Deep Dive

Will ERCOT’s streamlined connect-and-manage approach work for other markets?

Are tariffs good or bad for the U.S. energy storage industry? Experts say it's complicated

The Trump administration's aggressive tariff policies have troubled the booming U.S. energy storage industry, with stock analysts turning cautious on import-dependent original equipment manufacturers and project developers delaying investment decisions. Experts say that without clarity on long-term import tariffs, industry challenges may deepen over the next two years before global supply chains rebalance.

EPRI Leads Open Power AI Alliance: Data Sharing Drives Grid Modernization

The application of artificial intelligence in grid modernization is hindered by a lack of systematic training data. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has joined forces with multiple parties to establish the Open Power AI Alliance, aiming to build an open data repository, while Schneider Electric and others have launched digital grid platforms. At the policy level, federal and state initiatives advance data access, but disagreements over cybersecurity and customer rights persist.

Former FERC Commissioner: White House Executive Order May Jeopardize Transmission Planning and Interconnection Reform

Former U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commissioners warn that the executive order signed by the White House on February 18, requiring review of independent agency rulings, could delay critical implementation of transmission planning and interconnection reforms. Bipartisan former commissioners all stated that legal disputes will consume valuable time, affecting the U.S. power system's ability to respond to surging demand.

Santee Cooper Plans to Sell Unfinished Nuclear Reactors: What's Next?

South Carolina utility Santee Cooper has initiated a bidding process to sell its unfinished Units 2 and 3 at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. Experts expect that if a deal is reached, the new units could be completed and operational within 5 to 8 years.

AI Demonstration Projects Show Great Potential, but Are Other Utility Companies Ready?

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, utility companies are exploring the use of these technologies to address reliability challenges caused by load growth. An EPRI report notes that AI investment commitments in 2025 are enormous, including the $500 billion Stargate project in the United States and a €206 billion fund in the European Union. Demonstration projects by companies such as Avista, PG&E, and Ameren showcase AI's potential in grid optimization, load forecasting, and wildfire prevention, but issues such as data security and insufficient infrastructure still need to be resolved.

Transformer supply bottleneck threatens grid stability, load growth intensifies challenges

The modernization of the U.S. power system faces a transformer supply bottleneck. Load is expected to grow by nearly 16% by 2030, but delivery lead times for new transformers have extended from weeks to three years. The industry calls for investment in capacity expansion, standardized designs, and policy support to alleviate supply tensions and ensure grid stability.

Data Center Cooling Technology Outlook 2025: Two-Phase Liquid Cooling Goes Mainstream, Hybrid Cooling and Retrofit Market Heat Up

Driven by AI, data center cooling technology is undergoing profound transformation. In 2025, two-phase liquid cooling is expected to move from pilot projects to large-scale implementation, and hybrid air-liquid cooling solutions are becoming the mainstream choice for new projects, but supply chain risks and high-density design challenges cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, the retrofit market for existing data centers will maintain "slow but steady" growth, and northern cold-climate regions are gaining more attention due to their natural cooling advantages.

2025 Renewable Energy Outlook: Trump's Second Term Begins, Industry Moves at Full Speed

In 2025, the U.S. renewable energy industry maintains investment momentum driven by the Inflation Reduction Act, but faces issues such as grid interconnection backlogs and policy shifts. Industry leaders and experts analyze opportunities and challenges in load growth, energy storage boom, solar, and offshore wind in Utility Dive's outlook.

Surge in electricity demand dominates U.S. power industry policy agenda

President-elect Trump returns to the White House amid a surge in electricity demand, a reality that will dominate the new administration's power-related policies. Experts point out that new power supply faces multiple obstacles, and the personnel layout and agenda setting of agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will be key points to watch.