Introduction Modern Agriculture Companies
The modern agriculture sector is marked by the prominence of innovative companies that play pivotal roles in shaping the industry’s landscape.
Among the top players, Monsanto, now a part of Bayer, stands out for its contributions to genetically modified crops and agricultural biotechnology. Syngenta follows closely, demonstrating excellence in crop protection and seeds, while Cargill, a global agricultural and food conglomerate, showcases its diversified influence across the supply chain.
John Deere, a renowned name in agriculture machinery, has consistently secured a spot among the top 10, emphasizing technological advancements in farming equipment. DuPont Pioneer, now integrated into Corteva Agriscience, has made significant strides in sustainable agriculture practices. BASF and Bayer CropScience contribute to the list with their focus on agrochemicals and crop solutions. DowDuPont, which has since split into Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours, has left a lasting impact on the industry.
Completing the lineup are Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a key player in processing and trading agricultural commodities, and CNH Industrial, known for manufacturing agricultural machinery. Together, these top 10 modern agriculture companies exemplify a diverse range of expertise and innovations that drive the agricultural sector towards efficiency, sustainability, and technological excellence.
KPI for Top 10 Modern Agriculture Companies
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the top 10 modern agriculture companies can vary based on their specific business strategies, goals, and focus areas. However, here are some general KPIs that may be relevant for assessing the performance of these companies in the modern agriculture sector:
Here is KPI for Top 10 Modern Agriculture Companies:
1. Revenue and Profitability:
– Total revenue and net profit to gauge overall financial performance.
2. Market Share:
– Percentage of market share in key product categories and regions.
3. Research and Development (R&D) Investment:
– Percentage of revenue allocated to R&D for innovation in seeds, crop protection, and technology.
4. Product Portfolio Performance:
– Sales growth and market penetration for key products, such as seeds, crop protection solutions, and agricultural machinery.
5. Sustainability Metrics:
– Environmental impact assessments, adoption of sustainable farming practices, and reduction in the use of agrochemicals.
6. Digital Agriculture Adoption:
– Number of farmers adopting digital farming technologies and the growth of digital farming services.
7. Customer Satisfaction:
– Customer feedback and satisfaction scores to assess the effectiveness of products and services.
8. Supply Chain Efficiency:
– Inventory turnover rates, on-time delivery metrics, and supply chain cost-effectiveness.
9. Employee Productivity and Satisfaction:
– Employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity metrics.
10. Community Impact:
– Social responsibility and community impact, including initiatives related to rural development, education, and support for local communities.
These KPIs provide a holistic view of a company’s performance, covering financial health, innovation, sustainability, customer relations, and overall contributions to the agricultural industry. The specific metrics may vary based on the company’s focus and industry trends. Companies may also track additional KPIs that align with their unique goals and objectives.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies
The top 10 modern agriculture companies represent a dynamic and influential force in shaping the agricultural landscape.
Here is the list of Top 10 Modern Agriculture Companies
1. Monsanto (now part of Bayer)
2. Syngenta
3. Cargill
4. John Deere
5. DuPont Pioneer (now part of Corteva Agriscience)
6. BASF
7. Bayer CropScience
8. DowDuPont (now Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours)
9. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
10. CNH Industrial
From industry giants like Monsanto, contributing to genetic advancements, to Syngenta’s expertise in crop protection, these companies collectively drive innovation and sustainability. Cargill, with its global footprint in agriculture and food, and John Deere, a leader in advanced farming machinery, highlight the diverse expertise within the sector. DuPont Pioneer’s integration into Corteva Agriscience underscores the emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, while BASF and Bayer CropScience contribute with cutting-edge agrochemicals and crop solutions.
The legacy of DowDuPont, now split into Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours, continues to influence the industry, joined by Archer Daniels Midland’s prowess in processing agricultural commodities and CNH Industrial’s manufacturing excellence in agricultural machinery. Together, these companies shape the future of modern agriculture through innovation, technology, and a commitment to global food security
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: Monsanto (now part of Bayer)
One of the key players in the top 10 modern agriculture companies is Monsanto, which has become an integral part of Bayer. Monsanto, historically recognized for its pioneering work in genetically modified crops and agricultural biotechnology, now operates under the umbrella of Bayer.
This integration has strengthened Bayer’s position in the agriculture industry, allowing for a broader portfolio of products and technologies aimed at addressing the challenges faced by modern agriculture. The combined expertise of Bayer and Monsanto underscores their commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and contributing to the sustainable development of the global food supply chain.
