Category: Blog

CEBA members and leaders from across the clean energy industry again converged in San Jose, California, to discuss critical trends in clean energy and sustainability and discuss ways to move the market forward in the face of increasing demand and market challenges.

During the October 29-31 conference, CEBA members and staff collaborated to deliver impactful content, share insights, and pose the tough questions. It was a packed agenda and time well spent. We laughed and relaxed in the lounge and put our heads together on solutions during conversations. Some key themes stood out and have stuck with us. Here are a few:

Navigating Rising Electricity Demand

VERGE 24 underscored the need to prepare for escalating electricity demand driven by emerging sectors like vehicle and building electrification, artificial intelligence, and data centers. The U.S. grid must evolve to meet this rising load while integrating clean energy sources. For CEBA and its members, this means doubling down on innovative energy procurement solutions and scaling clean energy generation to support economic growth. CEBA CEO Rich Powell emphasized this moment as a unique opportunity to harness innovation, noting Princeton University’s Net Zero America projections that clean energy generation must double or even quadruple by 2050 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. If you missed Rich speaking about this on the VERGE main stage, catch up with the recording on YouTube, around the 16:33 mark.

Embracing Clean, Firm Energy Resources

Speakers highlighted the strategic importance of clean, firm power solutions such as advanced nuclear and geothermal energy. CEBA members including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are already forging agreements to develop and deploy advanced nuclear technologies and geothermal projects. These clean technologies will play a critical role in stabilizing the grid, particularly as companies increasingly rely on round-the-clock clean power to fuel new technologies.

Accelerating Clean Energy Deployment through Policy Progress

A key theme at VERGE 24 was the urgency of robust clean energy policy at both state and federal levels. Attendees and speakers emphasized the need for streamlined permitting processes to scale renewable energy projects and the importance of maintaining incentives that encourage investment in clean energy solutions.

Innovative Procurement Models and Partnerships

Discussions pointed to the continuing importance of procurement models like green tariffs, virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), and partnerships with utilities. For example, CEBA this past spring negotiated and secured a letter agreement with Georgia Power that calls for the utility to develop a new customer clean energy program that would allow large customers to bring clean energy projects to Georgia Power’s system. These types of agreements align with CEBA’s commitment to creating accessible pathways to procure reliable, clean energy.

Embracing a Resilient Grid with Flexibility and Storage

With recent extreme weather events driven by the rapidly changing climate, the need to enhance the flexibility and reliability of the grid was a big priority for VERGE attendees. Many discussions referenced the value of pairing clean energy generation with battery storage systems to increase grid reliability and achieve a more distributed power grid. 

Equity and Just Energy Transition

A standout session explored the social and environmental justice dimensions of the energy transition. Speakers discussed the need for more equitable procurement policies that drive investments in disadvantaged communities and give these communities more access to affordable, clean power. Corporate leaders were urged to take proactive steps to align their energy procurement efforts with the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct 40% of the benefits of climate investments to underserved populations, ensuring their clean energy purchases contribute to positive local impacts.

VERGE 24 left attendees with a clear message: accelerating the clean energy transition demands collaboration, innovation, and clever, adaptable policy. The conference underscored the need to align clean energy procurement strategies with federal and state policy developments, enable more innovative financing models, and work toward achieving a more resilient electricity grid that benefits all power consumers, especially those in disadvantaged communities. As demonstrated throughout this year’s VERGE conference, CEBA and our members will continue leading the way toward a clean energy future.

This year at VERGE, the Clean Energy Buyers Association is hosting a session on how energy customers can leverage clean energy to reduce emissions coming from the buildings all around us. The opportunity and path forward is shared here.

Commercial buildings represent more than 1/3 of electricity consumption in the U.S.¹ With changing market and environmental conditions, buildings must operate more efficiently and must use clean energy.

Buildings are the backbone of our society, our homes, schools, grocery stores, and workplaces. They provide stability and comfort but also require energy to operate — nearly three-quarters of the U.S. electricity demand.² We can transform buildings across the United States into models of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. Imagine a futureare efficient, run on clean energy, and may even be a source of power, while producing 65% less greenhouse gases in the next 10 years as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (ambitious but possible!).³

CEBA envisions a future for commercial real estate decarbonized through five principles:

1. Build collaboration and partnership. Landlords and tenants work together to identify sustainable energy practices.
2. Ensure transparent energy use per tenant. Tenants and landlords alike can make informed decisions about energy thanks to better reporting and data that is available, up to date, and representative of reality.
3. Prioritize energy reduction and efficiency. About 30% of energy that flows to and from commercial buildings in the U.S. is lost.⁴ Tenants and landlords together can implement efficiency measures in building operations. In addition, buildings themselves can be constructed with efficiency and a green supply chain in mind. At Climate Week the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform sent a strong signal for clean steel demand from major building owners, operators, and tenants.
4.  Provide access to meaningful clean energy options. Landlords can act on behalf of their buildings and tenants and provide access to cost-competitive solutions. Such options can provide new energy resources to the grid, emphasize responsible resource use, and promote community development.
5. Engage in public disclosure and benchmarking. Reporting energy performance while setting and disclosing progress leads to a higher standard of energy use while simultaneously rewarding landlords who have set goals and demonstrated an attention to achieving them.

