Featured Energy Whitepapers

December 2012 Renewable energy generation is continuing to grow in RPS states, with declines in wind turbine projects being offset by growth in solar generation. The overall project pipeline is flat, and may start to erode in the face of low demand, low power prices, and the continuing withdrawal of federal subsidies for green energy. State-level RPS standards and maturing renewable energy certificate markets are modestly supportive

September 2012 Dispatch competition between U.S. coal and natural gas fleets continues to shape energy markets in 2012. Since SNL's last analysis in May, there has been some strengthening in the gas forward curve, working to take pressure off of coal plants in some markets. In the near term, however, gas prices look to remain well within ranges conducive to economic displacement of coal volumes in several markets. SNL Energy explores the current environment for coal to gas switching in the U.S. and estimates potential displacement for the rest of 2012.

August 2012 Although the long term need for generation investment is clear, the near term fundamentals of demand and power prices do not appear to support it. The generating fleet is changing due to interfuel competition, potential coal plant retirements, and increased investments in renewable energy. In this whitepaper, SNL Energy identifies a few markets where moderate demand growth and announced retirements create an improving investment environment.

May 2012 In this exclusive whitepaper, SNL Energy explores the current environment for coal-to-gas switching in the U.S. and estimates potential displacement using a new hourly generation model. The recent drop in natural gas prices to 10-year lows has once again set the stage for significant coal-to-gas switching in 2012.

February 2012 EPA's recent Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) rule finalizes a process for restricting emissions from existing coal-fired boilers that goes back over two decades. Following on programs to mitigate acid rain (SOx) and ozone (NOx), MATS further defines standards for controlling emissions of mercury, acid gases, and fine particulates. Against a backdrop of rising costs and low power prices, many utilities and merchant generators face difficult decisions to either retrofit their plants or to retire them. In this white paper, SNL Energy summarizes the history of the MATS rulemaking, key elements of the final rule, and takes a closer look at potentially affected boilers and options for compliance.

September 2011 Coal to gas switching in 2009 and 2010 was seen by many industry observers as a temporary phenomenon. In 2011, gas prices have continued a period of relative stability lead by aggressive shale production. At the same time, a sharp rise in global coal demand has lead to skyrocketing Eastern coal prices. SNL Energy estimates potential coal displacement in the second half of 2011 using detailed plant-level operating and fuel delivery data.

March 2011 Despite a tough investment environment over the last two years, development momentum has driven a continued increase in production from renewable energy, making solid progress toward state-mandated renewable energy goals. Construction of renewable projects slowed significantly in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. SNL Energy finds however that sufficient project activity exists to meet RPS goals, and that the gap between RPS goals and generation on the ground is relatively small. Bringing new projects to market quickly enough to meet renewable portfolio targets will depend on supportive project economics and continued encouragement from federal and state policymakers.

October 2010 Transactions in electric generating assets continue to be a source of investment interest. A healthy volume of generating asset transaction can be expected over the next several years, as trends toward consolidation and rationalization of power investments play out. These trends will vary in their impact on different regional markets for power, creating ongoing divergence in generating asset performance and longer-term prospects. In this report, SNL Energy provides a primer on headline metrics for regional analysis using SNL’s Regional Power Markets Summary and the Energy Commodities data stream.

March 2010 The weak electricity demand and oversupply of natural gas that characterized 2009 translated immediately to reduced coal burn and rapid inventory build at coal plants, particularly in the Eastern U.S. Firming spot and forward prices for natural gas over the winter brought some relief to coal-based utilities, but how much displacement can we expect as we move into the spring and summer of 2010? An examination of current pricing trends and wobbly fundamentals suggest the potential for steam coal displacement once again this summer, though perhaps not as severe as 2009 when switching accounted for about a 6% reduction in coal generation compared to 2008.

July 2009 In this report, SNL Energy estimates the progress of individual states in achieving supply targets for renewable electricity established by their respective renewable portfolio standards (RPS). Summary measures are presented for each state and in a weighted aggregate, including amount of intrastate electric deliveries subject to RPS, current and eligible renewable generation, future targets, and planned renewable capacity additions. The analysis also enables comparisons with the federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) contained in the Waxman-Markey legislation.

April 2009 In view of natural gas prices returning to pre-2002 levels, SNL Energy investigated the question of how much coal burn could be displaced by natural gas in power generation. While many estimates to this question have been publicized to date, SNL Energy presents internal analysis substantiated by information from its power plant and fuel delivery databases and analysis of fuel economics in power generation. Included in this report are links to tables and tools employed in the analysis.