The University of Iowa: Jumpstart project on decarbonization December update

College of Engineering

Some updates from Decarb2040 -- Positioning Iowa as an energy exporter in the coming era of deep decarbonization.

Decarb2040 is a one-year research and community building project at the University of Iowa. You are receiving this email update about Decarb2040 because you have come to one of our events, or you have collaborated with someone on the Decarb2040 project team in the past.

University of Iowa Decarb2040 Seminar
On the Front Lines of Energy Storage Deployment with Erin Hazen, Greenleaf Power
Dec 8. 2:30-3:20 PM.

Over the last 15 years, component cost reduction and technology improvements in both wind and solar power have led to a transformation of the US energy sector. Renewable power has eclipsed coal, and its Levelized Cost of Energy is now competitive with natural gas generation - even without subsidies. But actually phasing out fossil fuel generation requires a cost-competitive solution to the time- and location-based intermittency of wind and solar generation. In this session, a leading developer of utility- scale BESS will share the front line industry perspective on how BESS are actually integrated into today’s electric grid, what job(s) they do best, and what’s holding them back from broader, faster deployment.

Speaker bio: Erin Hazen (she/her) is a renewable energy executive with 14 years of experience in the wind, solar, biomass, and energy storage sectors.

Full Abstract and Biography of Ms. Hazen are available at our project webpage.

Event registration: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcud-igrDwtE9P_v80k97Fva4dyHmj3iSFe

Recent Events: On October 27, we held a panel discussion on behavioral and public policy research needs for solar energy featuring Chris Hoffman (Moxie Solar), Ion “Bodi” Vasi (UIowa), Charlie Nichols (Linn County), Travis Kraus (Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities), and Rachel Kilburg (City of Iowa City). A summary of the event can be found below, and slides from the event can be downloaded from our webpage

Save the Date: Our Hawkeye Decarbonization Summit will be held on Apr 21 and Apr 22, 2022. This will be hybrid, with in-person attendance and networking opportunities, and a full remote option.

Funding Opportunities: Check out the keyword-based funding searches at the bottom of our webpage (requires UI network or VPN).

Follow us on Twitter: @decarb2040

Community Grant Program: This program by the Office of the Vice President for Research will enable researchers to conduct small/pilot studies that could inform/extend our work. Co-PIs on this project not eligible for community grants, but the wider research community of the University of Iowa is.

$10-25K; two to five awards (up to $50K total in awards)

RFP in Jan 2022. Applications due in Feb 2022. Awards announced in March 2022.

Funded projects expected to be done in 12 months.

Event highlight: Behavioral and Public Policy Research Needs for Solar Energy

October 27^th saw UI academics and local leaders convene to discuss the adoption and diffusion of solar photovoltaics. While the need for alternatives to fossil fuels is obvious to many, bringing together policy makers, community members, and various stakeholders to embark on large-scale transitions is a tall task. Currently, only 3% of America’s electricity comes from solar energy, though there is promise to be found in prices falling over time.

UI professor Bodi Vasi gave perspective on why adoption of solar energy has been slow in America and international comparisons of America’s potential to harness solar energy. “Germany’s solar potential is comparable to that of Alaska. Even Spain‘s solar potentials are not as good as those in the U.S., yet both Germany and Spain are well ahead of the U.S. in terms of solar installations,” said Vasi.

Chris Hoffman of Moxie Solar discussed recent evolution of Iowa’s solar energy systems. He told the panel that Iowans looking to adopt solar energy have benefitted from cost-cutting incentives created by the state and explained the benefits of solar batteries providing independence for consumers while also pointing out that Iowa has ground to gain in policies dealing with excess energy creation.

Assistant City Manager of Iowa City, Rachel Kilburg, and Charlie Nichols from Linn County Planning and Development brought a local government standpoint into focus. Iowa City is part of the Grow Solar group and recently awarded over $750k for eleven energy efficiency projects, including four featuring solar power. Kilburg states that for Iowa City, finding suitable sites for installations and regulatory constraints remain some of the biggest obstacles for the city. Nichols updated the panel on the development process of two potential solar projects in Linn County, one of which would be built in the place of the now-defunct Duane Arnold nuclear plant. Nichols said he sees promise for Iowa in California’s strategy of mapping areas of “least conflict” for new installations.

The panel’s final speaker, Director of UI’s Initiative for Sustainable Communities Travis Kraus, gave an overview of projects that the UI School of Planning and Public Affairs has been involved with while presenting difficulties of solar adoption as found in his own experience. “One of the things I think probably stands out the most is just that there is lack of information for people to make decisions. We hope for our projects to provide decision support information so that they have the facts that are necessary in order to make decisions about solar or other renewable energy projects,” said Kraus.

Tell Us What You Think: Register your thoughts on Decarbonization and Associated Research Priorities at our Survey

Information about Decarb2040 Email Communications, and Unsubscribing: We will typically send one email per month about Decarb2040 activities, and we will never send more than one a week. To be removed from the email list, please contact cbe-decarb2040@uiowa.edu

Links to our Partners:

State Government

Iowa Economic Development Authority

Energy Companies

University of Iowa Energy Collaborative

Moxie Solar

Agriculture

Practical Farmers of Iowa

Iowa Farmer’s Union

Local government

Linn County

City of Dubuque