Product of Mosanto
Monsanto, now a part of Bayer, was widely known for its contributions to agricultural biotechnology and the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some of Monsanto’s notable products included:
1. Roundup: A widely used herbicide containing glyphosate, originally developed by Monsanto. This product faced controversy and legal issues due to its association with potential environmental and health concerns.
2. Roundup Ready Seeds: Genetically modified seeds designed to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup. This allowed farmers to use Roundup for weed control without harming their crops.
3. Bt Cotton: Genetically modified cotton that expresses a toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), providing resistance to certain pests.
4. GMO Corn and Soybeans: Monsanto developed genetically modified varieties of corn and soybeans with traits such as resistance to pests and herbicides.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: Syngenta
Syngenta is a prominent player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Renowned for its expertise in crop protection and seeds, Syngenta has made significant contributions to the agricultural industry.
The company focuses on developing innovative solutions to enhance crop yields, improve resilience against pests and diseases, and promote sustainable farming practices. Syngenta’s commitment to research and development has positioned it as a key player in the global agricultural sector, addressing challenges and contributing to the advancement of modern agriculture.
Products:
Syngenta is well-known for its comprehensive range of agricultural products, focusing on crop protection and seeds. Their product portfolio includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and seed varieties designed to enhance crop productivity and protect against pests and diseases. Syngenta’s seeds often incorporate advanced technologies, such as genetic traits for pest resistance and improved yields.
Market Share:
Syngenta holds a significant market share in the global agrochemical and seeds industry. The company’s market presence is especially notable in sectors like crop protection, where its products play a crucial role in ensuring crop health and productivity. The exact market share can vary by region and product category. As of my last update, Syngenta was acquired by ChemChina in 2017, and subsequently, it became part of the China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina). Changes in ownership structures can influence market dynamics and market shares.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: Cargill
Cargill is a significant player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. As a global agricultural and food conglomerate, Cargill has a diverse presence across various segments of the supply chain. The company engages in the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, including grains, oilseeds, livestock feed, and food ingredients.
Cargill’s impact extends beyond primary production, with involvement in trading commodities, processing food products, and providing services related to agriculture. The company plays a vital role in ensuring a stable and efficient global food supply chain.
Product:
Cargill operates across a wide spectrum of products within the agriculture and food industries. Its product portfolio includes:
– Grains and Oilseeds: Cargill is involved in the production and trading of grains such as corn, wheat, and soybeans, as well as oilseeds like soybeans and sunflower.
– Livestock Feed: The company produces and sells animal feed and nutrition products for various livestock, contributing to efficient and healthy animal farming.
– Food Ingredients: Cargill is a major supplier of food ingredients, offering a range of products like sweeteners, starches, and other additives to the food industry.
– Trading and Processing: Cargill is a key player in commodity trading, processing agricultural commodities like cocoa, coffee, and cotton.
Market Share:
Cargill holds a substantial market share in the global agricultural and food industries due to its diversified operations. The company’s influence spans from the production and processing of agricultural commodities to the provision of food ingredients and services. Cargill’s market share can vary across different sectors, including grains and oilseeds, livestock feed, and food ingredients.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: John Deere
John Deere is a prominent player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Renowned for its expertise in manufacturing advanced farming machinery and equipment, John Deere has had a substantial impact on the agricultural industry. The company is particularly recognized for its innovative approach to technology in agriculture, offering a range of products such as tractors, harvesters, precision farming tools, and autonomous solutions.
John Deere’s commitment to providing farmers with cutting-edge technology and efficient equipment has solidified its position as a leader in the modern agriculture sector. The company’s influence extends globally, contributing significantly to the mechanization and technological advancement of farming practices.
Product:
John Deere is renowned for manufacturing a wide array of advanced farming machinery and equipment, catering to various aspects of modern agriculture. The company’s product portfolio includes:
– Tractors: John Deere produces a range of tractors with various power capacities and features, incorporating cutting-edge technology for efficiency and precision.
– Harvesters: The company manufactures combine harvesters and other harvesting equipment designed to enhance productivity during crop harvesting.
– Precision Farming Tools: John Deere is a pioneer in precision agriculture, offering technologies like GPS-guided systems, data analytics, and variable rate applications to optimize farming practices.
– Autonomous Solutions: Exploring the frontier of agricultural technology, John Deere has been developing autonomous and semi-autonomous machinery to increase efficiency on the farm.
