The changing power mix means new expertise is needed
JUNE 2022
by Michael Leitman, Contributing Columnist
As the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy sector is still experiencing lingering impacts to fuel markets and sources for power generation. In the coming years, however, the industry is expected to normalize to recent trends and the pre-pandemic trajectory.
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative operates the Wildcat Point gas plant in Maryland. (Photo Courtesy: ODEC)
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, national retail electricity sales declined by 2.5%, accompanied by a shift in demand patterns and in generation mix. As people spent more time at home, U.S. residential sales rose by 1.7% while commercial and industrial sales fell by 5.4% and 4.3%, respectively.
With demand for natural gas declining, generators took advantage of low fuel prices and the share of power coming from gas-fired resources increased for the third straight year, while the share from coal continued to decline.
THE ROLE OF GAS
In 2021, the economy started to reopen, and demand recovered, but natural gas production was slow to ramp up, leading to increased prices. As a result, the share of U.S. electricity powered by natural gas in 2021 fell for the first time since 2017.
This drop was offset by an increase in coal-fired generation, bucking a multi-year trend that saw the use of coal for electricity declining every year since 2014. Though natural gas remains the dominant fuel source in the U.S., the share from non-hydro renewables, primarily wind and solar, has steadily increased for the last several years.
Going forward, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that the share of coal and natural gas in the electric generation mix will decline as the rapid growth of non-hydro renewables, especially solar, continues. According to EIA, renewable energy sources will surpass natural gas as the largest source for generation by 2030.
Nevertheless, natural gas is expected to remain an important fuel source for electric power, due to its abundant supply. Gas-fired units can respond more easily to changes in system conditions, which is crucial for maintaining grid reliability, as the fuel mix transitions to higher penetrations of wind and solar resources that do not run all the time. Batteries, which have become cheaper and more powerful in recent years, will also play an important role in supporting renewable resources.
NEED FOR RESILIENCY
In recent years, severe weather events have highlighted the need for fuel diversity. If one source of power is constrained during a storm, having others available to fill the gap can provide stability and keep the lights on.
But as the generation mix shifts away from conventional fuels, additional changes will be necessary to accommodate the upcoming changes and ensure resiliency and reliability.
Modernizing the national grid with new technologies can offer a variety of solutions during the energy transition. The use of advanced data, two-way communications and digital software enable better and more efficient management of the electric system. Although traditional, hands-on roles are still crucial for electric operations, there will be a need for new expertise to integrate and utilize these new technologies across the entire energy industry.
Through the evolution of the power generation mix and the electric sector in general over the next several years, electric cooperatives will have challenges and opportunities as they continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable power to the communities they serve.
Michael Leitman writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.