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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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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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ENGIE enters a partnership with Ares Management for a 2.7 GW portfolio of Renewables and Storage Assets in the U.S.

HOUSTON, Sept. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it recently closed a partnership with Ares Management Infrastructure Opportunities funds (Ares). This transaction represents the largest operating portfolio sell down for ENGIE in the U.S. and is one of the largest sales completed in the renewables sector based on total capacity. ENGIE will retain a controlling share in the portfolio and will continue to operate and manage the assets.

The overall 2.7 GW portfolio consists of 15 projects in operation across ERCOT, MISO, PJM and SPP, of which 53% is solar, 25% wind and 22% co-located battery storage capacity.

“We are delighted that ENGIE and Ares will be partners in such a large-scale renewables and co-located storage portfolio to further accelerate the energy transition towards a net zero future,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “The investment by Ares reflects ENGIE’s proven and recognized track record in developing, building, operating and financing renewable assets, both in North America and globally”.

ENGIE is a leader in the net zero energy transition and currently has more than 8 GW of renewable production in operation or construction across the U.S. and Canada. Globally, ENGIE has an aspiration to add 4 GW per year through 2025, with North America as a material contributor to that growth. This transaction supports ENGIE’s strategy in North America by simultaneously recycling capital and adding a leading infrastructure investor to ENGIE’s select pool of partners.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with ENGIE, a global leader in clean energy, on this highly contracted, attractive portfolio,” said Steve Porto, Partner in Ares’ Infrastructure Opportunities strategy. “This partnership provides diversification across proven technology and geography at scale alongside a strong operator. We look forward to continuing to provide the capital and experience needed to support the energy transition and build-out of climate infrastructure.”

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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.

About Ares Management
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2024, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had over $447 billion of assets under management, with more than 2,950 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

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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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ENGIE sees continued strong growth in renewables in the U.S.

HOUSTON, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE, a leader in the Net Zero energy transition, envisions continued strong customer demand for its renewables solutions in the U.S. and aims to grow its number of integrated projects substantially.

ENGIE was recently named the top corporate seller of clean power purchase agreements (PPAs) globally in what was a record year for PPAs, according to BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) 2023 full year rankings. According to the report, corporations publicly announced a record 46 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind contracts in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022. The U.S. remained the largest market for PPAs with 17.3GW of deals announced.

“Our strong customer focus combined with our safe, expert project delivery is at the heart of our growth in the U.S.,” said David Carroll, chief renewables officer, senior VP, North America region for ENGIE. “Our reputation for consistently delivering projects that enable our customers to meet their public commitments with confidence is key. Customers value our track record of delivering projects on-time, on-spec and on-budget. We do this by leveraging our global scale and integrated model complemented by our energy expertise and local presence.”

ENGIE currently has 7 GW of solar, wind and battery storage projects in North America and that number is growing. Last year, it ranked among the top 10 clean power owners and number 4 in top developers of clean power capacity installed in the U.S., according to American Clean Power (ACP) 2023 Market Report.

The company views its pace of growth accelerating to support its customers as PPAs increasingly become the centerpiece of companies’ sustainability strategies. Its growth pipeline also ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. according to the ACP report, with an emphasis on co-locating energy storage with solar and wind projects with its acquisition of Broad Reach Power last year.

“Our success is attributed to our team of clean energy experts – our people. They are the driving force behind our achievements, impacting one customer and project at a time,” said Prathima Sundar, chief human resources officer and VP at ENGIE N.A. “We actively seek out and cultivate top talent within the industry, fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion. This approach ensures that we deliver the highest quality sustainability solutions to our customers.”

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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 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, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.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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#1 Global Developer Selling Corporate Clean Energy

ENGIE drives PPA innovation after being ranked as the top developer to sell corporate clean energy PPAs by BloombergNEF in their latest Market Outlook report. Since 2019, we have shown resilience and consistency by ranking in the top three for developers, and our success in 2023 is no exception. We signed 19 deals covering over 1GW in five different countries, bringing our total corporate PPA portfolio to 7.3GW. Our clients trust us to support them in their adoption of renewable energy and to help them meet their energy reliability, sustainability, and efficiency goals.

We are proud to lead in both wind and solar technology for MW sold through PPAs, and we look forward to continued success as an innovative provider of sustainable energy solutions. On a local note, we are proud that the majority of the deals in the report were contributed by North America, an important growing market for ENGIE.

Read the full BloombergNEF report.

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ENGIE adds more than 650 MW to U.S. operations

HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced four projects reached commercial operation at the end of December 2022 with a total production capacity of 651 MW. The addition of these projects brings ENGIE’s renewable operations to more than 4.8 GW across the U.S. and Canada.

The portfolio additions include two Texas projects, the 300 MW Limestone Wind project in Navarro and Limestone counties alongside the 250 MW Sun Valley Solar project in Hill County northeast of Waco.

Dedication ceremonies to formally inaugurate Limestone and Sun Valley were held earlier this month, bringing together some 200 people including customers, landholders, local, state and federal representatives, community members and development partners, reflecting both the addition of 550 MW of clean energy to the grid, as well as the long-term commitments to the three counties which are expected to generate around $88 million in tax revenues over the life of the projects.

