Panel Discussion: Building the Other Technologies: The Markets & Investment Needs of Nuclear, Geothermal, RNG, Hydrogen & Derivatives
Hydrogen, CCUS, geothermal, RNG, alt fuels, SMRs: a bevy of technologies have become buzzwords, but what’s moving forward given the OB3, the Trump AI and Energy Initiative, and changes to NRC, LPO and DOE fund priorities? What is the market for each technology, who else is funding these projects, what investment approaches are moving forward, and what might the proliferation of these technologies do for the grid?
- Bankability: What’s ready for deployment now, and what are the timelines, challenges, investment sizes, and capital needs? What about lessons learned from past projects?
- Where are the best opportunities across asset types? Is nuclear poised to be the go-to firm non-carbon emitter given past cost and timeline overruns? What about geothermal?
- 90th TX legislative session: What regulatory updates are needed to accommodate projects given the dire need for new generation? Are there specific hurdles to be overcome?
- Tax incentives: Which assets attract TE, Pref Eq, and other investment? How do investors assess risk/return when taking on technology risk? Other federal funding sources?
- Is hydrogen generation moving forward in TX given today’s realities, and what about derivatives like ammonia? What are the market sizes and investment realities?
- What do utilities need to do to prepare? What’s dead: Are offshore wind, EV infrastructure, or other technologies facing headwinds workable today? What’s alive and kicking?
