The top 10 trends transforming the electric power sector

[kristopher]

The top 10 trends transforming the electric power sector
From the decline of coal power to the rise of energy storage, big changes are taking hold in the industry
Gavin Bade
Sept. 17, 2015
By now, it’s become cliché to suggest that the utility industry is on the brink of a massive transformation.

Analysts told us this would happen — the traditional electric utility model would be upended, and utilities would need to adjust their business models to operate in a new energy future. Now, with plummeting prices for renewables and energy storage, the finalization of the nation's first carbon regulations, and the proliferation of distributed energy resources, changes are taking hold faster than many expected. The electric sector is no longer simply anticipating a revolution — depending on where you are, it is embroiled in one today.

To help guide you through the uncertain waters of the industry, we have identified ten trendlines that are shaping the future of the power sector. The selection isn’t meant to be exhaustive, nor are we trying to rank one trend over another, but we hope the following list shows where we see the industry going.

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8. Renewables reaching grid parity

For years, the primary argument against renewable energy was that it isn’t cost effective. Today, that line of reasoning is becoming increasingly obsolete. In many regions, wind and solar — especially at utility scale — are reaching grid parity and often pricing out more traditional generation resources.

For renewable energy observers, this trend isn’t new to 2015....

7. Utilities face growing load defection...

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1. Utility business models are changing...

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/the-top-10-trends-transforming-the-electric-power-sector/405798/

[CrispyQ]

1. That was really interesting.

Awesome lead in photo.