A further two solar projects totaling 101 MW came online in Halifax County, Virginia and New Castle County, Delaware, which was ENGIE’s first grid scale project in that state.

“Maintaining momentum with our projects and meeting the expectations of our customers to help them deliver on their own Net Zero journey was and remains our key focus. Our proven ability to deliver consistently in a dynamic environment will be a critical differentiator over the next few years,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer of ENGIE North America. “Last year was a volatile one for the renewables industry, including sector-wide supply chain challenges, a rapidly evolving incentives landscape, inflation and all coupled with an accelerating commitment to a Net Zero future made for a lively twelve months, but one where our breadth and depth of the ENGIE team came through.”

Earlier in 2022, Procter and Gamble (P&G) announced a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ENGIE for production from Sun Valley.

Jack McAneny, P&G Vice President Global Sustainability said at the time:

“Partnering on new renewable power projects brings long-term, zero emissions renewable electricity on-line and is an important strategy to help us achieve our goal of purchasing 100% renewable electricity. We are excited to work with ENGIE on projects like Sun Valley that progress our strategy and provide benefits to the local community.”

Last year also saw three customers announce PPA’s for Limestone – LyondellBasell, Stanley Black and Decker and Whirlpool Corporation.

LyondellBasell commented:

“LyondellBasell announced four power purchase agreements (PPA) during 2022 totaling 381 megawatts of renewable energy and the Limestone Wind Project was the first PPA in our portfolio. We are excited to see it beginning operations as this marks an important milestone for us in achieving our sustainability goals,” said Aaron Ledet, Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins Americas of LyondellBasell. “Renewable Electricity is a vital component of how we aim to deliver our greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, which is a 42% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline.”

Stanley Black and Decker commented previously:

“Creating a more sustainable world and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 requires a transition to renewable energy,” said Deb Geyer, Corporate Responsibility Officer for Stanley Black & Decker. “This project, operational by the end of 2022, will continue to support Stanley Black & Decker’s strategy to source 100 percent of its United States and Canada electricity needs from renewable power.”

Whirlpool Corporation commented:

“This latest wind project is an important part of our ongoing sustainability initiatives, adding additional clean, renewable energy to the electrical grid while helping to reduce the company’s carbon footprint,” said Whirlpool Corp. Sr. Director of Sustainability Beat Stocker. “Now that Limestone Wind is becoming fully operational, we have achieved an important step in matching 100% of our U.S. plant electricity emissions, taking us closer to our Net Zero by 2030 goal for our operations.”

ENGIE has established a large and growing pipeline of wind, solar and storage projects across the U.S. and Canada, including two acquisitions last year that added some 50 early, mid and late-stage development projects to the portfolio.

“Globally ENGIE aims to add an average 4 GW of renewable capacity each year through 2025 and North America is poised to be a material contributor to that aspiration. We plan to almost double production capacity by 2025 across the U.S. and Canada,” said Carroll. “We are already in construction for many of our 2023 projects, including storage, which will become an increasing element of our portfolio.”

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About ENGIE

ENGIE 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 towards 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 (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. In North America, ENGIE has 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.

 

Media Contacts:

 

ENGIE North America

Michael Clingan, External Relations

Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

832-745-6057

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Basin Electric Power Cooperative and ENGIE North America announce 200 MW power purchase agreement for new South Dakota wind project

ENGIE North America (ENGIE) and Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) announced they have entered into a 25-year, 200 megawatt (MW) Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from ENGIE’s North Bend Wind project located in Hughes and Hyde counties in South Dakota.

The output from North Bend, which is expected to become operational in late 2023, will provide an addition to Basin Electric’s renewable energy mix, adding to its diverse energy portfolio, which provides affordable generation to support the needs of their 131 member cooperatives across nine states.

According to ENGIE, the renewable electricity generated by North Bend will be enough to help meet the monthly electricity needs of some 73,000 average U.S. households and reduces carbon emissions by up to 620,000 tonnes of CO2e per year.

“We are excited to add North Bend Wind to our total generating portfolio of over 7,000 megawatts which blends together affordable and reliable generation to meet the needs of our member co-ops over the coming decades” said Todd Telesz, Basin Electric chief executive officer and general manager. “Furthermore, it demonstrates our commitment to utilizing resources that fit our all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

ENGIE will develop, build and operate North Bend Wind consisting of 71 wind turbines on some 47,000 acres of land just outside Harold, SD, which is located in the cooperative’s service area. During construction ENGIE estimates over 250 jobs are expected to be created, with 8 – 10 longer term operational roles anticipated to be locally based.

ENGIE currently operates or is building almost 5 GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects across the U.S. and Canada and added 12 GW of wind, solar and storage to its pipeline in 2022.

“We are proud to have been selected by Basin Electric to help meet their needs for more renewable power in their overall generation mix and supporting them in delivering low-cost and reliable power to their members” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America.  “The fact that we are able to provide completely locally produced power from South Dakota to supply members across Basin Electric’s service territory, underpins our focus on being part of the community for at least the next quarter century. Maybe it’s not quite ‘farm to table’, but Basin Electric’s members continue to buy local.”

 

About Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. It generates and transmits electricity to 131 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 3 million consumer-owners.

 

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 101,500 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

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