Category: electricity grids

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 →

First steps for a global, interconnected energy grid

The energy transition is truly underway, regardless of American elections. It is encouraging to see the development of new grids that will make the use of renewable energy more effective. Loz Blain writes on the New Atlas website about latest developments from an Asia-based group of entrepreneurs.   Asian “super grid” the first step towards … Continue reading First steps for a global, interconnected energy grid →

How the energy transition can affect the electricity grid

EiD is regularly providing posts on the impact of the energy transition on the grid. Letha Tawney and Manish Bapna from the World Resources Institute write on the Forbes website about the demand by the corporate sector for renewable energy, which is fine, but the problem is providing enough supply.   Corporate Demand for Renewable … Continue reading How the energy transition can affect the electricity grid →