"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Month: May 2018
Transmissivity
05/04/18
“How can radiation pass through a material?”
When radiation strikes an object, much of is reflected off or absorbed by the material. However, sometimes part of it is able to go through everything unimpeded! This value is known as the transmissivity of an object and is an inherent property of a material.
How Microgrids are Already Helping Puerto Rico
05/03/18
“How are Microgrids already helping Puerto Rico?”
Microgrids have been theorized as something that could help Puerto Rico recover from the damage done by Hurricane Maria. But this idea has just been tested in practice. In Southeastern Puerto Rico, the centralized grid went out of power, but citizens with distributed energy infrastructure installed had their power working just fine. In fact, some even said that they did not even notice anything change! It just goes to show the power of the Puerto Rican people and renewable energy.
How Could Distributed Energy Resources Disrupt Utilities?
05/02/18
“Will big utilities face a compromised future from distributed energy resources?”
Ever since the dawn of the grid utility companies have reigned supreme. But with the advent of distributed energy resources, this all might change. Now that many individuals are achieving grid defection, they no longer have any use for a utility. If the cost of battery storage collapses and energy efficiency has a paradigm shift, this could spell massive disruption for these traditional companies. They might even have to watch out for their survival.
Solar Energy in the Southeastern United States
05/01/18
“What is the state of Solar Energy in the traditional Southern United States?”
When people think of solar energy in the United States, they typically think of traditional powerhouse states like California and Massachusetts. However, the Southeastern states, commonly referred to as “The South”has some of the most abundant solar resources in the entire nation. So while it would be logical for these states to be in the lead of the future energy paradigm, many of them are actually lagging far behind the national average, save for North Carolina. The reason? Outdated grid technology and regulatory policies keep solar from being incentivized. However, once the South can solve these problems, it will become a distributed energy behemoth to be reckoned with.
Isaac's Science Blog 