Incorporating new practices for energy efficiency and sorting through clean energy options can be daunting. You are not alone, and there is much you can learn from the experiences of your peers. Therefore, it’s essential to find partners and peers to collaborate with in your journey — such as through CEBA’s Real Estate Working Group — to develop shared solutions. 

VERGE 24 is one such avenue for collaboration. This annual event convenes those committed to improving the way we live and work. Each programmatic track takes attendees through components in our collective journey toward decarbonization. This year, join us for our Leveraging Clean Energy to Combat Building Emissions session at VERGE 2024 on October 29 at 3:15 PM. During this session, we will explore the ways organizations are reducing their building emissions through clean energy procurement with no short supply of creative thinking. Attendees will hear case studies from large energy customers who have gone through the process of evaluating their clean energy needs as well as the perspective of seasoned advisors on how you can join the ranks of those taking action to spearhead cleaner buildings.

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¹About the Commercial Buildings Integration Program | Department of Energy
²“Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector.” United States Department of Energy, 2024. Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050 (energy.gov)
³“Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector.” United States Department of Energy, 2024. Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050 (energy.gov)
⁴https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/C+I_brochure.pdf

And just like that, Climate Week NYC has wrapped for the year! This year’s event, featuring CEBA-led discussions, member-hosted events, and extensive collaboration, showcased a remarkable commitment from both the private and public sectors to strengthen the clean energy landscape. The excitement was palpable throughout the week. Now that we’ve had a few days to reflect, here are some takeaways that are sticking with us.

Renewed Energy for Clean Load Growth

Clean energy load growth was on everyone’s minds. Companies are adopting innovative strategies to revive retired and dormant clean energy resources to meet unprecedented demand, primarily driven by data centers and digital growth. Notably, Microsoft and Constellation provided compelling insights into how we can breathe new life into existing assets, thereby fostering a more resilient and sustainable energy future.

Discussions also highlighted the potential of deploying advanced clean firm technologies, bolstered by collaborations with Emerson Collective and initiatives like the Loan Programs Office (LPO). It was clear that corporate interventions have evolved, with major players such as Ørsted, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, Bank of America, Salesforce, eBay, and Pepsi stepping up to support clean energy projects through creative capital formation strategies.

Additionally, there is a growing push for greater efficiency in design, exemplified by companies like NVIDIA, which are leading the way in developing smarter, more efficient energy solutions.

Collaboration with the Public Sector

Climate Week emphasized the critical importance of collaboration between the private sector and public entities. Discussions focused on federal programs aimed at driving deployment and fostering new technologies, as well as state-level collaborations in New York and Connecticut. This partnership model is essential for unlocking the full potential of clean energy and ensuring equitable access. We are committed to creating opportunities for our members to connect and work together to advance key energy solutions.

The Clean Energy Demand Initiative

This year, our members and the Clean Energy Demand Initiative (CEDI) celebrated significant policy progress and expressed enthusiasm for expanding CEDI’s impact into key countries. We also observed a shift in the narrative around load growth, with an increasingly positive outlook on how it is paving the way for a future where clean energy demand is both a priority and an economic opportunity.

CEDI hosted four impactful events in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources, including three roundtable discussions and a reception focused on crucial markets such as India, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Throughout, U.S. companies emphasized that access to clean energy is a priority for their global operations and aimed to identify solutions for deployment and investment worldwide. 

Throughout the week, conversations with global leaders resulted in critical collaboration that could unlock opportunities for CEBA members in the U.S. and abroad, including:

• Japanese Vice Minister Matsuo of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) acknowledged the critical role of a cost-effective clean energy supply and committed to bringing member perspectives back to Tokyo. 
• Deputy Minister Seto and Kadin Chairman Dharsono indicated that PLN’s recent demand reassessment could create new avenues for increased investment, setting the stage for sustainable growth in the region. 
• R.P. Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), emphasized the urgent need for an additional 275 GW of renewable energy capacity to meet rising demand, highlighting the potential for partnership and investment. 

Looking Ahead

As we move beyond Climate Week NYC 2024, the momentum we have generated will undoubtedly shape the clean energy landscape. Facing challenges related to increasing demand and building a resilient grid, it has never been more important to work together swiftly.

