Russia’s war with Ukraine has altered the energy landscape in Europe, as some countries have switched back to coal for their energy needs to avoid using Russian gas, said Meghan O’Sullivan, a professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School who formerly served as deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan. “I think that’s something we’re working together as an industry to figure out.” It could slow down the progress of them and could have a material impact to achieving those goals,” Hahn said in an interview. “I don’t think it’s going to stop the goals. Global energy trends haven’t pushed utilities away from decarbonization goals, but those goals could become more difficult to realize, utility leaders and analysts said during the conference.Īnother lesser-known, emerging obstacle for utilities in deploying clean energy is labor shortages, according to Dan Hahn, a partner at the consulting firm Guidehouse, which works with utilities, government and other organizations. Uncertainty in the supply chain for renewables, meanwhile, has caused some utilities to extend the life of coal-fired power plants ( Energywire, June 24). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year has rocked global energy markets, contributing to higher oil and natural gas prices as European countries seek to wean off Russian fuels. Here’s a look at some of the issues highlighted during the conference. Still, some acknowledged the uncertainty around the economics of clean hydrogen production and lingering safety questions associated with the gas. Akins and others in the industry have said those incentive programs may be unfair to other customers.Ĭlean hydrogen was also discussed during the sessions, as a number of utilities are considering blending hydrogen gas with natural gas in the coming years and decades. Inc.Īkins and others also said they see distributed energy resources - like residential solar and batteries, “smart” thermostats, and other localized projects - as critical for building a more reliable, modern power grid.Įnvironmental groups have long accused utilities of undermining the build-out of distributed energy resources, particularly rooftop solar, by opposing certain programs that incentivize them. There’s no doubt storms are getting more frequent and more severe, and we have to be ready for that,” said Nick Akins, CEO of Ohio-based American Electric Power Co. “We did a climate review last year, and we went decades in the past. But they suggested a more resilient grid could come with higher costs. In interviews, several utility executives said their companies are investing in efforts to harden and strengthen grid infrastructure. It also comes as many utilities are seeking to increase rates charged to consumers due to rising fuel costs and other factors, in proceedings that are generating controversy and protests in some states. The conference came at the start of what’s expected to be a hotter-than-average summer that could test the reliability of the U.S. “The opposite is true now: We’re fully in, pursuing it hard and making it happen.” “If you look at our history, there was a time when it’s fair to say the clean energy transition was held at arm’s length by the industry because we weren’t quite sure it could be pulled off successfully,” Gerry Anderson, executive chair of Michigan-based DTE Energy Co., said during a discussion at the conference. A flurry of electric trucks, cars and motorcycles were on display outside the conference center that housed the industry meeting, underscoring the connection to the decarbonization of other sectors. Utility executives said they’re prepared to lead a transition to a clean energy economy, even as inflation and supply chain issues have slowed down solar and wind installations and as critics say the industry hasn’t done enough to get off fossil fuels.

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