Category: electricity grids

Evidence that Russia has infiltrated “critical infrastructure” in US like power plants and gas pipelines

We are realising more and more how vulnerable our economies are. Almost daily we are reading about hacking incidents. Obviously, this is worrying as we live in an increasingly interconnected world. Theodore J. Kury, Director of Energy Studies at the University of Florida writes on The Conversation website about the worrying situation and the steps … Continue reading Evidence that Russia has infiltrated “critical infrastructure” in US like power plants and gas pipelines →

Thoughts about grid modernisation

Our energy transition has many implications for our electrical systems, as we are increasingly aware of. Peter O’Connor, a Kendall Science Fellow, writes an important article on the Union of Concerned Scientists website about grid modernisation and the role of electric vehicles.   What Is Grid Modernization—and What’s the Role of Electric Vehicles? Utilities around … Continue reading Thoughts about grid modernisation →

Important steps towards a reliable grid system

Sara Hastings-Simon and Binnu Jeyakumar from the Pembina Institute in Alberta write on their website about the role of baseloads in our grid management. They argue that a different approach may prove more sustainable.   Baseload myths and why we need to change how we look at our grid As the mercury climbed in Alberta … Continue reading Important steps towards a reliable grid system →

Setting priorities for electricity grid infrastructure spending in the US

With all the discussion about smart grids and electricity market design changes, we often overlook the state of the current grid. Joshua D. Rhodes writes on The Conversation website what it would cost the US to replace its “old, dirty, creaky” grid.   The old, dirty, creaky US electric grid would cost $5 trillion to … Continue reading Setting priorities for electricity grid infrastructure spending in the US →

The dynamics of Australia’s grids – renewables versus fossil fuels

There is on-going concern about the effect of renewables on our grid systems. Giles Parkinson writes a good article on the REneweconomy website arguing that the biggest risk to grid security is coal, gas settings, not wind or solar.   Biggest risk to grid security is coal, gas settings, not wind or solar The biggest … Continue reading The dynamics of Australia’s grids – renewables versus fossil fuels →

California strengthens sustainability of its power grid

As Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times, California is on track to have an overabundance of energy during the day, in large part because of power coming from solar cells. This leads to shortages throughout the night. Ms. Cardwell’s article explains about recent developments to expand the use of storage batteries.   Tesla … Continue reading California strengthens sustainability of its power grid →

What it takes to future-proof our electricity grids

Planners are puzzling over how to increase the share of renewables in our electricity systems when they are intermittent. Many are now turning to conventional power plants to be on standby. As Valentin Robu, lecturer in smart grids at Heriot-Watt University, states on the Conversation website, this is expensive and contributes to increased carbon emissions. … Continue reading What it takes to future-proof our electricity grids →

Recent hacking shows vulnerability of our electricity grids

How vulnerable are our electricity systems? Recently, we have also read that it is possible there was hacking of the electricity grid in Turkey? Who is next? Juliet Eilperin and Adam Entous write in the Washington Post about recent developments in Vermont.   Russian operation hacked a Vermont utility, showing risk to U.S. electrical grid … Continue reading Recent hacking shows vulnerability of our electricity grids →