A group with ties to Bill Gates is promoting renewable energy, while Westinghouse, Hyundai, Fermi America, InstaVolt, and Itron are making bold moves to modernize energy sources.
As energy generation and distribution modernize and decentralize, technology leaders are responding with advocacy, projects, deals, and grid upgrades. The latest innovations include a renewable energy advocacy group, nuclear power plant construction, a gigantic private nuclear grid, onsite battery storage for EV charging, and advanced analytics for an island nation’s power grid.
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Renewable energy, nuclear power, EV charging, and grid modernization. Images used courtesy of Canva
Bill Gates’ Former Mates Launch Clean Energy Group
Former Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Group employees have created the Clean Economy Project, a nonprofit organization to accelerate renewable and clean energy development through policy and economic investment. They aim to develop reliable and affordable energy to meet rising demand.
The group will target economic aspects of clean energy as it works with governments, businesses, investors, and other partners. It plans to lobby and connect to policymakers, create coalitions, assist startups, and encourage investments. While the organization will continue to advocate for climate-friendly technology such as wind and solar power and electric vehicles, it will also align with the U.S. Department of Energy’s goals to develop nuclear and geothermal energy.
The group’s president is Aliya Haq, a former vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at Breakthrough Energy. Bill Gates stated he has pulled back from energy and climate to work on global health issues.
U.S. Makes $80B Deal for Fast Nuclear Development
The U.S. government will invest $80 billion in nuclear reactors from Westinghouse and partner with Brookfield Asset Management and Cameco. Westinghouse will construct 10 nuclear power reactors, at $8 billion each, to accelerate AI development nationwide.
Westinghouse’s AP1000 is a two-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) with a 3,415 MWt gross power rating and a 1,100 MWe nominal net electrical output. The design is simplified and modular, resulting in faster construction on a smaller footprint. The units use 80% less pipe, 80% fewer HVAC units, 70% fewer cables, and 50% fewer valves than conventional reactors.
The AP1000. Image used courtesy of Westinghouse
Hyundai Plans 11 GW Nuclear Project in World’s Largest Private Grid
Hyundai Engineering & Construction has signed Fermi America to develop four nuclear power plants to power an AI data center. The $500 billion project will be the largest private power grid in the world.
The HyperGrid complex will use Westinghouse’s AP1000 nuclear reactors for 4 GW and small modular reactors for 2 GW of power. It will also include a 4 GW gas combined cycle power plant and a 1 GW solar plus battery storage facility.
A rendering of the HyperGrid. Image used courtesy of Fermi America
Fermi America will develop the HyperGrid on 21.19 million square meters of land at the Complex Energy and Artificial Intelligence Campus near Amarillo, Texas. Former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry co-founded Fermi America.
InstaVolt Links Battery Storage to Ultra-Fast EV Chargers
InstaVolt will develop the U.K.’s first battery storage system that connects directly to ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers at Welcome Break Corley Service Stations along the M6 highway. The energy storage will support InstaVolt’s 60p per kWh off-peak charging rate.
The battery storage system will store electricity onsite for distribution to the chargers, enabling consistent charging performance and reducing charge times during high demand.
InstaVolt chargers. Image used courtesy of InstaVolt
The project includes upgrading the existing chargers from 62.5 kW to 160 kW ultra-rapid chargers. The finished site will feature eight chargers on the northbound side and seven on the southbound side. The battery rollout program includes 12 more planned sites, including North Wales and Eastbourne.
Itron’s AMI Network To Modernize Grid in the Philippines
Itron has partnered with Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the largest electric distribution utility in the Philippines, to modernize the smart grid with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The multi-year program will improve grid performance for over 8 million people in the Manila metropolitan area.
Itron’s AMI solution is part of its Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio. The IPv6-based network uses Gen5 mesh and cellular technology for smart metering and grid edge applications. Components include communication, data management, and control access across Meralco’s service area.
Itron will provide its UtilityQ software for centralized headend system control and visibility, real-time data exchange between field devices and back-end systems, and data transmission across the service territory. Relays will connect hard-to-reach or complex areas.
An example of UtilityQ software. Image used courtesy of Itron
The modernization solution aims to reduce downtime and allow for better outage restoration. It also prepares the grid for connecting distributed energy resources such as electric vehicles and rooftop solar.
