Dominion Energy sustainability and responsibility report broadcasts plans for greater energy diversity, emissions reductions

A sustainability and corporate responsibility report from Dominion Energy released this week showcases plans for a major green shift, bringing with that diversity push robust investments in infrastructure.

“We live in a period of remarkable industrial, environmental, and social change,” Thomas Farrell, II, executive chairman, said. “Our company is not only accepting that change, we are embracing it and leading the way.”

In terms of infrastructure, this change will include the development of the largest offshore wind project in the Americas — a 2.6 GW project — and investments in renewable energy, energy storage, and gas distribution line replacements. Major environmental efforts have been reported, including a 57 percent reduction in carbon emissions since 2005, a 25 percent reduction in methane emissions from natural gas infrastructure over the last decade, and the diversion of more than 34 tons of food waste from landfills, among others.

Dominion is dedicated to reaching net zero carbon and methane emissions by 2050.

Specifically, Dominion intends to continue investing more than $4 billion per year in growth capital through 2023, to keep production, storage, and delivery systems clean, robust, and secure. The company announced it will begin shifting from major projects like that into program-based investments to better address next generation energy concerns.

The company will roll out 2.1 million smart meters to customers, incorporate automated control systems and digital intelligent grid devices to bring about a smarter grid capable of isolating and rerouting during trouble, harden the grid to improve resiliency and improve the ability to efficiently connect increasing distributed-energy resources to the distribution grid. The adaptability of the grid will be key in the future. Dominion also plans up to $350 million of investments per year for pipeline replacement at local distribution companies in Ohio, Utah, and West Virginia, up to $275 million per year beginning next year to modernize and improve the gas transmission system and up to $450 million over two years for the expansion of its gas transmission and distribution network.

Dominion will also renew licensing of its North Anna Power Station, a nuclear plant, for another 20-year term, and previously applied for renewal of its Surry Power Station. It intends to spend up to $4 billion to upgrade the units, as the plants will help it reach its zero carbon goals. After all, more than a third of Dominion’s total electricity generation comes from nuclear stations.

Dominion said that highly polluting coal now accounts for just 12 percent of its power, representing major shifts toward greenhouse gas reduction. Filling much of that gap has been natural gas, which Dominion is supporting with investments in new equipment and technology to reduce methane emissions by as much as 50 percent over the next decade. It is also investigating modular LNG service and renewable natural gas to remove still more greenhouse gases and reduce customers’ carbon footprint.

Meanwhile, in terms of diversity, the company is pushing for a spectrum of renewable options to support customers who want them. Beyond nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, and energy storage are all in Dominion’s sights.

Since 2013, the company reported investments of more than $4.5 billion into renewables and increases to its solar generation portfolio from 41 MW to nearly 4,600 MW. Another 747 MW of contracted solar is on its way, and power purchase agreements will allow for another 330 MW by 2021. Dominion Energy Virginia has already exceeded a 2018-established goal of adding 3,000 MW of in-state solar or wind resources to operation or development by 2022.

The aforementioned offshore wind is powering Dominion’s drive in that area, but hydropower is also on the docket. The company currently operates seven hydropower stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. As far as energy storage, the company already operates the world’s largest energy storage facility in Bath County, Virginia — a more than 3,000 MW pumped storage power station. A second pumped-hydro facility in Jenkinsville, S.C., boasts a capacity of 576 MW.

Not content to merely maintain, though, the company seeks approval for four battery storage pilot projects in Virginia. These will total 16 MW, all of which will increase renewables, improve grid reliability, and cut carbon and methane emissions along the way.