Renewables & GOES MMI – Power Generation Problems Limit Energy Resources

Renewables-September-MMI

The September Renewables MMI (Monthly MetalMiner Index) dropped by 6.3%. Like previous months, energy limitations was the biggest factor in the drop as high temperatures and limited energy resources strain power generation systems around the globe.

Power Generation and the “Green Bottleneck”

At the end of August, President Biden officially signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which set forth $369 billion toward renewable energy efforts. The act strives to have over 900 million solar panels and over 100,000 wind turbines operating by 2030. However, the drive toward renewable energy in the US currently faces a big obstacle: energy not being transferred from its area of generation.

According to a recent Bloomberg article, US renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels don’t have enough high-voltage lines to transfer power to their specific destination. That means more and more power lines need to be constructed to transfer that power from solar fields and wind farms to the general population.

High power electricity poles in urban area connected to smart gr

In other areas of the world, like Europe, renewable energy may help balance out events like the ongoing energy crisis. However, Europe faces issues with green energy obstacles just like the US. Ireland, for instance, faces problems with off-shore wind power due to ocean waters being too deep. In Denmark, wind power construction hasn’t hit full force due to long approval procedures set forth by the EU.

It’s true that both green energy technology and our demand for it continues to grow and evolve. However, like any other major industry shift, obstacles must be addressed and overcome before green becomes mainstream.

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GOES MMI – High Temperatures Plague Power Generation

The September GOES MMI (Monthly MetalMiner Index) dropped for the first time in months. Month to month, GOES prices declined by 4.4%.

MASTER-FILE-MMI_GOES
Source: MetalMiner Insights

Transformer Trouble

The current transformer shortage presents yet another obstacle to US power generation. For instance, many transformer parts and components are unavailable due to ongoing supply chain shortages. This has already caused problems during 2022’s punishing heat waves. Without enough supply to meet growing power grid demand, blackouts become more and more likely.

In California, the third most expensive state to live in the US this hits especially hard due to the state’s high average temperatures and lack of water resources. For perspective, about 25% of the state of California consists of desert or desert-like conditions. Paired with the ongoing heat waves, California’s grids are under constant strain and with it, the population’s comfort level.

Renewables and GOES Biggest Price Shifts:

  • With a 4.4% drop in price, the cost per metric ton of grain-oriented electrical steel went from $4,236 per ton to $4050.
  • Japanese plate steel did not change in price at all. It still sits at $803 per metric ton.
  • Chinese silicon prices also remained stationary. The price per metric ton still sits at $1,519.

The MetalMiner Insights platform covers a wide range of renewable metal types and forms. Get premiums, forecasts, specific monthly buying strategies, and more! Request a 30-minute demo of the MetalMiner Insights platform now.

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