bridge to faster and cheaper renewable energy integration.

Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs)

GETs can typically be deployed in months, if not weeks, and are considerably cheaper than their long-term counterparts. To-date, these GETs have been used in operational scenarios, specifically topology optimization, so it’s in the independent power producers (IPPs) interest to study the benefits of these technologies on their project. Most of the IPPs have performed studies to evaluate cost benefit and then proposed to TOs to implement.

So far, IPPs have evaluated and studied dynamic line rating and topology optimization. These have been deployed by many utilities in their current operating scenarios, while managing outages. The next step is to have enough studies to show the benefits and establish a proactive process for proper evaluation and implementation on the TO side. After several years of effort working with MISO, there is a process to get them evaluated in that grid operator. Some of our recent efforts have also come to fruition in ERCOT, but in SPP we still haven’t been able to make a breakthrough.

Just a few years ago, there was little-to-no discussion happening on how to adopt these grid enhancing technologies. Today, there are several FERC Orders such as 881, 2023 and 1920 that demonstrate the need for adopting GETs not only in the operational environment but also as we plan the grid in transmission planning. FERC Order 1920 requires that GETs be evaluated as the ISOs andTOs plan the system.

Challenges and opportunities for IPPs in GETs adoption

The biggest challenge for IPPs is the lack of clarity and transparency in the evaluation of proposing GET solutions. This is true in both the interconnection process as well as during the operational process. There is no one-stop-shop to where the criteria, contacts and processes are listed, so the evaluation is not transparent for the interconnection customer.

However, the biggest opportunity is that these solutions are win-wins for interconnection customers (IC), ISO’s and TOs. In a study done by ENGIE and New Grid (a TO software provider), by reconfiguring just three constraints resulted in approximately $151M USD market congestion costs saving annually. This was done with minimal investment and was deployed within one month. These congestion costs savings not only help the ICs, but the savings transfer to the rate payers.

Solving this congestion problem will eventually help end customers, who are the main stakeholders for any ISO/TO. We are in a time where ISO/TO do not have to do this on their own, but they can count on ICs as their partners — where we can collaboratively provide detailed technical studies, feedback, and reviews to develop this process. The modern grid needs modern solutions, and GETs are a part of that solution.

Need for future reforms

FERC Order 1920 and 2023 are good initial steps, but there is still more work to be done. Several additional reforms are needed to speed up the interconnection backlog include:

1. Requiring study automation, including quality check reviews to ensure the information passed on to stakeholders is reliable. This should include setting up an independent interconnection study monitor.

2. Fast track projects that do not need or already have network upgrades.

3. Require that all the cost-effective solutions (such as GETs) are studied and evaluated when a transmission constraint is identified during the interconnection process.

4. Ensure transparency of the reporting of transmission construction phases to stakeholders.

The above and more reforms have been proposed by industry groups to FERC, and hopefully we see more improvements coming down the pipeline.

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North Shore Community Health Enters Renewable Energy Agreement with ENGIE

SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS and HOUSTON – Dec. 2, 2024 – North Shore Community Health has
entered into a two-year renewable energy agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, a subsidiary of ENGIE
North America (ENGIE). North Shore Community Health Center (NSCH) will receive Renewable Energy
Credits (RECs) to match 100% of forecasted consumption for its three northeast Massachusetts
locations.

“Embracing an environmentally friendly mindset benefits communities of all shapes and sizes. Our
commitment to sustainability is one step on a journey towards creating healthier and vibrant
communities,” said Maggie Brennan, President and CEO.

NSCH is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with three full-time sites and two school-based health
centers in Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester, serving 14,000 patients annually. NSCH provides highquality, culturally competent primary care, including medical, dental, behavioral health, and substance use
disorder services. NSCH also offers chronic disease management, health education, language
interpretation, and health insurance enrollment assistance to ensure accessible healthcare for all. NSCH
is committed to serving everyone, regardless of ability to pay, and uses a sliding fee scale for its services
based on family size and income.

Based on national Health Center Program data, FQHCs in the United States provide accessible and
comprehensive primary care to more than 30 million patients, or 8.3% of the population.

NSCH has also undertaken other environmental-focused project initiatives including: energy-efficient LED
light upgrades, implementing motion-sensor controlled lighting for exam rooms, fostering environmentally
friendly dining practices, and retaining a hybrid work model to help lower emissions created by long
commutes.

“We serve more than 200 hospitals across our footprint,” said Ted Conway, business development
manager at ENGIE Resources. “It’s an honor to serve this sector and we admire the commitment of
NSCH to provide vital community services and make a significant contribution to support renewable
energy.”