Market Share:
John Deere holds a significant market share in the global agricultural machinery sector. The company’s reputation for producing reliable and technologically advanced equipment has solidified its standing in the market. The exact market share can vary by region and product category, but John Deere is consistently recognized as one of the leading providers of agricultural machinery worldwide.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: DuPont Pioneer (now part of Corteva Agriscience)
DuPont Pioneer, now integrated into Corteva Agriscience, has been a key player among the top modern agriculture companies. Recognized for its contributions to seed technology and agricultural innovation, DuPont Pioneer brought advanced seed varieties to the market, focusing on improved yields and resilience. As part of Corteva Agriscience, the company continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of agriculture.
Product:
Corteva Agriscience, which includes the legacy of DuPont Pioneer, offers a diverse range of agricultural products, emphasizing seeds and crop protection solutions. The product portfolio includes:
– Seeds: Corteva is known for its advanced seed technologies, providing farmers with a variety of seeds tailored for improved yields, pest resistance, and other desirable traits.
– Crop Protection: The company develops and offers a range of crop protection solutions, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, to address challenges in pest management and disease control.
– Digital Agriculture: Corteva has also ventured into digital agriculture, providing farmers with tools and technologies for precision farming, data analytics, and decision-making.
Market Share:
Corteva Agriscience holds a substantial market share in the global agricultural industry, particularly in the seeds and crop protection sectors. The company’s legacy, including DuPont Pioneer, has contributed to its influence in the market. The exact market share can vary by region and product category.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: BASF
BASF is a significant player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Known for its contributions to the agricultural industry, BASF operates in various segments, focusing on the development and production of agrochemicals and crop solutions. The company plays a crucial role in providing farmers with innovative products to enhance crop yields, protect against pests and diseases, and promote sustainable farming practices.
Product:
BASF is recognized for its extensive portfolio of agrochemicals and crop solutions. The company’s product offerings include:
– Agrochemicals: BASF develops herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides designed to address various challenges in crop protection, supporting farmers in managing pests, diseases, and weeds effectively.
– Seeds and Traits: BASF has ventured into seed technology, working on developing improved seed varieties and traits to enhance crop performance and resilience.
– Biological Solutions: Emphasizing sustainable agriculture, BASF offers biological solutions that harness the power of naturally occurring organisms to enhance plant health and protect against pests.
Market Share:
BASF holds a significant market share in the global agrochemical and crop protection industry. The company’s influence extends across various regions, contributing to its standing as one of the key players in modern agriculture. The exact market share can vary by product category and geographic region.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: Bayer CropScience
Bayer CropScience is a significant player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Renowned for its contributions to agrochemicals, seeds, and crop protection solutions, Bayer CropScience operates within the broader framework of Bayer AG. The company focuses on developing innovative products to address challenges faced by farmers, promote sustainable agriculture, and enhance overall crop productivity.
Product:
Bayer CropScience, as part of Bayer AG, offers a comprehensive portfolio of products in the agricultural sector. The company’s product range includes:
– Crop Protection Solutions: Bayer CropScience is known for developing a variety of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to protect crops from pests, diseases, and weeds.
– Seeds and Traits: Bayer CropScience is involved in seed development, providing farmers with advanced seed varieties and traits designed to improve yields and enhance crop resilience.
– Digital Farming: Embracing modern agricultural technologies, Bayer CropScience has ventured into digital farming solutions, offering tools and technologies for precision agriculture, data analytics, and farm management.
Market Share:
Bayer CropScience holds a significant market share in the global agricultural industry, particularly in the areas of crop protection and seeds. The company’s influence extends globally, contributing to its standing as one of the major players in modern agriculture. The exact market share can vary by product category and geographic region.
Bayer AG. Market dynamics can change, and the latest information will provide the most accurate insights into the company’s standing in the market.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: DowDuPont (now Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours)
DowDuPont, now separated into Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours, has been a significant entity among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. As of my last update in January 2022, both Dow Inc. and DuPont de Nemours continue to contribute to the agricultural sector with their respective expertise.
Dow Inc
Product:
Dow Inc., as part of its agricultural solutions division, offers a range of products for modern agriculture. This includes:
– Crop Protection Solutions: Dow provides herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides to help farmers protect their crops and improve yields.
– Seeds and Traits: Dow is involved in seed technologies, working on developing seeds with improved traits to enhance crop performance.
