APS makes startling predictions about future energy mix
Arizona Public Service has submitted its Integrated Resource Plan with the Arizona Corporation Commission, which it files every two years. The report identifies three major trends shaping Arizona's energy future.
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First, the report predicts that energy from renewable sources will double by 2029 with rooftop solar tripling over the same time period. Savings from energy efficiency measures, intended to reduce customer demand, are forecast to triple by 2029.
Second, natural gas will be the energy source of choice. Arizona will need more generation from natural gas, which can start and ramp up quickly, and can provide energy reliably day or night, when renewable energy is unavailable. Over the next 15 years, natural gas is projected to surpass coal and nuclear as the largest source of electricity generation for APS customers.
Finally, thanks to advanced technology and grid modernization, over the 15-year planning period, APS customers will have more choices about their energy use, including smart appliances, plug-in electric vehicles, rooftop solar panels and battery storage. APS plans to invest $170 million in modern grid technology over the next five years, including installing more than 5,000 advanced devices across the grid.
The report projects that the state's energy needs will grow 52 percent in the next 15 years with the requirement for peak demand is predicted to hit nearly 13,000 MW by 2029 -- up 60 percent from the current peak requirement of 8,124 MW.
The projected growth of renewable energy, combined with actions including the recent closure of three coal-fired units at the APS-operated Four Corners Power Plant, is predicted to make the overall APS energy mix cleaner and more efficient. In 2029, the APS generation portfolio could produce 14 percent less carbon dioxide and use 24 percent less water per megawatt-hour of electricity generated.
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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/aps-makes-startling-predictions-about-future-energy-mix/2014-04-02