This year’s Climate Week reaffirmed that a thriving clean energy future is within reach, and CEBA is committed to leading the charge. Together, we can harness this excitement and creativity to drive meaningful change in the clean energy sector.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to collaborate, innovate, and inspire progress toward a sustainable future.

The final countdown is on! We’ve officially entered flannel season and VERGE 24 is just under a month away.

There’s a lot to be excited about this year, but we’re especially eager to participate in the expert-filled energy track, co-developed by CEBA, that includes breakout sessions and networking. We’re thrilled to again have special spaces and events for CEBA members to fully engage in our innovative community. 

Not registered? No worries, there is still time! Access perks to being a CEBA member here, and for non-members we encourage you to register and pop into a CEBA session and introduce yourself (spots are limited and going fast). Have questions about membership passes? Feel free to reach out to hgollan@cebuyers.org. 

Once you’re registered — it’s time to start itinerary planning and packing. To make sure you’re fully prepared and in the know, no matter where you’re traveling from, we’ve got five things to know for this year’s event.

Pack layers. The weather can shift from warm afternoons to chilly nights. Don’t forget a raincoat or umbrella for unexpected rainfall.

Download the Whova event app. Whova is the best way to access up-to-date agenda information, connect with other attendees and see all things VERGE in real time. Be sure to login to the app with the same email address you used to register for VERGE 24 — no code is needed! Need to change your email? Reach out to support@trellis.net.

Plan your time. The detailed agenda is live on the VERGE 24 site. In the CEBA Connect track you’ll find essential energy content, showcasing CEBA staff and members who will offer their perspectives on the current market landscape, its challenges, and ways we can work together to advance our collective mission of providing custom-driven clean energy for everyone.

Schedule in some fun! We are excited to invite all CEBA members to kick-off the week at our CEBA Connect private reception on Monday, October 28. We’ll have light fare and fun as we prepare for a jam-packed three days. If you have time after the conference to explore, you can check out the Winchester Mystery House, Santana Row, or a San Jose Sharks hockey game.

Pack the essentials. Multi-day conferences can be tiring so don’t forget to hydrate and protect your skin with sunscreen when spending time outdoors. What else? The convention center has a nearby gift shop with any essentials you may forget — so don’t worry if you forget about your mini toothpaste. If you have any questions leading up to VERGE 24, reach out to the team at communications@cebuyers.org. We’ll see you in the Golden State!

The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) is pleased to note the appointment of Priya Barua, CEBA’s senior director of market and policy innovation, to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s (GHGP) Scope 2 Technical Working Group.

As part of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s ongoing revisions process, her participation in the Scope 2 Working Group will provide a crucial energy customer perspective, highlighting objectives and challenges faced by clean energy buyers seeking to decarbonize their energy procurement across global markets.

“Clean energy markets have evolved significantly since the last update to the Scope 2 standard, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s work to update and improve this standard is critical to help ensure companies can make credible and meaningful progress towards their climate goals,” Barua said. “I am excited to work with the Scope 2 Technical Working Group members and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Secretariat to support this important work.”

Barua is an experienced and respected leader for clean energy policy, emissions accounting, and corporate procurement strategies. She will contribute her expertise to help guide this critical review and update of the protocol’s global greenhouse gas accounting standards, particularly around Scope 2 reporting.

CEBA is committed to supporting and advancing customer-driven clean energy procurement and development to drive systemic grid decarbonization. CEBA supports and welcomes improvements to modernize emissions accounting, reporting, and recognition systems to better capture the impact of voluntary action.

CEBA recognizes that to expand the market, increase the numbers of corporate and institutional customers buying clean energy, and maximize the decarbonization benefits for everyone, we need an emissions accounting framework that has the flexibility to accommodate various approaches globally. This will enable companies to make impactful decisions that accelerate the clean energy transition during this critical decade.

CEBA last year submitted recommendations to the organizations overseeing the protocol — World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development — that include adding locational and temporal data hierarchy to accounting provisions in the protocol as well as reporting systems for technologies such as storage. CEBA urged the protocol to maintain market-based accounting while enabling options for energy customers and encouraging ambition in further decarbonization of energy systems.

Tell us a bit about Ascend Analytics and what prompted you to join CEBA? 

Ascend Analytics is the leading provider of market intelligence and analytics solutions for the energy transition. The company’s offerings enable decision-makers in power development and supply procurement to maximize the value of planning, operating, and managing risk for renewable, storage, and other assets. 

Ascend Analytics unlocks new financial value for corporate customers. Our mission to provide the actionable intelligence to advance the energy transition directly applies to CEBA members in need of procuring reliable and cost-effective clean energy. 

How is Ascend helping to bring forward the future of clean energy? 

Driven by our expertise in powering renewable generation and storage build-out with analytics, we run automated and highly competitive clean energy procurement processes, totaling more than the U.S. data center load each year. Ascend’s advanced modeling expertise evaluates the true economics of the project’s energy and emissions, quantifying the risks and values to ensure customers acquire the most reliable and cost-effective clean energy supply for carbon emissions goals. 