Market Share:
Dow Inc. holds a significant market share in the global agricultural industry, particularly in the areas of crop protection and seeds. The company’s influence extends globally, contributing to its standing as a major player in modern agriculture.
DuPont de Nemours
Product:
DuPont de Nemours, with a focus on agriculture, provides products that include:
– Seed Technologies: DuPont works on developing advanced seed varieties and traits to improve crop yields and resilience.
– Crop Protection: The company offers a range of solutions to protect crops from pests, diseases, and weeds.
Market Share:
DuPont de Nemours holds a considerable market share in the global agricultural industry, especially in the segments of seeds and crop protection. The exact market share can vary by product category and geographic region.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is a significant player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Renowned for its role in processing and trading agricultural commodities, ADM operates globally, contributing to various aspects of the agricultural supply chain. The company plays a crucial role in the transformation of raw agricultural products into an array of food, feed, and industrial products.
Product:
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) operates across diverse segments of the agricultural supply chain, providing a wide range of products and services:
– Processing and Manufacturing: ADM is involved in the processing and manufacturing of agricultural commodities, producing items such as oils, sweeteners, and proteins.
– Trading and Merchandising: The company engages in the trading and merchandising of agricultural commodities, connecting producers and consumers around the world.
– Ingredients for Food and Feed: ADM produces ingredients used in the food and feed industries, including additives, flavors, and nutritional products.
Market Share:
ADM holds a significant market share in the global agribusiness sector, particularly in the processing and trading of agricultural commodities. The company’s influence spans various regions and product categories within the agricultural supply chain.
The top 10 modern agriculture companies: CNH Industrial
CNH Industrial is a prominent player among the top 10 modern agriculture companies. Renowned for its manufacturing excellence in agricultural machinery, CNH Industrial operates globally, providing a diverse range of equipment and solutions for modern farming practices. The company is well-known for its brands, including Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, and STEYR, offering a variety of tractors, combines, and other agricultural machinery.
Product:
CNH Industrial, specializing in agricultural machinery, offers a comprehensive range of products designed to meet the needs of modern farming:
– Tractors: CNH Industrial manufactures a variety of tractors with different power capacities and features to suit various agricultural applications.
– Combines and Harvesters: The company provides combines and harvesters for efficient crop harvesting, contributing to increased productivity.
– Planting and Seeding Equipment: CNH Industrial offers equipment for planting and seeding, supporting precision farming practices.
– Other Agricultural Machinery: The company produces a diverse range of agricultural machinery, including hay and forage equipment, sprayers, and material handling equipment.
Market Share:
CNH Industrial holds a significant market share in the global agricultural machinery sector. The company’s influence extends across various regions, contributing to its standing as one of the major players in modern agriculture. The exact market share can vary by product category and geographic region.
Conclusion The top 10 modern agriculture companies
The top 10 modern agriculture companies represent a diverse and dynamic industry that plays a pivotal role in feeding the world’s growing population.
Companies such as Bayer CropScience, Dow Inc., DuPont de Nemours, CNH Industrial, and others contribute to the advancement of agriculture through innovations in seeds, crop protection, machinery, and digital farming technologies. Their comprehensive product portfolios and substantial market shares underscore their influence in shaping the future of sustainable and efficient farming practices.
As the agricultural landscape evolves, these companies continue to lead the way in providing solutions that address the challenges faced by farmers and contribute to the global food supply chain. It’s essential to stay informed with the latest developments and insights from these companies to understand their ongoing impact on the modern agricultural sector.
https://www.exaputra.com/2023/12/top-10-modern-agriculture-companies.html
Renewable Energy
Off-Grid Solar Power Simplified – Off-Grid 101
Renewable Energy
Offshore Turbine Toilets, BlackRock’s $38B Acquisition
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Offshore Turbine Toilets, BlackRock’s $38B Acquisition
OEG celebrates 500 offshore turbine toilet installations while BlackRock acquires AES for $38 billion, signaling continued investment despite global wind auction slowdowns and European wind droughts.
Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!
Welcome to Uptime News. Flash Industry News Lightning fast. Your host, Allen Hall, shares the renewable industry news you may have missed.
Allen Hall 2025: There’s good news today from the wind energy sector, and it starts of all places with toilets. OEG and Aberdeen Headquartered company just reached a milestone. They’ve installed their 500th in turbine welfare unit across the UK’s offshore wind sector. If you’ve ever worked on an offshore wind turbine, you know why this matters.
