Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Geothermal heating and cooling technologies are important and underutilized solutions for. supporting a more resilient and efficient national energy system, as well as reducing emissions from buildings.

Geothermal heating and cooling technologies can reduce peak electricity demand, increase resilience, and lower ratepayer energy bills. By 2050, the technical potential for geothermal heating and cooling systems equates to up to ~80 million homes (~200 million refrigeration tonsii) across residential and commercial buildings in the United States; however, actual adoption will likely be lower. At full deployment, summer and winter peak demand could be hundreds of gigawatts (GW) lower than for a …

2025 Price Outlook Whitepaper – Critical Materials: Under Pressure?

Critical mineral markets came under intense downwards price pressure in 2024. In 2025, growing demand for critical minerals and processing capacity will add further complexity for participants trying to establish and predict prices. In this whitepaper, Benchmark’s expert analysts will explore the opportunities and risks facing the markets for energy transition materials over the next 12 months. What are the major factors that will affect each of these markets, and how is price risk management changing? Benchmark also shares its view on battery capacity as the gigafactory pipeline continues to expand around the world.…

Opportunities for Integrating Electric and Gas Planning

Growing demand for electricity in buildings is creating new opportunities and challenges for electric and natural gas planning. To date, electric and gas planning processes have largely been siloed, and only a few jurisdictions have started to examine how these two processes could be linked together.

The report explores the current state of electric and gas system planning, and the benefits and challenges of integrating these planning processes. The authors frame the characteristics of an integrated electric and gas distribution planning process and identify indicators of progress toward the characteristics. …

The Benefits of Innovation: An Assessment of the Economic Opportunities of Highly Durable Carbon Dioxide Removal

The emerging industry of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) encompasses an array of innovative solutions that are ready for takeoff. The US has an opportunity to maintain and enhance its position as a global leader in this space thanks to its high geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage potential, varied landscapes, skilled workforce, and advanced research capabilities. While climate change mitigation may be a primary motivation for CDR support, a host of additional benefits will accompany a scaling of this industry. These include economic, social, and environmental benefits. Given the diversity of CDR approaches, these opportunities will be distributed over a range …

A Multi-Model Study to Inform the United States’ 2035 NDC

In 2025, countries are expected to submit a third round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that outline emission reduction goals for 2035. These new NDCs will be important for global alignment with the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals. Setting an ambitious and plausible 2035 NDC in the United States (US) could be crucial in motivating high levels of ambition globally. This study brings together four US modeling teams to show that an expanded set of federal and state policies beyond current policies could achieve economy-wide emissions reductions of 56-67% below 2005 levels by 2035. By contrast, current policies result in 34-44% …

Grid Flexibility Study

Resurgent electricity consumption growth challenges grid reliability according to NEMA-PA Consulting Grid Flexibility study:
– The electroindustry is at the forefront of a nationwide drive to improve the reliability and resilience of the power grid ahead of growing power demand from data centers, e-mobility, building electrification, and manufacturing reshoring
– After two decades of stagnant power demand growth and scant transmission and distribution additions, power gap risks are expected to rise during peak demand events

Reliability risks are rising:
– Demand growth is likely to increase twice as rapidly over the next 25 years compared to the last quarter century, …

Identifying Risks in the Energy Industrial Base: Supply Chain Readiness Levels

The U.S. energy system is entering a period of substantial transformation. Following extended periods of low or no demand growth for electricity, driven by both efficiency increases and a decline in domestic manufacturing, the U.S. is reentering a period of rising electricity demand. Artificial intelligence and data center expansion, reshoring of manufacturing, and the electrification of transportation and industrial processes are all contributing to expected load growth. For example, U.S. data center load growth is projected to double or triple in the next few years, rising from 176 TWh in 2023 to 325-580 TWh in 2028. As a result, overall …

Advancing Building Electrification: Utility Case Studies

As the United States focuses on transitioning its energy use to more clean energy resources and reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, industries, including electricity, transportation, agriculture, and building maintenance and operation, are working toward carbon reduction goals. The term “building electrification” has been used to describe the activities that building owners have been taking to intentionally adopt electric technologies to transition away from the direct use of fossil fuels. Taking a more holistic approach, “building electrification” is better described as activities that either directly or indirectly reduce GHG emissions associated with the operation and maintenance of buildings. Building electrification …

Fusion Energy: Additional Planning Would Strengthen DOE’s Efforts to Facilitate Commercialization

Fusion, the process that powers the sun, could produce commercial electric power to help meet growing clean energy needs if technical, economic, and other challenges are overcome. Fusion is also one of five prioritized areas to meet the U.S. goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Congress appropriated about $760 million for FES in fiscal year 2023 to support fusion activities, including public-private partnerships.

GAO was asked to examine DOE’s steps to reach the federal vision to accelerate fusion energy commercialization. This report examines (1) the status of DOE’s initiatives to facilitate fusion energy commercialization, and (2) the extent …

Bridging the Gap on Data and Analysis for Distribution System Planning: Information That Utilities Can Provide Regulators, State Energy Offices and Other Stakeholders

Electric utilities conduct planning annually to ensure their distribution system meets technical standards, policies, and regulations; addresses forecasted grid conditions; satisfies customer needs; and advances utility priorities. The plan identifies grid deficiencies, analyzes potential solutions, and prioritizes capital investments and other expenditures. About 20 U.S. states and jurisdictions require regulated utilities to file some type of distribution system plan with the public utility commission for review. Requirements for sharing distribution system data and analyses vary widely, from few specific requirements to a detailed list of information that must be provided.

While utilities conduct extensive analysis to develop distribution system plans, …