The Green-e® certified RECs purchased in the agreement will equal 100% of North Shore’s demand,
equivalent to the CO2 emissions from nearly 302,325 pounds of coal burned, or the greenhouse gas
emissions avoided by 95.3 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled.* NSCH will also achieve budget
certainty throughout the agreement term with a fixed price structure.

Green-e® RECs represent the environmental benefits of one MWh of renewable energy, and are certified
by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Certification ensures that RECs are properly accounted
for and that no double counting takes place.

Serving as advisor on the agreement is Voyager Power, Massachusetts. Voyager provides solutions
across the energy value chain and helps commercial and industrial customers to achieve sustainability
targets and energy compliance.

******

About North Shore Community Health

In operation since 1977, North Shore Community Health is a network of family health centers dedicated to
building healthy communities by providing exceptional, comprehensive care to all. Serving over 14,000
patients across three full-time family practice sites in Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester, two school-based
health centers and five community-based locations, NSCH provides high quality, culturally competent,
comprehensive primary care, including medical, dental, behavioral health, and substance use disorder
treatment services. Our patient-centered approach ensures that every individual receives high-quality
care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. For more information, visit www.nschi.org.

About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in lowcarbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.
Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are
committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy
consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we
reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key
businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North
America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their
sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through:
energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the
development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For
more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed,
www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc and www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc.


Media Contacts:

North Shore Community Health
Eva Maynard, External Relations Manager
eva.maynard@nschi.org
Ph: 978-744-8388

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan
michael.clingan@external.engie.com
Ph: 832-745-6057

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ENGIE among the top ranking world companies!

ENGIE in the top 50! The Group lies in 46th place in the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking published by Time magazine and Statista. What’s more, in France the Group is in the top 5.

Published by the American weekly magazine Time in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings, the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking evaluates the world’s 1,000 top performing companies according to three key criteria: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability performance (ESG criteria).

ENGIE stands out this year, ranking 46th worldwide, compared with 57th place last year. This improvement is largely due to the growth rate of the company, reflecting its ability to innovate and to adapt in a constantly changing sector.

In France, ENGIE has climbed to 5th place, in particular thanks to its Net Promoter Score (NPS), an indicator that measures overall positive customer and employee perception of the company.

This good score illustrates the Group’s commitment to providing a caring and inclusive working environment as well as its social model which reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet.

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ICA Miami Expands Sustainability Initiatives Through Innovative Wind Energy Agreement with ENGIE

MIAMI & HOUSTON – The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA) and a subsidiary of ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced today an innovative new collaboration that advances an emerging renewable energy solution and expands the museum’s sustainability efforts. Under the terms of a five-year agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, ICA Miami will procure Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from ENGIE’s Priddy Wind Project (Mills County, Texas) to match 100% of the museum’s forecast electricity consumption. As the first renewable energy agreement in Florida for ENGIE Resources, the collaboration represents increasing interest for similar solutions in markets that are not yet open to retail power competition.

A leading contemporary art museum in the U.S. and globally, ICA Miami is recognized for promoting continuous experimentation and embracing innovative practices, through its exhibitions and programs and in its operations and practices. In 2020, the museum was among the original grantees for the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation’s sustainability funding and has since implemented carbon offsets and sustainable shipping practices for major exhibitions. With this energy agreement, ICA Miami is matching 100% of its electricity consumption for the building and museum operations with project-specific Green-e® certified RECs that avoid the greenhouse gas emissions of 1,352 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.*

Commercial and industrial customers from any market can support sustainability efforts by sourcing project-specific RECs, but interest is in its early stages. “Customer understanding and adoption of RECs takes time,” said Brad McIntyre, business development manager at ENGIE Resources. “ICA Miami is a great jumping-off point for us in the South Florida market,” said McIntyre. “RECs provide sustainable solutions for developers to invest in new assets and we expect this agreement to accelerate the impact of renewables in this and other similar markets.”

“ICA Miami has long been committed to adopting best practices for sustainability and reducing the museum’s carbon footprint. Our alliance with ENGIE not only supports the museum’s ongoing sustainability efforts, but also contributes to an emerging renewable energy solution that is not yet prevalent in South Florida. We are excited to be a part of bringing these kinds of solutions to our community and to continue expanding on this work,” said Alex Gartenfeld, ICA Miami Irma and Norman Braman artistic director.
Acting as an advisor on the agreement is Industrial Energy (Fort Lauderdale, FL). “It is exciting to be at the forefront of a solution that promotes planet-friendly power in a market that is not yet open to retail choice,” said Christian Amabile, executive vice president. It’s a privilege to work with an organization that plays such an important role in the social landscape.”