What is the largest hurdle to clean energy adoption? 

A continuing challenge in successfully procuring clean energy is the predictability of market conditions. With the grid undergoing the largest transformation since its establishment 120 years ago, transitioning to clean energy must occur in a way that prioritizes safety, reliability, and affordability, all while accounting for new dynamics and volatility. With renewable penetration continuing to grow, weather will increasingly become the underlying driver for demand, supply, and price formation. 

What does this then mean for the cost of renewable supply? Renewable generation will drive price extremes: low production during the highest highs and surplus generation during the lowest lows. Renewables will displace higher cost thermal generation, driving prices lower over time. Successfully accounting for these changes depends on predicting market conditions. Market tools that help companies make intelligent decisions from day one — and factor in economic and non-economic market dynamics — will prove crucial to obtain financial and environmental returns. 

Envision a 90% carbon-free U.S. electricity system by 2030 — what are the next steps toward a carbon-free energy future? 

A 90% carbon-free system requires new math for new energy to predict and plan for volatility. At Ascend, we call this new approach our Opportunity Cost Forecasting Framework, which encompasses a broader set of structural drivers of price, including weather variability and bidding behavior. The industry used to make investments and energy forecasts based on history and power production cost modeling. With weather as the new fuel, the value of renewable production becomes less predictable, and market prices turn more volatile. New factors of power supply, such as cost of land, IRA bonus zones, electrification, and opportunity cost bidding serve as the principal drivers of power prices and long-run equilibrium. 

Ascend also forecasts carbon emissions to maximize both revenue and carbon abatement. We view hourly Locational Marginal Emissions (LME) forecasting as a necessary progression in carbon accounting. It represents a significant value differentiation for renewables and storage resources compared to the current annual emissions criteria. The irreversible commitment of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) creates significant exposure to changing power prices and emission values that Ascend’s valuation approach uncovers, limiting the buyer’s future regret. PPAs that use hourly nodal emissions forecasts provide a more accurate basis to assess value and make long term commitments to meet future 24/7 clean goals.

Visit AscendAnalytics.com for new content including publications, articles, news, and to register for monthly Ascend Webinars to learn about the latest market insights and trends.

Planning is well underway for another exciting year of VERGE. We’re thrilled to again be partnering with Trellis (formerly GreenBiz) to deliver this event. For the third year in a row, you can expect to gain valuable insights from the Energy Track, co-created by CEBA and Trellis.  

If you haven’t yet registered for VERGE 24 — taking place in San Jose, CA, from October 28-31 — make a note to get that done! This event, nestled in Silicon Valley, is set to be a premier gathering for clean energy customers and innovators. The opportunity to collaborate across industries and areas of expertise in over 200 sessions is key to the event’s uniqueness and a draw for its more than 5,000 attendees. 

The Energy Track leverages CEBA’s deep expertise in clean energy procurement in collaboration with Trellis Group’s renowned event curation across climate tech sectors. The Energy Track includes 26 sessions featuring insights from today’s energy leaders. This partnership isn’t just about bringing together two leaders in the field; it’s about creating a space where innovation, strategy, and the future of clean energy come to life.

An emerging topic we’re particularly excited to unpack is on the opportunities and intricacies of the tax benefits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). You’ll leave this session with an understanding of just how important taxes are for clean energy, and how the tax equity and tax credit transfer markets associated with the IRA hold tremendous potential. These mechanisms are more than just financial tools; they represent new pathways for advancing clean energy projects that might otherwise struggle to find funding. The IRA has opened doors to significant tax incentives, making it a hot topic for anyone involved in clean energy.

Outside of meeting rooms, we’re also excited to see everyone at CEBA’s member reception on October 28 from 5 – 7 PM and in our exclusive member lounge, open daily during VERGE. Don’t miss this exclusive gathering space — the only of its kind — to meet up with colleagues and peers and grab a churro or coffee refuel.

At VERGE 24, you’ll have the chance to dive deep into topics like the complexities of clean energy procurement, the latest in climate tech, and understanding the evolving landscape of renewable energy financing. Whether you’re a long-time industry expert or new to the field, the Energy Track has something for you.

Other sessions to look forward to include:

•  Transmission Reforms: Recent progress and what to know across the federal government
•  The Fundamentals of Energy Markets in the US and Getting Started on Your Decarbonization Journey
•  Untangling Scope 2 and Scope 3: Navigating Ambiguity and Driving Innovation

We hope to see you in San Jose, CA, this October for what promises to be an inspiring and impactful event. Register today: CEBA member registration or general registration for non-CEBA members.

To learn more about CEBA, click here. To learn more about VERGE 24, click here.

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