"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Policy
Price Signals and Energy Wholesale Markets
06/22/19
“How do price signals affect energy wholesale markets?”
When the price of a commodity in a market changes, it sends a signal to consumers about some form of information. When the price of energy in the wholesale market, this is usually to a change in supply or demand of said source of energy. This is how Price Signals and Energy Wholesale Markets relate.
Negative Carbon Emission Technologies
06/20/19
“How can we use technology to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?”
Humanity is reaching a crisis point. We are adding so much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each second that we will soon reach irreversible climate damage. To solve this, we’re going to need to use every technology we have at our arsenal, whether it be wide arrays of solar panels or intense energy efficiency measures. But the true kingmaker of solutions comes from a group of technology that is still quite ominous and undeveloped. These Negative Carbon Emission Technologies work by using a series of processes to store more carbon dioxide than they produce. This can be done in a multitude of ways, whether it be through planting more trees or capturing carbon from the atmosphere and shoving it down into the ground. With these solutions, we can tip the odds in our favor in our fight for decarbonization.
Image credit: https://media.wired.com
Brine from Desalination
06/16/19
“Why is Brine created from desalination?”
Desalination is one of the lifelines for many water-poor countries, whether it be in the Middle-East, South Asia, or Western North America. However, during the process of creating more drinkable water, a portion of brine is also created as a byproduct. One of the most pressing challenges for policy-makers, scientists, and engineers is to find out what to do with this Brine from Desalination.
Image credit media.wired.com
Energy Storage Tariffs
06/11/19
“How can you be paid for your energy storage?”
Energy storage is one of the most crucial technologies for the energy transition. And like solar before it, it will need some help from policy to get its feet on the ground. One of the things it can use are feed-in tariffs, so that any energy sent to the grid will be compensated financially. These Energy Storage Tariffs are being discussed by multiple energy market operators around the world.
Image credit cdn.vox-cdn.com
Backfeeding
06/08/19
“How can electricity flow in the opposite of the intended direction?”
Electricity is designed to be flown in a single direction from a generator. However, if said generator experiences a fault and needs to shut down, then electricity will flow back and be used for its own local loads. This Backfeeding can be quite dangerous and organizations need to design their equipment so everything works smoothly.
Image credit http://www.ecocooling.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/electricity.jpg
Water and Electricity Interdependence
06/07/19
“How are water and electricity directly interrelated?”
Water and electricity, two of humanity’s most vital resources, are often thought as being from completely different worlds. However, the reality is that the generation of one resource uses some of the other! To illustrate, water needs to be pumped through mechanical pumps reliant on electricity while power plants use water for their operation. In this way there is Water and Electricity Interdependence. So every time you let the faucet run, you’re not only wasting water but also electricity!
Electricity Markets
06/06/19
“How can energy be bought and sold?”
Energy is one of the most vital parts of modern infrastructure. And in many countries, deregulation has led to Energy markets, or platforms where electricity can be bought, sold, and distributed. The pricing for electricity markets depend on the current supply, demand, and mix of energy resources.
Logical Interdependence
06/05/19
“How can different infrastructures be interdependent without any direct connection?”
Infrastructures can be interdependent in numerous ways. However, one of the most subtle forms is through cause and effect, in which the consequences of one infrastructure failure will carry over into another one. Take for example the 2018 Northern California Wildfires. When the fallen transmission line caused a fire, the smoke that swept into the Bay Area caused the air pollution levels to skyrocket. This made people rush to the hardware stores to purchase protective masks, emptying stocks within hours. Through Logical Interdependence, the supply of gas masks was contingent on the fire resilience in Northern California.
The Trade-Offs Between Distributed and Concentrated Energy Generation for Resilience
06/04/19
“What resilience trade-offs are there between using distributed and concentrated energy generation?”
Both distributed and concentrated energy generation supporters argue that their preferred energy generation method is superior. Distributed supporters say that their preferred method allows for generation to be much closer to consumption loads, undercutting the need for long transmission lines, while concentrated supporters say that their base load profiles allows for the necessary amount of energy to be delivered throughout the day. When selecting new energy methods, these must be taken into consideration during construction. These are The Trade-Offs Between Distributed and Concentrated Energy Generation for Resilience.