Green-e® RECs are certified by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Certification ensures that RECs are properly accounted for and that no double counting takes place.

*EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator


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About the Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) is dedicated to promoting continuous experimentation in contemporary art, advancing new scholarship, and fostering the exchange of art and ideas throughout the Miami region and internationally. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs, and its collection, ICA Miami provides an important international platform for the work of local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, and advances the public appreciation and understanding of the most innovative art of our time. Launched in 2014, ICA Miami opened its new permanent home in Miami’s Design District on December 1, 2017. The museum’s central location positions it as a cultural anchor within the community and enhances its role in developing cultural
literacy throughout the Miami region. The museum offers free admission, providing audiences with open, public access to artistic excellence year-round.
icamiami.org


About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc and twitter.com/ENGIENorthAm.


About Industrial Energy

Industrial Energy is a leading energy advisor to commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. The company leadership has over 35 years of experience in providing supply, strategy, and full coverage, and function in the form of on-staff energy advisors to best assist customers. Industrial Energy is at the forefront of developing renewable energy supply solutions for end-use customers of all sizes, including site-specific Power Purchasing Agreements, and Virtual Power Purchasing Agreements. industrialenergy.info


Media Contacts

ICA Miami: icamiami@resnicow.com

ENGIE North America: michael.clingan@external.engie.com

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Ferguson and ENGIE Collaborate on New Renewable Energy Project

The 65 MW Century Oak Wind agreement will generate the power equivalent to the annual electricity needs of more than 34,000 average U.S. homes.

HOUSTON – Ferguson and ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced today a 65 MW Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) from ENGIE’s Century Oak wind project located in Callahan County, Texas, 160 miles west of Dallas.
This VPPA between ENGIE and Ferguson, a leading value-added distributor providing expertise, solutions and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more, is expected to generate enough clean wind power to match a significant portion of Ferguson’s annual electricity use in the United States and Canada.

The agreement with ENGIE, a subsidiary of ENGIE S.A., a global leader in the transition to renewable energy, is part of Ferguson’s strategy to reduce its environmental footprint through fleet management, energy-efficient upgrades across its facilities, investing in onsite solar and seeking offsite renewable energy opportunities. The agreement is expected to generate enough power to meet the annual electrical needs of more than 34,000 average U.S. homes – or in more everyday terms some 700,000 ENERGY STAR kitchen refrigerators!
Schneider Electric also supported the Ferguson and ENGIE collaboration, through its VPPA advisory services on the project, managing the strategy and other ongoing negotiations throughout the total process.

“Century Oak reflects our commitment to reducing our environmental impact across our operations and represents a significant milestone for our business,” said Denise Vaughn, Vice President Environmental, Social and Governance, Ferguson. “We are delighted to work with ENGIE and Schneider Electric on Century Oak which delivers renewable, reliable and cost-effective energy to the grid.”

The Century Oak wind project is part of ENGIE’s almost 7 GW of wind, solar and storage in operation or construction across North America. The 153 MW project will become a long-term contributor to the 13,000 residents of the Callahan County community. The project is expected to generate tax revenues of around $14 million to support county services and an additional $19 million in revenues to the local School district, supporting teachers and educational infrastructure over the 30-year life of the project.
“We are honored that Ferguson chose ENGIE to be part of their energy transition and the role Century Oak will play in their sustainability journey,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “These are long-term projects that will not only produce renewable power, but provide jobs, tax revenues and economic growth, and we are privileged that the Callahan County community is part of this journey. We have activities in more than 100 counties across the U.S. and Canada – the energy transition is really one that will be powered by communities across the continent.”

The energy transition is creating opportunities across many communities in the U.S. where key elements of the project’s 45 GE Turbines were constructed, and locally with an estimated 300-400 skilled construction professionals engaged in project construction. The project is also somewhat local for Ferguson, who employs 3,000 associates across Texas.

Both Ferguson and ENGIE are focused on building a sustainable pipeline of skilled trade professionals through investment in training and attracting talent to both traditional trades, as well as the fast-growing needs of the renewable energy sector. Ferguson Cares and ENGIE’s local relationships with technical schools and other institutions underpin their support for the development of a skilled future workforce.
Construction is underway at Century Oak, creating 300-400 temporary jobs, while up to six new permanent roles and additional 3rd party specialists will support local operations over the life of the project. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

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About Ferguson
Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG; LSE: FERG) is a leading value-added distributor in North America providing expertise, solutions and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more. We exist to make our customers’ complex projects simple, successful and sustainable. Ferguson is headquartered in the U.K., with its operations and associates solely focused on North America and managed from Newport News, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.corporate.ferguson.com or follow us on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ferguson-enterprises.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.


