Mitsubishi Power's Top 6 Insights from 2024
Mitsubishi Power Americas
SOLUTIONS FOR A CHANGE IN POWER: Decarbonizing Power, Energy Storage, and Data & AI #MitsubishiPower
Meeting ambitious decarbonization goals requires solutions that are not only flexible and reliable, but also scalable. As global energy demand continues to rise, it’s more critical than ever for industry leaders to adopt a collaborative approach to navigate the energy transition. This approach is essential for meeting customer needs while advancing sustainability objectives. Mitsubishi Power is leading the way with strategies, innovations, and partnerships that drive progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Explore our top insights from 2024 to discover how we’re making a meaningful impact and shaping the future of energy.
The Increasing Importance of Dispatchable Power Generation In The Push To Net Zero
In the dynamic landscape of the energy transition, one thing is abundantly clear: there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The market demands diversity, versatility, and innovation, all with an underlying commitment to safety, grid flexibility, and energy security. As the energy transition gains momentum, the focus is shifting from questioning the need for decarbonization to exploring how the market can effectively meet our growing energy needs. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) findings show that available renewable resources are a staggering 100 times greater than the nation’s annual electricity requirements. The challenge, however, lies in our current ability to harness that potential. To demonstrate just how significant a challenge this is, in 2020, the United States renewable energy production in gigawatt hours was only 0.2% of the total renewable potential. Market insights like this support the viability of renewables in driving the energy transition, and the urgent need for solutions to support existing energy needs along the path to net zero.
How Mitsubishi Power and J-POWER USA worked together to bring the first M501JAC™ units to North America
Our collaboration with J-POWER USA, is making history by bringing the first M501 JAC gas turbine units to North America. This groundbreaking project is not just about deploying cutting-edge technology; it's about a powerful partnership that is modernizing and diversifying the North American power grid. By introducing these highly efficient, flexible, and reliable turbines, the collaboration is helping pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Discover how this innovative partnership is addressing the critical need for dispatchable power generation and learn about the incredible benefits these turbines bring to both energy security and grid flexibility.
Single-Shaft Combined Cycle Units Averaging 99.7% Reliability
This article was originally published on Gas Turbine World.
Introduced more than 50 years ago, gas turbine combined cycle power plants represent a significant advancement in the world of power generation, blending efficiency, economy, versatility, and environmental responsibility. As the concept evolved over time, mostly through advances in gas turbine technology, such plants have become highly popular. They are commonly available in two design configurations: single-shaft, with gas turbine, steam turbine, and generator on the same shaft; and multi-shaft, with each gas turbine generator (one or more) and a single steam turbine generator on separate shafts.
Making the Hydrogen Revolution A Reality
We are so close to achieving large-scale energy storage and power generation with clean hydrogen – yet so far away at the same time. As many in the energy industry know, clean hydrogen holds the promise of a zero-carbon fuel and affordable, long-duration storage. It can help decrease reliance on fossil fuels and ensure resource adequacy during the months when renewable supply is not able to meet demand. And it’s the right choice for our time, as we can use today’s curtailed wind and solar power to electrolyze water into green hydrogen as a means to utilize real-time oversupply.
As Energy Demand Spikes, Balancing Supply and Decarbonizing Becomes Challenging
Demand for electricity has risen rapidly in the past year, driven by the explosive growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused data centers, the continuous push of electrification, and the rise of domestic manufacturing. In 2022, global data centers consumed an estimated 460 terawatt-hours (TWh), and their total consumption is anticipated to exceed 1,000 TWh in 2026, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) – roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan. Power producers are acting quickly to meet this escalating demand. In today’s market, they’re also challenged to help energy customers meet their commitments to reduce emissions and reach ambitious net-zero targets.
Scaling The Hydrogen Economy: Can We Look To Solar As A Realistic Growth Trajectory For Electrolyzer Build Out?
Hydrogen is positioned to play a key role in the energy transition by facilitating global decarbonization efforts, particularly in industries that are difficult to electrify. However, like any emerging technology, hydrogen faces growing pains and its fair share of challenges. As energy sector leaders, policy makers, and scientists work together to face these challenges, looking to the past can sometimes provide useful scaffoldings for thought leadership. One such apparatus is the build out of solar and other renewables in the early 2000s. This thought exercise is not meant to invite a direct comparison between solar and electrolyzers. Rather, it simply uses the realized market growth from the solar industry and allows for exploratory considerations as we attempt to begin the same process with electrolyzers and hydrogen infrastructure. While the decarbonization potential of green hydrogen is currently limited by a lack of supply, significant progress is being made in project announcement and developments.
As we look toward the future of energy, achieving a sustainable, low-carbon world will require bold innovation, strategic collaboration, and a diverse range of solutions. Mitsubishi Power is committed to leading the charge, deploying cutting-edge technologies that enhance efficiency, reliability, and environmental responsibility. The path to net-zero may be complex, but we are making meaningful progress toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, and remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing the energy transition with excitement for the possibilities ahead.