Tag Archives: electricity

Book review of Bryce’s “Power hungry: the myths of green energy and the real fuels of the future”

Posted on March 28, 2019 by

Preface.  This is a book review of: Robert Bryce. 2009. Power Hungry: The Myths of “Green” Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future. This is a brilliant book, very funny at times, a great way to sharpen your critical … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Other Experts | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Net metering and the death of US rooftop solar

Posted on August 29, 2016 by

April 22, 2016 by Roger Andrews at euanmearns.com “Net metering” allows anyone with a solar installation to sell surplus solar power to the grid when the sun is shining and to purchase power back from the grid when it isn’t. … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Experts, Photovoltaic Solar | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Wanted: Math geniuses and power engineers to make a renewable grid possible

Posted on May 13, 2016 by

Figure 1. OPF solution of original seven-bus system with generator at bus 4 offering high [The U.S. electric grid produces over two-thirds of its power with finite fossil fuels, and another 20% from nuclear power.   Since fossil fuels and uranium … Continue reading →

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Why we need a diverse electricity generation portfolio: House hearing 2013

Posted on March 15, 2016 by

House 113-12. March 5, 2013. American Energy security and innovation. The role of a diverse electricity generation portfolio. House of Representatives. 135 pages. June 5, 2015. Proposed Clean Power Plan would accelerate renewable additions and coal plant retirements. U.S. Energy … Continue reading →

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Just 16,000 catenary trucks (out of 5.6 million) would use 1% of California’s electricity generation

Posted on August 22, 2015 by

We must electrify trucks since fuel from oil, coal, and natural gas is finite, and biomass doesn’t scale up.  Without transportation, electricity contraptions like wind turbines, solar facilities, and nuclear power plants can’t be built. A wind turbine, for example, … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible, When Trucks Stop Running | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Generating electricity with biomass at utility-scale in California limited to direct combustion in small 50 MW plants

Posted on January 20, 2015 by

CEC. 2014. Estimated cost of new renewable and fossil generation in California. California Energy Commission. CEC-200-2014-003-SD. 254 pages. CHAPTER 8: Biomass Technology Biomass technologies are plants that use biological resources, such as forestry waste or farming by-products, to produce electricity … Continue reading →

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Electricity, fuel, and other interdependencies

Posted on January 16, 2015 by

Freight trucks, trains, ships, airplanes all stop when the electricity is out because the pumps depend on it.  Related: Why you should love trucks and When Trucks Stop CR. September 4 & 23, 2003. Implications of power blackouts for the … Continue reading →

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Why fusion power is still 30 years away — if ever

Posted on November 29, 2014 by

Fusion is not likely to work out, yet it is the only possible energy source that could replace fossil fuels (see Science : No single or combination of alternative energy resources can replace fossil fuels). Ugo Bardi (2014), in his … Continue reading →

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Irrigation uses a lot of electricity, requires expensive grid in remote areas

Posted on September 22, 2014 by

[ The articles below show the interdependency of irrigation, electricity, climate change, water, and the U.S. energy sector.  In addition I’d add that all of these infrastructures are all falling apart and rusting. Once the electric grid isn’t up 24 … Continue reading →

Posted in Interdependencies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

All Electric Cars requires 4,325 TWh of new electricity generation & still, no better than high-mileage cars now

Posted on April 30, 2014 by

We’d need a huge number of new power plants If all 245 million cars were electric and driven an average of 20,000 km per year, we’d need 1,078 TwH (980 TWh or 980,000,000 MWh plus 10% more to account for … Continue reading →

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