Contacts:

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, Press Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

Ferguson
Christine Dwyer, Senior Director of Communications and PR
Christine.dwyer@ferguson.com

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GetBlok Farms© Enters Renewable Energy Agreement with ENGIE

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. and HOUSTON, Sept. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — GetBlok Farms© has entered into a two-year renewable energy agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, a subsidiary of ENGIE North America (ENGIE). This renewable energy purchase includes Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from the Priddy Wind Project (Mills County, Texas). GetBlok Farms© will receive RECs to match the forecasted consumption for its hydroponics farm in West Aliquippa (PA).


The Green-e® certified RECs in this agreement are determined by the Center for Resource Solutions to be independently verified to represent the environmental benefits of one MWh of renewable energy. Over the term of this agreement, the RECs will equal 100% of GetBlok Farms© demand and avoid the equivalent CO2 emissions from 343,730 pounds of coal burned, or the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by 106 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled.*

“Sustainability drives the core of our operations,” said Vinnie Lima, Managing Member at GetBlok Farms. “Our approach for hyper-local and highly sustainable farming methods must address the energy consumption in hydroponic farms. As a core piece of our sustainability commitment, we are delighted to leverage wind-generated Green-e® power from the Priddy Wind Project designed, developed and operated by ENGIE.”

The Priddy Wind Project is a 300 MW asset with 63 turbines that can produce electricity with wind speeds as low as 6.7 mph. The project is located 150 miles southwest of Dallas and commenced commercial operations in February 2022.

“Not only is this one of the first customer announcements for renewable energy from the Priddy Wind Project, it is one of the first hydroponic farms in our portfolio of customers,” said Taymur Bunkheila, director of sustainability solutions and energy+ initiatives at ENGIE Resources. “We are proud to bring the benefits of planet-friendly power to an operation with such a noble cause.” 

*According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

About GetBlok Farms
GetBlok Farms utilizes Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), growing over 2.5 acres of fresh produce in only 320 square feet. Through a state-of-the-art CEA system, we are able to consume 97% less water than traditional farming, while utilizing no pesticides or herbicides. By “moving farms, not food”, we are able to achieve an astounding reduction of over 1500 miles in transportation, leading to a substantial decrease in CO2 emissions and waste. Located in Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, GetBlok Farms is deeply rooted in community involvement and economic development in disadvantaged food deserts. 

About the ENGIE Group
The ENGIE Group (made up of ENGIE S.A. and its subsidiaries and affiliates) is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. ENGIE S.A. (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. In North America, ENGIE companies have delivered integrated, innovative energy solutions to public and private organizations for nearly half a century. We employ approximately 3,000 people focused on enabling our customers to become more sustainable and achieve their decarbonization targets through expert project delivery and competitive solutions. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

SOURCE ENGIE Resources

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ENGIE to supply Microsoft Data Centers in Texas with 24×7 Renewable Energy Matching Program

ENGIE Energy Marketing (ENGIE) today announced an innovative agreement to provide renewable energy to cover the consumption of select Microsoft data centers in Texas. By utilizing existing renewable energy contracts between the two companies, this collaboration will accelerate Microsoft’s mission to transition to 100% carbon-free energy on an hourly basis by 2030.

This customized agreement will allow Microsoft, one of the world’s largest purchasers of renewable energy, to match ERCOT data center load with clean power. ENGIE, a leading developer and owner of renewable power capacity, will source the energy from their portfolio of wind, solar and battery projects in Texas.

Microsoft is recognized as a leader in the industry with the 100/100/0 goal which aims to have 100% of electricity consumption, 100% of the time, matched by carbon-free energy purchases by 2030. With this deal in Texas, ENGIE is providing direct support of Microsoft’s ambition to drive grid decarbonization.

ENGIE is well positioned to deliver on Microsoft’s ambition through its integrated approach – from building and operating renewable energy generation and storage assets to sourcing power through its global energy management activities.

“Microsoft continues to be a leader in the market for corporate renewable energy procurement and a key alliance for ENGIE in the Net Zero energy transition,” said Ken Robinson, ENGIE Energy Marketing N.A. President and CEO. ” We are proud to help them achieve their ambitions, where many other companies continue to struggle. Our goal is to grow our 24×7 hourly carbon-free matching program in key markets with electricity generated from zero carbon energy sources including wind and solar.”

