Articles tagged with "grid-stability"
Ireland Shutters Its Last Coal-Fired Generating Station - CleanTechnica
Ireland has officially ceased coal-fired electricity generation, becoming the 15th European country to do so with the shutdown of the Moneypoint thermal power station on June 20, 2025. Built over 40 years ago to ensure energy security amid oil market instability, Moneypoint began its transition away from coal in 2017, evolving into a clean energy hub. The site’s existing high-capacity grid connection and infrastructure have been leveraged to facilitate this shift, including the addition of a 17 MW onshore wind farm and the launch of the Green Atlantic@Moneypoint project—a multi-billion euro initiative aimed at transforming the facility into one of Ireland’s largest renewable energy centers. Key developments include the 2022 completion of Ireland’s first synchronous compensator at Moneypoint, a zero-carbon technology that stabilizes grid frequency and inertia, enabling greater integration of renewable energy sources. While coal use has ended, Moneypoint will remain available to generate electricity using oil
energyrenewable-energycoal-phase-outenergy-transitionelectricity-gridwind-powergrid-stabilityInside The Iberian Grid Collapse: What Really Went Wrong - CleanTechnica
On April 28, 2025, the Iberian Peninsula suffered a major blackout when the Spain and Portugal grids disconnected from the wider European system due to a cascading failure at 12:33 PM. Despite occurring during mild spring conditions with moderate demand and abundant renewable energy, the blackout was not caused by renewables themselves. Instead, it resulted from multiple failures: 50% due to human errors in planning, 30% from legacy generation units not performing as expected, and 20% from renewables disconnecting because they were not configured to handle the scenario—highlighting human and system design shortcomings rather than technological faults. Prior black-start procedures, relying heavily on hydroelectric plants with autonomous restart capabilities, were successfully executed to restore the grid, underscoring the continued importance of such resources even as battery storage and inverter-based technologies grow. The blackout was precipitated by persistent voltage fluctuations and frequency oscillations throughout the morning, revealing structural weaknesses like insufficient dynamic voltage regulation and poor oscillation damping.
energypower-gridrenewable-energyblackoutelectricity-systemgrid-stabilityhydroelectric-powerA Political Battle Is Brewing Over Data Centers
The article discusses the emerging political conflict surrounding a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation included in former President Donald Trump’s "Big Beautiful Bill." This moratorium has raised concerns about its potential impact on the siting and regulation of AI data centers. Representative Thomas Massie criticized the provision for potentially enabling corporations to build massive AI data centers near residential areas by limiting local governments' ability to regulate zoning and land use. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) also opposed the moratorium, emphasizing that local laws help communities manage data center impacts such as utility costs, water resource use, and grid stability. The debate highlights broader tensions between federal and state authority over AI regulation. Some lawmakers, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, expressed fears that the moratorium undermines federalism and could lead to forced eminent domain for data center development. Critics argue the moratorium is an overly broad restriction on state AI laws, while supporters, including White House AI adviser David Sacks, contend that a unified federal standard is necessary to avoid a confusing patchwork of state regulations that could hinder innovation. A senior official involved in the bill’s negotiation clarified that the moratorium was not intended to restrict local control over physical infrastructure like data centers, but rather to create a clear federal framework for AI model regulation. The controversy over the moratorium reflects growing local resistance to the rapid expansion of data centers across the U.S., which consume significant electricity and water resources. Data centers’ rising energy demands—expected to triple by 2035—have led to community pushback despite their economic benefits. The article underscores how the intersection of AI regulation and data center development is becoming a contentious issue, with local, state, and federal interests increasingly at odds.
energydata-centersAI-regulationstate-legislationutility-costsgrid-stabilitywater-resourcesDynamic Pricing Beats Time-of-Use Pricing — EV Charging Pilot - CleanTechnica
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargingdynamic-pricingclean-energygrid-stabilityrenewable-energyCalifornia Has Over 15,000 MW Of Energy Storage - CleanTechnica
energyenergy-storageclean-energyCaliforniagrid-stabilitybattery-systemsrenewable-energyAcePower Launches New 50 kW Air-Cooled High-Efficiency Module to Accelerate Europe’s Fast-Charging Network Expansion
energycharging-infrastructurehigh-efficiency-modulesilicon-carbide-technologyfast-chargingpower-conversiongrid-stabilityShell Subsidiary sonnen Heats Up Virtual Power Plant Race In Texas
energyvirtual-power-plantTexas-electricity-gridenergy-storagesolar-energygrid-stabilityrenewable-energyWhat Caused the European Power Outage?
energypower-outageelectricity-gridgrid-stabilityenergy-productioninfrastructureblackout