Smart Grid and Electric Cars & Greg Pahl’s Power From the People
Smart grids, electric cars and Power From The People.
Renewable Energy
Peak Oil Review – Oct 1 (corrected)
A weekly review including:
– Oil and the Global Economy
– The Middle East
– Slowing economies
– Quote of the Week
– Briefs
Energy transition: We need to do it fast and we’re way behind
No doubt you’ve heard people speak of an energy transition from a fossil fuel-based society to one based on renewable energy–energy which by its very nature cannot run out. Here’s the short answer to why we need do it fast: climate change and fossil fuel depletion. And, here’s the short answer to why we’re way behind: History suggests that it can take up to 50 years to replace an existing energy infrastructure, and we don’t have that long.
ODAC Newsletter Sept 28
Oil prices were once again oscillating between the price depressing effects of economic uncertainty and the price enhancing effects of Middle East political uncertainties this week…Saudi Arabia has promised to keep oil markets supplied in the event of shortfalls elsewhere, but Deutsche Bank, and others question whether the kingdom is really in a position to make good on the promise. The IEA now estimates Saudi spare capacity at just under 2 million barrels/day.
Transition yourself
The climate has gone rogue, energy prices are threatening, and the economy sucks. You know the elections aren’t going to make it better. Why wait for government? You can protect your community and yourself by helping your town withstand the shocks.
ODAC Newsletter Sept 21
Oil prices fell dramatically this week to $107/barrel for Brent, on worsening economic news from China and Europe, and assurances from Saudi Arabia that it is ready to pump more oil to keep prices down. The speed of the fall on Monday however is something of a mystery and has led to an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the FSA.
Peak oil notes – Sept 20
A mid-week round-up of peak oil news.
Blow-by-Blow PV System Efficiency: A Case Study for Storage
A short while back, I described my standalone (off-grid) urban photovoltaic (PV) energy system. At the time, I promised a follow-up piece evaluating the realized efficiency of the system. What was I thinking? The resulting analysis is a lot of work! But it was good for me, and hopefully it will be useful to some of you lot as well.
Blow-by-Blow PV System Efficiency: A Case Study for Storage
A short while back, I described my standalone (off-grid) urban photovoltaic (PV) energy system. At the time, I promised a follow-up piece evaluating the realized efficiency of the system. What was I thinking? The resulting analysis is a lot of work! But it was good for me, and hopefully it will be useful to some of you lot as well.
Banking on the states for clean energy innovation
With Washington mired in unproductive argument this fall, it’s a great time to look elsewhere in America for smart, constructive problem-solving.
Bioenergy, TLUDs, and our 2012 stove camp
Both Solar Bob and Doc agree that trying to get charcoal-burning cultures like Haiti to give up making and burning charcoal is a lost cause, not worth spending much time on. We are less convinced of the hopelessness of conversion, having the card up our sleeve of eCOOLnomics still to play. Pop Culture can marry Mother Earth. We can make it cool to sequester carbon in the soil.
Review: “Reinventing Fire” by Amory Lovins
This book continues the presentation of the Lovins perspective, essentially the claim that there is great scope for conservation measures and alternative technologies to solve our problems and enable maintenance of rich world economies and lifestyles. My notes indicate that it would be far too capital costly for the US to run largely on renewable energy.
