Policymakers Can't Keep Up With Battery and Solar Costs

Policymakers Can't Keep Up With Battery and Solar Costs

It's difficult to keep up with cost and performance trends for technologies like batteries and solar PV. It's particularly hard for regulators and policymakers, who often rely on outdated analysis. The latest example comes from California, where the California Independent System Operator is using three-year-old data on battery and solar costs as it evaluates alternatives to a natural gas peaker plant. The cost of lithium-ion batteries and solar PV have come down precipitously since then. So why are regulators using such ancient data to make this crucial decision? This is not an isolated incident. In this episode, we talk about the questionable analysis behind the Puente natural gas plant in Southern California. We'll also discuss some other examples of faulty data being used for energy planning decisions. Finally, we'll speculate on some possible solutions to the chronic problem. Read Julian Spector's story on the faulty analysis: https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/energy-storage-nrg-puente-gas-peaker-plant-cost See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(342)

It’s turbulent times for the wind sector in the US, but the outlook is better across the pond. What can the US learn from Europe?

It’s turbulent times for the wind sector in the US, but the outlook is better across the pond. What can the US learn from Europe?

Nearly 150 days into President Trump’s second term, the outlook for wind energy in the United States - particularly offshore wind - is increasingly bleak. Trump had pledged to end offshore wind develo...

3 Jun 202541min

$8 billion in clean energy projects were cancelled this year. Can the US clean energy market survive tariff uncertainty?

$8 billion in clean energy projects were cancelled this year. Can the US clean energy market survive tariff uncertainty?

The US is risking ceding global market share of clean energy to China, permanently.New tariffs, put in place one day then removed the next. Rising costs for everything along the supply chain. The US c...

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What’s the biggest mistake clean energy developers make when chasing tax equity? | Sponsored content from Foss and Company

What’s the biggest mistake clean energy developers make when chasing tax equity? | Sponsored content from Foss and Company

Tax equity plays a significant role in clean energy finance, but are developers using it effectively, or are they stumbling over complexities and recent changes? Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by Bry...

7 Mai 202530min

An energy podcast crossover: Energy Gang and Interchange Recharged join forces to discuss flexibility on the power grid: why it is so important, and how to create it

An energy podcast crossover: Energy Gang and Interchange Recharged join forces to discuss flexibility on the power grid: why it is so important, and how to create it

They called the film Avengers: Infinity War the most ambitious crossover event in history. We can’t quite make the same claim, but at Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 Solar and Energy Storage Summit, we did reco...

30 Apr 202539min

In uncertain times, is a greater reliance on battery storage what’s needed? And how can developers better prepare for it? | Recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit

In uncertain times, is a greater reliance on battery storage what’s needed? And how can developers better prepare for it? | Recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit

Wood Mackenzie’s 18th Solar and Energy Storage summit is back, in Denver this week. If you can’t make it, don’t worry – we have all the debate and key insight you need to know here on the podcast. Rec...

25 Apr 202536min

Solar and energy storage experts debate the current market: what have we seen in the first quarter of 2025?

Solar and energy storage experts debate the current market: what have we seen in the first quarter of 2025?

Wood Mackenzie’s 18th Solar and Energy Storage summit is back, in Denver this week. If you can’t make it, don’t worry – we have all the debate and key insight you need to know here on the podcast.Reco...

24 Apr 202550min

It’s uncertain times in solar and storage. How can we use smarter grid optimisation to give developers some assurance? | Recorded live at SESS 2025

It’s uncertain times in solar and storage. How can we use smarter grid optimisation to give developers some assurance? | Recorded live at SESS 2025

Over the past couple of years unprecedented low prices for solar panels have spurred incredible growth. But there’s a big shift underway. In this special episode of the show, recorded live from the st...

24 Apr 202528min

Are current legal frameworks too restrictive for CCUS projects? What permitting and tax credit reform needs to happen to make things easier?

Are current legal frameworks too restrictive for CCUS projects? What permitting and tax credit reform needs to happen to make things easier?

“If you don't think in 15 years that we're going to value decarbonisation, or if you're worried about the 45Q, it's pretty tough to write that multi-billion dollar cheque,” says Peter Findlay, Directo...

8 Apr 202546min

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