“We are excited that this project has kicked off and will provide us meaningful insight into future hourly carbon free program design,” said Adrian Anderson, Microsoft General Manager, Renewables and Carbon Free Energy. “We look forward to working with ENGIE to meet our 100/100/0 goals.”

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BKV and ENGIE Collaborate to Introduce Carbon Sequestered Gas

BKV and ENGIE will collaborate on the sale and purchase of natural gas and associated Carbon Sequestered Credits, a new measured, third-party verified, carbon sequestered product. This innovative arrangement brings together two industry leaders dedicated to addressing climate change.  

BKV will deliver ENGIE physical natural gas, as well as an equivalent amount of gas tokens that represent the environmental attributes associated with both responsibly sourced gas (RSG) production and capturing carbon dioxide from the gas stream and injecting it into a permitted facility owned by BKV. The CO2 sequestration project underpinning this transaction is BKV’s Barnett Zero project, located in Bridgeport, Texas. The CO2 capture and sequestration will be third-party certified.  

We are proud to work with BKV in its development of innovative, differentiated gas products that are key to ensuring the role that natural gas can play as part of the energy transition. This transaction is representative of our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit the environmental impact of its activities. Additionally, Carbon-Sequestered Gas represents an opportunity for end-users to purchase measured and verified differentiated natural gas that is certified and registered using blockchain technology. We believe this level of transparency and trust is critical for the energy transition.  

To see the full press release, go to >> https://bkv.com/news/bkv-engie-press-release-carbon-sequestered-gas

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Disrupting Electricity: Mothership has Landed with Landmark Agreement with ENGIE

HOUSTON –(BUSINESS WIRE)– ENGIE Energy Marketing NA, Inc. (“ENGIE Energy Marketing”), a global energy mid-streamer offering electricity, natural gas, and energy services, a subsidiary of ENGIE S.A. (ENGIE) and MI Texas LLC (“MI”), a subsidiary of Mothership Incubator LLC, a retail electricity provider (REP), today announced that they have entered into a facility agreement for wholesale supply procurement in ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) with a tailored focus on next-generation retail solutions.

Unlike a run-of-the-mill credit and supply deal, this innovative facility structure encapsulates MI’s unique value proposition: providing white-label REP services for distributed energy resources (DERs) and creatively structured electricity supply solutions for complex, non-residential loads such as datacenters. With a commitment to growing renewable energy adoption, solving unique credit challenges, and simplifying ways for residential homeowners to deploy DERs, Mothership is primed to disrupt the electricity space.

Mothership will use this facility, which provides innovative products, renewable hedges, flexible credit, and varied tenor terms, to hedge supply requirements for their unique customer base. More specifically, this facility will enable Mothership to focus on innovating new retail solutions that monetize DERs such as solar, storage, and EVs and creating new contract structures for flexible load resources such as bitcoin mining, manufacturing, and schools.

ENGIE Energy Marketing’s President, Ken Robinson, said, “All of us at ENGIE are excited to join forces with a company like Mothership that understands our mission to transform the energy landscape to be more customer-centric, and also has the expertise to curate a retail portfolio focused on deploying renewables to all customer segments. Smart agreements like these are the kind that we need to make real gains toward a carbon-neutral economy.”

Mothership CEO Maura Yates said, “ENGIE is an ideal alliance for Mothership and we share a common commitment to decarbonization and innovation. The Mothership team see’s enormous potential in maximizing value streams from DER’s and delivering creative solutions to the market in order to drive cost savings, comprehensive risk management, and sustainability.”


About ENGIE

Our group is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. With our 170,000 employees, our clients, our partners and our stakeholders, we strive every day to act to accelerate the transition towards a carbon neutral economy, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Guided by our purpose statement, we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, using our expertise in our key business areas (gas, renewable energies, services) to provide competitive solutions to our clients. www.engie.com

About Mothership

Launched in Fall 2021, Mothership is a boutique ERCOT REP that is disrupting the traditional electricity space by leading the next generation of retail suppliers focused on flexibility, deploying distributed energy resources, and decarbonization of the grid. Mothership’s house-branded REP is a hyper-focused, high-performing risk and origination team committed to doing smart deals and providing best-in-class customer service for commercial and industrial customers. We work with sophisticated brokers and loads in ERCOT, creating highly structured, customized retail contracts that integrate renewables and DERs into the supply offering. To learn more, visit mothershipenergy.com.

Contact:

Calin Brammer
calin@mothershipenergy.com

ENGIE Energy Marketing NA, Inc.
Michael Clingan, Press Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

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Wholesale Energy Marketing

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