Power and Renewables

Integrated Resource Plans: An Introduction to Future Capacity and Decommissions

byMarie Amice

Electric utility providers’ primary objective is to deliver reliable energy to customers and plan for the future. Utilities closely monitor energy demand and if they have capacity to meet future needs or not. Market conditions evolve — plants reach the end of their lifecycle, new policies get introduced, communities grow or decline. Emerging technologies, such as electric vehicles, surge, and energy security and natural disasters risk arise.

Utilities prepare for upcoming supply and demand shifts with short- and long-term plans that preserve reliability and strengthen infrastructure to supply sustainable energy for future generations. In the past 30 years, we have seen 200 gigawatts of wind and solar power come online.

What is an integrated resource plan?

An integrated resources plan (IRP) is a roadmap that large utilities develop to meet forecasted energy needs using supply and demand resources to ensure cost-efficient, reliable energy distribution to customers. Utilities use IRPs to identify the five, 10 or 20-plus year outlooks of plant retirements and how utilities plan to meet future demand and invest in new technologies.

Integrated resource plans also address market factors such as:

  • Growing and declining population.
  • Future energy demand.
  • Generation capacity.
  • Crisis response.
  • Energy security.

IRPs offer a long-term perspective into the future energy landscape, some with a view through 2050. However, they are lengthy documents and time-consuming to digest at scale, thus, it can be difficult to easily locate the valuable information.

Charts in Enverus PRISM.
Source: Enverus PRISM.

How can IRPs help?

Understanding which generation a utility plans to add, decommission or invest in is essential to a business development strategy. You can use IRPs as a pre-screening tool for entering a new market or understanding how the utility generation will change. When paired with power plants, LMP, parcels, suitable land analytics and grid infrastructure, you have a powerhouse of tools to confirm your market analysis.

Graph showing Capacity (MW) by utility, IRP technology type, sum, IRP scorecard
Source: Enverus PRISM.

Project developers can leverage IRPs to identify potential renewable energy partnerships with PRISM for Power & Renewables. Position yourself in advance and uncover utilities plan to meet demand and the various incentives and mandates to add more renewable energy and storage to the grid. With Enverus IRPs you can:

Browse through key IRP content

Source and analyze utilities’ near- and long-term plans to meet electricity demand and upcoming plant decommission. Easily visualize projects by added and decommissioned capacity.

Conduct a market potential analysis

Drill down and analyze ISO areas, companies and projects by stage. View the market players associated with projects, infrastructure and find available parcels for development.

Easily synthesize and compare data

Quickly review and compare multiple utility IRPs and turn policy data into an actionable business development strategy.

Ready to identify potential renewable energy partnerships and see IRPs in Enverus PRISM? Fill out the form below and request a demo.

Picture of Marie Amice

Marie Amice

Senior Project Manager, Power & Renewables at Enverus

Subscribe to the Enverus Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Related Content

midstream-octg-thumbnail
Energy Transition
ByCarson Kearl, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) Contributor

Aerospace-energy crossover Boom Technology, Inc. (trade name Boom Supersonic) is making waves beyond aviation with a recent deal to supply 29 Superpower 42 MW natural gas turbines, derived from its Symphony supersonic jet engine, to Crusoe. The AI infrastructure provider...

Breaking news alert on the impact on oil prices due to Israel attacking Iran
Blog Topics News Release
ByEnverus

Gain forward‑looking insights from Enverus’ 2026 Global Energy Outlook, including forecasts for oil and gas prices, rising U.S. supply, evolving power‑grid demands and selective low‑carbon investment trends. This concise analysis highlights key market drivers shaping reliability, capital allocation and energy...

Enverus Press Release - Looking past the CCUS power plant pipe dream
Analyst Takes Trading and Risk
ByAl Salazar, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) Contributor

Unpack the Venezuela oil impact on Canadian energy as we analyze market shifts and the resilience of Canada's energy sector amid global changes.

Enverus/RatedPower Press Release - RatedPower publishes 2025 Global Renewable Trends Report examining the green landscape
Energy Market Wrap
ByEnverus

U.S. exits climate groups, Ascent leadership change, Kelt growth plans, Petrobras Búzios expansion, and Energy Transfer’s higher 2026 capital budget.

Enverus Intelligence® Research Press Release - Recap: How the Trump Administration is reshaping energy markets
Energy Transition
ByAshmal Dawoodani, Enverus Intelligence® Research

Our annual Global Energy Outlook highlights public infrastructure timelines continuing to lag the rapid pace of data center expansion, prompting hyperscalers to adopt behind-the-meter power solutions to accelerate availability. The outlook, published last month, summarizes our predictions on 2026 themes...

Enverus Press Release - Speed through records with Enverus Instant Analyst™ - Courthouse
Energy Transition
ByEnverus

As energy advisors and renewable energy consultants prepare for 2026, the power sector is entering a period of rapid transformation. With data center growth, electrification, and evolving policy landscapes driving unprecedented changes, your clients need actionable insights to make informed...

Enverus_Press_Release_Fundamental_Edge_1Q25_Thumbnail
Analyst Takes Trading and Risk
ByAl Salazar, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) Contributor

Unlock real-time, actionable energy insights. This blog offers just a glimpse of the powerful analysis Oil & Gas Research delivers on today’s energy markets. Don’t miss the full picture. Click here to learn more. The energy landscape of 2025 has been...

Enverus Intelligence® Research Press Release - Surge in clean energy demand intensifies market competition
Trading and Risk
ByChris Griggs

If you trade natural gas, you already know the weather is your most volatile counterparty. A single arctic blast can send prices spiking, cut production via freeze-offs, and leave even seasoned desks exposed. Public models like the Global Forecast System...

Enverus Intelligence® Research Press Release - Winning in the West: Renewed opportunities are resurfacing in the DJ and PRB’s Niobrara
Energy Transition
ByAmyra Mardhani, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

This week's ETT.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Sign up for our Blog

Ready to Get Started?

Ready to Subscribe?

Register Today

Sign Up

Power Your Insights

Connect with an Expert

Access Product Tour

Speak to an Expert