Innovating to Expand America’s Energy Portfolio

We think you’re going to get excited about rust. Yes, you read that right.

The process of iron oxidation – as it pertains to energy storage – is just one of the incredible innovations being developed to answer the needs of U.S. power grid integration – in the renewables market and beyond.

There is almost no sector of U.S. industry innovating and integrating market-ready solutions more quickly than the renewables sector. Which is why we’re highlighting the expansion in wind power generation and multi-day energy storage systems, among others, in this issue.  

Wind, solar, and geothermal energy all set production records in 2024, with solar power production increasing by 25%, and wind production gaining 8%, according to the EIA, as grid integration, longer term energy storage systems, and self-contained solar microgrids (many including EV charging station, become more commercially viable.

Why is this important? Because there is no doubt that the world is firmly in the midst of The Information Age, and it is transforming the way we live. Our data has become one of the most valuable commodities, and the infrastructure to serve the data-driven marketplace is racing to catch up to demand. We are building the foundation for broadband internet access throughout the nation, and data centers continue to be a major driver in commercial construction. However, all that data is also a huge drain on U.S. energy resources.

That’s why innovations in renewable energy: it’s generation, storage, and integration into the U.S. energy grid, are so important. In 2024, the U.S. used a record 4,101 billion kWh of energy, and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects another record, 4,185 billion kWh of usage in 2025.

We hope that the innovations we herald in The Renewables Issue demonstrate the importance of a diversified power generation strategy as part of the solution in meeting the nation’s growing electrical needs.

… And yes, rust may play an integral role. So read on to learn more.