"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Energy
Two-Part Tariffs
04/17/19
“How can we have an energy tariff that charges both at a fixed and proportional rate?”
Energy tariffs come in all shapes and sizes. One of the most interesting ones is those that not only charge at a proportional rate but also at a fixed rate. This Two-Part Tariff can be used in the case of optimization for grid network loads.
How Blockchain Can Improve Energy Security
04/02/19
“How can we improve energy security with blockchain?”
With the advent of the renewable energy revolution, energy is becoming more and more distributed and intermittent. As such, many consumers, utilities, and companies are pushing for energy systems to become more autonomously operated to better integrate these resources. However, the difficulty to keep track of all energy coming in and out could open up a number of security backdoors, allowing for malicious hackers to penetrate critical infrastructure. To combat this, blockchain technology can be implemented by tagging and keeping track of where energy comes from and goes to. This is How Blockchain Can Improve Energy Security.
Small Hydropower
03/29/19
“How can we have hydropower on a small scale?”
When hydropower is brought up, large damns and massive turbines are often pictured in many people’s minds. However, it tuns out that hydropower can be implemented on a much smaller scale. If hydropower infrastructure is under 10 MW, then it is classified as Small Hydropower in the United States. Small Hydropower can be established in a much more distributed and spread-out fashion.
How Solar Panels Can Help With Bee Conservation
03/22/19
“How can solar panels be apart of bee conservation?”
As a result of climate change and human activity, bees are dying at astonishing rates. Since these creatures are vital for pollination, their survival is crucial for the success of human civilization. But how can we accomplish this? Well, part of this will involve growing plants that are vital for pollinator life. Although this will involve a large amount of land, around and inside utility scale solar panels there is a considerable number of unused green space. This can be converted into pollinator habitats and become a safe space for bees. Not only would this help grow their population, but it would also re-mediate the environmental consequences of solar energy and help convince farmers to install renewable energy. This is How Solar Panels Can Help With Bee Conservation.
Image credit: Argonne National Labs
Why Seasonal Energy Storage is Necessary for Large-Scale Penetration of Renewables
03/14/19
“Why should we be able to store energy for months?”
Energy storage is the biggest bottleneck in the deployment of renewable energy. Not only are we currently limited in the amount we can store, but also the time, as decay occurs the longer it is stored. And with the deeper penetration of renewables, energy will have to be stored for longer durations, so that charge can be stored during the sunny summer months and extracted in the dark winter ones. This is Why Seasonal Energy Storage is Necessary for Large-Scale Penetration of Renewables.
Gas Flaring
03/12/19
“What happens to gas when it can’t be distributed somewhere?”
Gas is produced from the Earth at all times throughout the year. However, sometimes so much is produced that the local infrastructure can’t even transport it. As a result, this gas may be burned off into the atmosphere. This Gas Flaring not only needlessly increase global warming and wastes resources but is also done so much that the equivalent of 25 percent of the US oil consumption is burned off each year!
How Relying Too Much on Natural Gas Can Hurt Resiliency
03/09/19
“How can natural gas be a detriment to resilience?”
In many conversations about the future of the electricity supply, natural gas is thought of as a great stabilizer. However, since it is also used for heating purposes, during cold winter months there may not be enough natural gas for both electricity and warmth, causing major problems. This is How Relying Too Much on Natural Gas Can Hurt Resiliency.
Power Density
03/08/19
“How can we describe the power output density capability of a particular device?”
Power supply is one of the foundations of modern technology. But some devices can supply more power than others. The amount of power that can be supplied by one mass unit of a material is known as the Power Density. In batteries, power density is usually contingent on the current output as voltage is typically held constant.
Biochar
02/26/19
“How can we have a safe form of carbon which can’t easily escape into the atmosphere?”
Carbon is one of the most fundamental elements in the world. Given its role in energy production and global warming, it is both the foundation and destroyer of our civilization. But can there be a cleaner form of carbon? Well, if we burn dead organic matter such as plants in a container with very little oxygen, then it will release very little fumes and turn into a stable form of carbon known as Biochar. The energy created in the burning process can be used to power mechanical processes.
Image credit smhttp-ssl-17653.nexcesscdn.net
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