June 29th, 2023
Courtesy of The New York Times, commentary on the potential for financial incentives to manage power demand: A record-setting heat dome is smothering Texas and neighboring states with no sign of letting up any time soon. Heat like this burns bare feet on sidewalks and pool decks, and sears hands on steering wheels. Trees and […]
Read more »Four Non-Transmission Solutions for Clean Energy
June 29th, 2023
Via Utility Dive, a look at four non-transmission solutions for clean energy with new power lines in the permitting ‘Valley of Death’, specifically smart technologies, storage, overbuilding and distributed resources: Despite White House and other efforts, new transmission projects to deliver the growing amounts of clean energy in the U.S. to where it’s most needed face […]
Read more »June 24th, 2023
Via Inside Climate News, a look at how networks of thousands of home-based batteries could be key to a cleaner, more reliable electricity system: This summer could be the first one in which virtual power plants—networks of small batteries that work in tandem to function like power plants—are large enough to make their presence felt […]
Read more »Railways: Potential To Be A Key ‘Utility Player’ For Backup Power
June 15th, 2023
Via Energy Daily, a report on how railways could be a key ‘utility player’ for backup power: The U.S. electric grid faces simultaneous, evolving pressures. Demand for power from the grid is increasing as people adopt electric cars and building energy is transitioned from gas to electricity. At the same time, climate change is driving […]
Read more »May 16th, 2023
Via Environmental + Energy Leader, a look at virtual power plants: According to the Brattle Group, which prepared a study for Google, a virtual power plant (VPP) is as reliable as a conventional one, costing 40% to 60% of alternatives. It notes that 60 gigawatts of VPP add $20 billion in societal benefits over 10 […]
Read more »Hug Pylons, Not Trees
April 30th, 2023
Via The Economist, an interesting article examining the idea that economic growth should help – not hinder – the fight against climate change: The sheer majesty of a five-megawatt wind turbine, its central support the height of a skyscraper, its airliner-wingspan rotors tilling the sky, is hard to deny. The solid-state remorselessness with which a […]
Read more »