October 28, 2021
Spotlight: Renewable Energy Markets (REM) 2021
On September 27-30th, Velisa Li, Senior Analyst, Renewable Supply; and Avery Hammond, Analyst, Renewable Supply, attended Renewable Energy Markets (REM) 2021. The annual event (held virtually this year) serves as a meeting place for industry professionals who are looking to transform the global clean energy marketplace.
Organized by the Center for Resource Solutions and co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the “REM brings corporate leaders, policymakers, and suppliers together to collaborate and guide the rapidly expanding market. Attendees explore emerging trends in policy, exchange best practices in renewable energy procurement and marketing, review the latest technology and market innovations, and help shape the future for renewable energy.”
Below, Velisa and Avery share their top three takeaways from the event, as well as what the renewable energy industry can expect around market trends as we head into 2022 and beyond.
Takeaway 1
Demand for renewable energy continues to grow in Eastern Asia as corporations push renewable procurement goals into their supply chains. This has been met with several pilot programs aimed at facilitating corporate procurement, including the potential expansion of market boundaries to increase access to renewable energy.
Takeaway 2
Renewable energy and environmental justice communities can and must work in tandem to ensure an equitable and just energy transition. Renewable energy buyers can leverage their positions to support environmental justice communities by:
- Engaging with communities as a partnership from the beginning of a project, or prioritizing partnerships with community-led projects
- Advocating for changes in policy, regulatory, and financing systems that can directly support community-led projects and initiatives
- Investing directly within community-led projects and sharing the benefits of new renewable energy projects directly with the community
Takeaway 3
Standalone battery storage could be a versatile tool to reaching 24/7 renewable energy or carbon reduction goals. However, doing so will likely be challenging or complex, as buyers may encounter difficulties such as how to track hours of low grid emission for charging, and high grid emission for discharging. Buyers looking to transact with battery storage may want to begin with co-located renewable energy and battery storage to simplify renewable energy tracking efforts.
Click here to learn more about Edison Energy’s Renewables Advisory Services.
Velisa Li
Senior Analyst, Renewable Supply
I’m an Analyst in our Renewables Supply team. Our team works directly with our clients to evaluate different renewable energy opportunities and identify the best available project/s for our client’s specific needs. We’ll also interact directly with renewable developers to understand where the PPA markets are moving, the challenges that they face on the development side, and what these trends may mean for current and prospective clients looking to transact in the near future.
Educational Background
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) – Carnegie Mellon University
Avery Hammond
Analyst, Renewable Supply
My first experience at Edison was as a Renewables Supply Intern in the summer of 2020 between my junior and senior years of college. The wonderful team, creative problem-solving, and impact of our work quickly made it clear that Edison was the right place for me. After staying on in the fall of 2020 to continue my renewable energy policy work, I happily joined the Renewables Supply team as a full-time analyst this summer.
My role as a Renewables Supply Analyst is to carry out every phase of the renewable energy procurement process to ensure that the needs of our clients are met effectively and efficiently.
Educational Background
B.A. in Economics, Environmental Science and Policy – Smith College
