ENERGYGPS
is a leading energy analysis and consulting firm.
We do energy analysis, and we do it really well.
Energy industry professionals (traders, project developers, utilities, private equity firms, information managers, policy professionals and non-profits) use
our analysis to help them make the most informed decisions they can.
Explore our product offerings, consulting services,
or learn more about Energy GPS.
Stay In Touch
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Our daily newsletter covers a medley of energy topics driven by market events.
Stay updated on hot energy topics, and special announcements.
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Our daily newsletter covers a medley of energy topics driven by market events.
Stay updated on hot energy topics, and special announcements.
This artilce sets the stage for how batteries within the CAISO footprint are impacting the grid/markets. As the capacity continues to grow, the impacts will be seen in various markets and at different levels. As this technology unfolds, we will be there with the analytical foresight to understand how the current habits evolve.
» learn more
ERCOT continues to be the leading when it comes to overall wind capacity within its electricity grid. It was not until the past couple of years that solar generation has started to pop up across the middle of the day. It is nowhere near that of California but it is a start. As we continue to dive into the analysis, the one thing is clear, the solar output matches better to the peak load unlike that of the Golden State.
» learn more
A battery can sell three types of products: resource adequacy (RA), ancillary services , and energy. RA revenue is a function of the capacity market rules (e.g., size of battery and duration), and is generally procured on a monthly or annual basis. As such, RA value is not directly impacted by short term energy and ancillary prices or dispatch. Ancillary services, especially regulating reserves, are currently profitable, but the market for them is very small compared to the size of the energy market. In the CAISO, for example, the current regulating reserve market is about 300 MW of “reg up” and 300 MW of “reg down.” Historically, the regulating reserve market was served by flexible hydro and natural gas.
» learn more
This past January, ERCOT implemented the first part of scarcity price policy revisions from the Public Utility Commission of Texas. These changes, affecting the Operating Reserve Demand Curve adder (ORDC), were set to take place in two phases: at the beginning of 2019 and 2020. This past April, EGPS discussed the proposed first change and how it might affect ERCOT pricing. Now, at the end of the summer, it’s time to look ahead at the upcoming second change. This article presents an analysis where the frequency and level of ORDC adders is calculated using defined adjustments. We compute expected adjustments based on the known change to the ORDC adder coming March 2020 (Phase 2 adder) as well as some expected change to the net resource mix.....
» learn more
The ‘Sumas Story’ started years ago when cold winter days in the Pacific Northwest had to compete with Northeast winter demand as AECO was the marginal molecule. This created a lively market that saw both Sumas and AGT cash gas prices shoot through the moon. As the grid was going through its evolution of pipeline expansions (REX) and on-shore production, the leverage of AECO diminished to a point that Sumas went to the wayside while AGT was still privy to the winter price spikes. Almost a year ago to the day of writing this report, the Pacific Northwest got a jolt (no pun intended) as the 36 inch Enbridge pipeline near Shelley, BC exploded with a ball of fire that was seen for miles......
» learn more
The beginning of a new year is always a great opportunity to reflect on the previous one, and renewable energy is no exception. With so many factors affected by the seasons—load, gas prices, solar irradiance, wind speed—it often requires a whole year to make observations about any given ...
» read more
The wind across the Lone Star state has taken it personally that solar started getting all the attention over the summer as the sun shined bright and the cumulative peak output jumped up to over 3.7 GW after ending the 2019 year around 1.8 GW. The graph below illustrates just how the ...
» read more
The U.S. LNG market is a bit like the 2007 Major League Baseball season. That year was the first time the league had two division champions who had finished the prior year in last place. The U.S. LNG market is currently posting repeated record-high sendouts this winter thanks to a ...
» read more
Some times the prospect of having a long holiday weekend is not as rosy as it seems. Carrying risk into a three day holiday is no fun noting that energy markets can turn on a dime with just one change in the weather modeling. It is hard to have rest and relaxation while the markets are closed in ...
» read more
ERCOT has been a poster child for wind energy in the US, with only SPP rivaling its capacity. Recently, however, more focus has turned towards increasing solar and battery installations. While wind is still unquestionably the dominant renewable resource in Texas, solar generation lines up nicely ...
» read more
The Lone Star State is getting a lot of attention these days as the star that we are dependent on for our ray of light each and every day is shining bright. In the latest EnergyGPS Monthly report (Platinum Package), titled Rising Star(s), we take a look at how renewable technologies have slid ...
» read more
There have been rumblings of late that conditions are setting up for a polar vortex to emerge and make its way into lower Canadian and upper U.S. markets. This could be the first polar vortex of the 2021 Winter Season and if all the stars align, the most drastic one since 2018. If it ...
» read more
Coming into the winter the natural gas storage in Alberta was at record levels thanks to a banner injection season. From April through October of last year the province was able to put 240 BCF into the cavern complex taking the inventory up to 425 BCF prior to the start of this winter. Since then ...
» read more
As the calendar turned and 2020 went into the books and 2021 was initiated, the Pacific Northwest hydro Water Year was starting to form as the month of December was filled with plenty of precipitation. Since the temperatures were somewhat mild during the holiday season, that meant that the lower ...
» read more
In June of 2020, we noted that CAISO curtailment had already exceeded the total amount for 2019. Now, at the beginning of 2021, we can examine the entirety of 2020 curtailments:
Figure 1 | Cumulative Renewable Curtialments by Year - Aggregated Total (System and Local)
This figure shows a running ...
» read more