Jun 24 2014
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) today announced the release of a groundbreaking report titled Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy.
Jointly authored by ACORE members ScottMadden, Sullivan & Worcester, American Clean Energy, RES Americas, Abengoa Solar and Siemens, this resource explores key issues and provides recommendations related to evolving utility and other business models for renewable energy. The report was produced in conjunction with ACORE's Power Generation and Infrastructure Initiative, and ACORE member contributions to the review provide useful analysis, data, and insight for renewable energy and utility stakeholders.
"From potential storage benefits of electric vehicles, to recommendations on ideal scenarios for integration of distributed renewable assets, ACORE and its members are tackling the cutting edge issues facing our electricity sector today," said co-author and CEO of American Clean Energy, Steve Morgan.
The report describes how distributed generation, smart grids, and microgrids are changing traditional utility business models, suggests outcomes for the successful integration of renewable energy at scale, and spotlights ways in which concentrated solar power (CSP) and electric vehicles (EVs) are changing the way utilities look at generation, integration and storage.
"Our Power Generation and Infrastructure Initiative has always focused on solutions over politics," said ACORE CEO Michael Brower, "and by convening our members who are developers, legal experts, sector analysts and financiers to review the business landscape, we guarantee a highly credible, critical and realistic view to help craft solutions for a cleaner, more reliable power sector future."
The report builds on ACORE's aim to create bridges between the renewable energy and utility sectors with sections on "Renewable Energy Drivers of Change and Overview of Actions from the Utility Perspective" and "Distributed Energy: Understanding and Mitigating Commercial and Regulatory Risks."
ACORE's Power Generation & Infrastructure lead James Hewett called this focus "essential" noting, "The utility sector is well aware of the disruptive nature of distributed renewable energy. ACORE is focused on making this disruption an opportunity for utilities, not a threat. Frankly, it's essential to the success of all."
ACORE advocates that an America powered on renewable energy and fuels is a stronger, more secure, cleaner, and more prosperous America. The Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy report shows the potential of America's renewable energy economy to provide new opportunities to the entire power sector, providing the country with an unparalleled chance to reinvigorate the U.S. economy while protecting our environment.