August 2024 was officially the hottest month in recorded history1, capping off what NASA scientists have confirmed to be the Earth’s hottest summer since global temperature records began in 1880—with August temperatures 2.34 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 degrees Celsius) above the historical baseline. Data from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York2 reveals that not only did August 2024 break records—the summer months of June and July also shattered previous records. These record temperatures underscore the urgency of our fight against climate change—and how much we are already impacted by it.
This week, September 22-29, 2024, Convergent Energy and Power (Convergent) is proud to join our home city of New York in commemorating Climate Week NYC— the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together leaders from business, technology, politics, academia, and civil society to discuss and promote climate action.
New York City has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and achieve net-zero emissions from city operations by 2030. In addition, New York City established Local Law 97, which aims to decarbonize the city’s largest buildings. The city plans to source 100% of city government electricity from clean energy by 2025. As of September 2024, the Department of Buildings has tripled its staff to meet its goal, demonstrating the city’s commitment to reducing emissions.
In this blog, we will explore why climate change matters to NYC and why energy storage belongs at the forefront of climate solutions in New York City and beyond by accelerating the clean energy transition.
Why Climate Change and Renewable Energy Matter to Us
As we saw this summer—here in NYC and all around the world—climate change is no longer a distant threat—it’s here. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is driving not only the warming of our planet but also cascading effects like more frequent, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to agricultural cycles.
In New York City, where the need for reliable and sustainable energy is paramount, energy storage can play a crucial role in achieving the city's ambitious climate goals. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing grid stability, and cutting operational costs, energy storage systems help New York and other urban centers transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
The Role of Energy Storage in Mitigating Climate Impact
The inability to cost-effectively store electrons has been the biggest obstacle to a more renewable-powered grid, but not anymore.
That is why energy storage is also critical to the proliferation of renewable generation, like solar PV, which only produces electricity when the sun is shining. Energy storage allows solar energy to be stored and later dispatched, whether or not the sun is shining. Additionally, Convergent’s distributed energy storage solutions, which are largely co-located with load (i.e., located where power is consumed, not where it is generated), allow for more renewable energy on the grid more quickly.
For over a decade, leading developer of energy storage and solar Convergent has developed new applications for energy storage and solar-plus-storage (battery storage paired with solar photovoltaics (PV)) that have pushed the sector—and renewable energy targets—forward without compromising reliability.
TO SUM IT UP: Energy storage can be used to reduce carbon emissions and to maximize solar energy while ensuring grid reliability, which is why it is the linchpin to the clean energy transition. The more energy storage we have on the grid, the lower the demand during grid peaks, the less power we’ll need overall.
The Importance of Renewable Energy
Climate change poses the greatest threat of our time and Convergent is dedicated to mitigating the catastrophic impact of a warming planet on current and future generations by advancing the clean energy transition.
At Convergent, we recognize that addressing climate change requires immediate action. Solar PV paired with energy storage (typically battery storage), is one of the most effective solutions for reducing carbon emissions. Energy storage, with or without solar PV, allows us to integrate more renewable energy onto the electric grid, better manage peak demand, and reduce the need for carbon-intensive peaker plants. In other words, energy storage is the linchpin of the clean energy transition.
Convergent is happy to work with your team to determine if energy storage or solar-plus-storage is right for your organization—and we love helping businesses and utilities across North America accelerate the clean energy transition and access cleaner, more cost-effective, and more reliable electricity.
To get started, reach out today!
References:
1 August 2024 Was The Hottest Summer On Record On This Earth, NASA Says (abplive.com)