These aren’t just convenience facilities. Their dignity and their safety. The other difference between a dangerous transfer to a standby vessel and staying on the job. The units operate in the harshest offshore conditions with no external power or water. Nine offshore wind farms now have these facilities and they’re making offshore work accessible for [00:01:00] women helping retain a more diverse workforce.
And while OEG celebrates 500 installations, something much larger is happening in the American Midwest. Gulf Pacific Power. Just completed a major transaction with NL Green Power North America. Gulf Pacific acquired all of E L’s interest in five operating wind facilities, totaling over 800 megawatts of capacity.
The portfolio includes Prairie Rose in Minnesota, Goodwill and Origin, and Rocky Ridge in Oklahoma, and a facility in North Dakota. Projects with long-term power purchase agreements and high credit counterparties. And then there’s BlackRock. The world’s largest asset manager is placing a $38 billion bet on American clean energy.
They’re close to acquiring power Giant a ES, which have give BlackRock ownership of nearly eight gigawatts of wind power capacity. A [00:02:00] ES leads in sign deals with data center customers with artificial intelligence driving unprecedented electricity demand. That positioning matters.
The weather numbers tell their own story about wind’s challenging year. Most of Europe recorded wind speeds four to 8% below normal in the first half of this year. The wind drought curtailed generation in Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. But the Northeastern United States saw winds seven to 10% above average in parts of Norway, Sweden, and Northern China also benefited.
And in storm, Amy, which is passing through the uk, it drove wholesale electricity prices negative for 17 hours. 20 gigawatts of wind power flooded the grid and the grid paid users to consume electricity. Too much wind, not enough demand. The offshore wind industry faces real headwinds. Global awards fell more than 70% in the first nine months of this year.
Of about 20 gigawatts of expected auctions, [00:03:00] only 2.2 gigawatts have been awarded. Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark are preparing new frameworks to restore investor confidence and Japan designated two promising offshore zones, but confidence there is still shaken when Mitsubishi pulled out of its first auction due to some sorry costs.
So here’s what we have. An Aberdeen company celebrating 500 toilet installations that transform working conditions. A Midwestern power company expanding its wind portfolio by 800 megawatts and the world’s largest asset manager, betting $38 billion on American energy infrastructure.
All while offshore auctions stall globally, all while Europe experiences a wind drought and the UK experiences at times too much wind. The sector faces challenges US federal opposition, variable weather, and market slowdowns, but the fundamentals haven’t changed. Data centers. Need power and [00:04:00]someone has to generate those megawatts and companies are still buying wind farms.
Asset managers, are still making billion dollar bets, and engineers are still improving infrastructure. One toilet at a time. When a company celebrates its 500th toilet installation, it’s about commitment to an industry they believe has a future. When investors acquire 800 megawatts of operating capacity, they’re betting on tomorrow.
And when the world’s largest asset manager places a $38 billion bet. They’re looking past the turbulence to see the demand. 500 reasons to believe each one installed in a turbine tower. Each one making life better for workers in harsh conditions.
Each. One. A sign that this industry isn’t going anywhere.
https://weatherguardwind.com/offshore-toilets-blackrock/
Renewable Energy
New Jersey’s Electricity Rate Crisis Is A Perfect Storm for Wind Energy
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
New Jersey’s Electricity Rate Crisis Is A Perfect Storm for Wind Energy
New Jersey ratepayers received an unwelcome surprise in June 2024 when electricity rates jumped between 17 and 20 percent virtually overnight. But behind the dramatic increase is a much larger story about the challenges facing renewable energy deployment, grid modernization, and the future of power generation across the PJM Interconnection region—one that has significant implications for the wind energy industry.
According to Kyle Mason, Associate Planner at the Regional Plan Association, the rate spike stems from record high prices in PJM’s annual capacity auction, which secures power for peak grid loads. PJM operates the grid for New Jersey and 12 other states, covering over 60 million people. The capacity market’s unprecedented pricing “trickled down to increased electricity rates for New Jersey rate payers,” Mason explained.
Old Grid, New Demands
“We have a very old grid, and we’re trying to update it in real time,” said RPA’s Robert Freudenberg – while bringing more energy onto the system. “It’s like trying to build the plane while you’re flying it.”
Freudenberg, Vice President of the Energy & Environment Program at RPA, described the crisis as a convergence of multiple factors: the grid’s age presents challenges, the interconnection process has slowed dramatically, and demand is skyrocketing.
