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the rules proposed initially allowed – including wastewater, animal manure, and landfill gas – and for coal mine methane.


What becomes of hydrogen policy and hydrogen under Trump 2.0 remains to be seen, of course.


EPA uncertainties


emissions from most new, modified, and reconstructed fossil-fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines, “reducing exposure to dangerous air pollution for nearby communities.” The EPA says that the proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which are based on the application of combustion controls and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), would ensure that new turbines built at power plants or industrial facilities — especially large ones that could operate for decades — would be among the most efficient and lowest-emitting turbines ever built. The proposal provides regulatory certainty for the power sector, while supporting the continued delivery of reliable and affordable electricity, notes the EPA.


EPA is proposing to maintain the current


These are also uncertain times for the Environmental Protection Agency, with significant efforts to reduce regulation to be expected from Trump’s preferred leader Lee Zeldin. A recent initiative, announced by the EPA in November and among its last under the Biden administration, proposes tighter limits on NOx


limits for sulphur dioxide, which it says is “well- controlled in this sector” based on the long-term required use of low-sulphur natural gas and distillate fuels. The proposed stronger standards for NOx


would apply to facilities that begin construction, reconstruction, or modification after the date of publication of the proposed standards in the Federal Register. To strengthen the NOx


base load heat input rating of > 850 MMBtu/h (> ~ 85 MW).


Medium combustion turbines — facilities with a base load heat input rating of > 250 and  Small combustion turbines — facilities with a  


performance standards


for new stationary combustion turbines, EPA is proposing:


To determine that combustion controls with the addition of post-combustion SCR is the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for most combustion turbines. To lower the NOx


standards of performance


for affected sources based on the application of the BSER.


To establish more protective NOx standards


for affected new sources that plan to fire or co- fire hydrogen, ensuring that these units have the same level of control for NOx


emissions as


sources firing natural gas or non-natural gas fuels.


EPA is proposing size-based subcategories that reflect consideration of the performance of different combustion turbine designs and current NOx


control technologies. The proposed NSPS would establish size-based categories based on base load heat input. The proposed size-based categories include:


Large combustion turbines — facilities with a


EPA is proposing to further subcategorise affected sources based on whether they operate at high, intermediate, or low loads and whether they burn natural gas or non-natural gas fuels: High load — capacity factor greater than 40% (ie, baseload).


Intermediate load — capacity factor greater than 20% and less than or equal to 40%. Low load — capacity factor of less than or equal to 20%.


The EPA says it also recognises that at smaller sizes and at lower or more variable operating levels the cost-reasonableness on a per-ton basis and efficacy of SCR technology becomes less favourable. Thus, the EPA proposes to establish standards for certain combustion turbines based on the use of combustion controls without SCR. This includes: small combustion turbines that operate at low and intermediate loads; medium combustion turbines that operate at low loads; and large combustion turbines that operate at low loads.


How this and other EPA initiatives will fare under the new regime is unclear.


Resilience through diversity


Commercial and industrial facilities need to diversify power sources and embrace on-site battery storage and distributed generation to safeguard against soaring energy costs


Chuck Rames Business Development Director, Energy Storage, North America at Socomec Group


Surging demand for electricity, soaring electricity prices and supply risks are creating an imperative for innovative ways to control energy costs, and increase resilience by diversifying commercial and industrial power sources. US electricity prices are soaring amidst growing demand, extreme temperatures, gas price volatility, inflation, and the cost of new grid infrastructure and upgrades. Rising energy costs were a major factor in the recent US election, and it is unclear whether the new president will be able to keep his promise to lower energy bills by boosting energy production, because production rates are at the mercy of producers.


Meanwhile, recent power cuts in the wake of Hurricane Milton offer a powerful illustration of the growing grid reliability challenges caused by severe weather events. Despite gains in energy efficiency, overall demand for electricity will increase over the coming decade with the


accelerating electrification of sectors from heating to transport. Combined with increased demand from accelerating reindustrialisation and electrification of industry, this could increase costs and energy supply risks for key US industries ranging from semiconductors to electric vehicle manufacturing.


There is a need for more diverse solutions including on-site solar generation and storage to provide more affordable, secure power for commercial and industrial buildings and simultaneously offer more flexible capacity for grids. Commercial and industrial building owners adding energy storage will maintain their connection to utilities because the economic returns are realised during on- grid operation. Even though energy storage for buildings is typically purchased for the economic benefits to the building owner, battery energy storage systems can also become an asset to the wider community,


including increasing grid reliability and flexibility while reducing the need for expensive transmission upgrades.


The energy challenge facing US industry


There has been an estimated 28% rise in US electricity prices since 2019, driven by a potent cocktail of inflation, surging demand, volatile gas prices, and the costs of adapting grids to higher temperatures . Energy-intensive industries face high-demand charges, in addition to rising rates per kilowatt hour. There is a correlation between a higher proportion of renewable generation and more fluctuating, complex tariffs, and energy storage is well suited to monetise these complex rate structures.


This comes amidst a projected 13-15% annual increase in energy demand driven by resurgent US manufacturing and the digitalisation and electrification of the economy, jeopardising


www.modernpowersystems.com | January/February 2025 | 21


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