Does the world pay attention when little ol’ Craig Shields says that the power utilities are in trouble, due to distributed generation and microgrids? Hardly. But when the best minds at Citibank (see article linked above) say essentially the same thing, referring to them as “dinosaurs” – and pointing out that change is happening much faster than anyone could have predicted — that gets some consideration. (more…)
Our planet faces huge challenges, mostly created by individuals who are profoundly disturbed in terms of their so-called “moral compasses.” Here’s a story about those who slaughter elephants and rhinoceros who kill their victims – and any humans who happen to be unlucky enough to be in the way – for the money they gain from selling the pachyderms’ horns to people who are only slightly less depraved than the poachers themselves. But should these people be shot on site — as the author of the article wonders? I hope you’ll check this out; it’s good writing on an important topic. (more…)
One of the email lists I am on is an organization’s called “Operation Free,” a group of former military personnel who believe that eliminating our use of oil is paramount for our national security. In a missive I received from them today, they are promoting a company in New York City called “HEVO power” that is developing a means to charge electric vehicles by placing wireless power transmitters in the street and parking locations which can then be parked over by vehicles desiring to be charged. (more…)
The world’s poorest countries are investing more in LED lighting, energy storage, and other off-grid electricity technologies, according to a report by Larry West.
In cities across the United States, LED lighting like LED wall packs or LED bollards help cut energy costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and excessive light pollution. But in developing countries, LEDs are changing lives. (more…)
Here’s an article that speaks to the challenge of creating a viable infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles. The problem at its core is a Catch 22: EVs will not become popular without such an infrastructure, but the return on investment associated with building it will not exist until EVs occupy a considerable market share.
One way to look at this is to make this a part of the re-regulation of utilities: forcing them to do the work here, and compensating them accordingly. (Hint: They’re not doing it on their own – one of the take-aways from the article.) (more…)
When Mark Jacobson, popular expert on renewable energy, appears on the David Letterman Show tomorrow night, it’s likely that he’ll be saying essentially what I would if given the chance: It’s technically and economically feasible – as well as morally imperative – to phase out of fossil fuels and power the world with renewable energy. (more…)
Not to say “I told you so,” but for several years I’ve been predicting a steep decline in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) coming from concentrated solar power (CSP). Now, that prediction is quite definitely coming true.
According to the article linked above, “When the SunShot program was planned in 2010, CSP was 21 cents a kilowatt hour without subsidies. Now, SunShot Initiative CSP Director Dr. Pitchumani tells CSP Today, they are getting reports of prices of as low as 13 cents a kilowatt hour.” (more…)
Here’s an article by my colleague Emma Websdale, writing for the new website EmpowerTheOcean. Apparently, The Philippines is making magnificent progress in the direction of clean energy, with a recent half-billion dollar investment in solar and biomass.
That’s great, but why not OTEC (ocean thermal energy conversion)? Googling the subject turns up lots of content that’s a few years old, but not much recently. The oceans there (like the one pictured here off the idyllic beach in Balesin) are 84 degrees F today; that’s certainly warm enough; perhaps it’s the availability of cold water near to land?
Recently, I had reason to check out what some of the suppliers of industrial HVAC products in the UK are up to, for example, Heaters Wholesale – England’s largest independent distributor of heating products. I was impressed that the controllers they use maximize fuel savings through what they call “self-learning optimization”; the device varies the heating start-up time to ensure that the building comes up to the required temperature precisely at the beginning of every programmed “on” period. (more…)
The work I’m doing for Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation has had numerous fortunate consequences, among them working with a brilliant and compassionate young writer, Emma Websdale (pictured here). Not a bad name for someone who writes content for websites and e-newsletters, is it?
Emma’s from Nottinghamshire in Northern England – a very beautiful (albeit wet) part of the world. Together we’re building most of the material for the new site EmpowerTheOcean.com. So far, so good.