The interconnection queue process, which once took a few years, now stretches across many years. According to Mason, as of April of last year, over 200 gigawatts of projects sat waiting for study in the interconnection queue, with approximately 98 percent comprising solar, wind (both onshore and offshore), and storage. Even if only half of those projects eventually come online, Mason noted, “it would markedly improve the rate situation.”
Unprecedented Demand Growth
The energy demand situation is compounded by explosive load growth, driven largely by artificial intelligence and data centers. Mason noted that current projections show load growth reaching five percent annually—levels, he said, “we have not seen…since air conditionings were invented.”
These aren’t small facilities. “The industry is seeing massive, massive expansion of data centers,” Mason said. “Not just small data centers that we saw expand during the years leading up to the dot-com bubble, but rather these massive hundred-plus megawatt data centers,” primarily concentrated in Northern Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
By 2030, data centers alone could account for 10 to 12 percent of electricity demand on the PJM grid—a staggering figure that underscores the urgency of bringing new generation capacity online quickly.
Offshore Wind “Ideal Solution” for Energy Island
New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the country, uses more energy than it produces. Thanks to that distinction and its geographic constraints, it’s referred to as an “energy island”- where wind represents an ideal solution for large scale generation.
The state had plans for approximately five gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, including the 1,100-megawatt Ocean Wind project, which has since been abandoned. Federal policy shifts have further complicated the landscape, effectively putting offshore wind development on ice across the region.
Freudenberg pointed to the South Fork Wind farm off Long Island as proof of concept.
“If you look at the data from that, [South Fork] is performing very well. It’s reliable,” he said, noting it put a thousand people to work and stabilized rates for customers.
Grid Reliability Challenges
Adding another layer of complexity, PJM recently implemented stricter reliability rules that dramatically reduced the amount of generation qualifying as reliable.
“The buffer dropped from about 16 gigawatts of supposedly reliable energy sources to about 500 megawatts when the reliability requirements were issued,” Weather Guard Lightning Tech CEO and Uptime Podcast host Allen Hall notes in the interview.
“Many fossil fuel plants face reliability concerns during extreme weather events, extreme cold events,” Mason explained. That made the older plants ineligible to enter PJM’s capacity market under the new rules. That caveat simultaneously removes baseload capacity while renewable projects remain stuck in the interconnection queue.
Is PJM’s Progress Too Little, Too Late?
PJM has made some progress addressing interconnection challenges. Working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the grid operator implemented a new cluster study process that prioritizes projects on a “first ready to serve basis” rather than first-come, first-serve. Mason reported they’ve already studied over 40 gigawatts of energy, “and that’s starting to get built,” Mason said.
“But there’s the question of whether that can outpace the rising demand,” he said.
On transmission infrastructure—a critical bottleneck for wind energy—the average timeline to build high voltage transmission lines stretches to 10 years. Mason noted projects face “years and years just to get the materials to build power plants, and then 10 years with permitting costs and supply chain issues and permitting timelines to build the transmission wires.”
Policy Recommendations: States to Lead the Way
Despite federal headwinds, Freudenberg urged states to maintain momentum on offshore wind.
“States need to keep the charge on for offshore wind. They need to keep the fire burning for it,” he said, recommending that states prepare transmission infrastructure and work with developers so projects can move forward quickly when federal policy shifts.
New Jersey has taken some positive steps, recently announcing its Garden State Energy Storage Program that targets over two gigawatts of storage capacity and releasing grid modernization standards for utilities.
Of course, when utilities are required to modernize, rate payers usually foot (most of) the bill. Still, having an available, reliable energy supply is the first order of business.
For wind energy operators and stakeholders, the New Jersey situation illustrates both the critical need for renewable generation and the complex policy, infrastructure, and market challenges that must be navigated to deliver it.
As Freudenberg summarized: “The ingredients here are so good for offshore wind. Everything… the proximity, the wind speeds. All we have to do is build those things and connect them into our grid and we’ve got a lot of power.”
The question is whether policy will allow that to happen before the grid crisis deepens further. We’ll be watching closely!
Listen to the full interview with Allen Hall, Joel Saxum, Kyle Mason and Robert Freudenberg here and subscribe to Uptime Tech News, our free weekly newsletter, today!
Image: PJM https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/about-pjm/pjm-zones.pdf
https://weatherguardwind.com/could-wind-energy-reduce-new-jersey-electricity-rates/
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