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21 votes
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A history of PG&E and how we got here
15 votes -
Vattenfall has applied for state financing to build new nuclear reactors – first company to do so under scheme Swedish government hopes will lead to renaissance in nuclear power
16 votes -
The EU Grids Package: A blueprint for Europe’s future energy infrastructure
16 votes -
How “grid-forming inverters” are paving the way for 100% renewable energy
14 votes -
For Americans: You can check out your local electric options!
I'm not sure where exactly to post this, but most folks in the US and Canada can check out where their power is coming from. I work in the power generation industry, and I feel there are many...
I'm not sure where exactly to post this, but most folks in the US and Canada can check out where their power is coming from. I work in the power generation industry, and I feel there are many aspects that people just do not understand when it comes to generation and what we need to go fully renewable and/or carbon free.
"Independent system operators" (better known as ISOs) can provide you with your local power information. A nice overview can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_transmission_organization_(North_America)#Independent_system_operators_(ISOs)
I live in New England, so my local info can be seen here: https://www.iso-ne.com/isoexpress/
I can see the projected MW load, how much was scheduled to cover it, the cost per MW, where the power is coming from (at the moment, 5% is oil, 6% is hydro, 12% is "renewables"... as burning trash is considered renewable as much as solar and wind lulz, 19% is nuclear, and 52% is natural gas [NG]), and I can also see the CO2 outputs (which before you make a judgement call to state that yes, NG is the highest producer of CO2, if you look at the MW produced per ton of CO2, it's WAY better than the others!).If you're in Texas and were there in early '21 during the Uri storm, I'm sure you've heard of ERCOT (https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards). That region has a much higher demand for power in general, and I do find it amusing (yet not at all surprising) that no CO2 info is offered.
In the California area (which is where I hail from), it's displayed here: https://www.caiso.com/supply. I have, at times, found that their imported MW actually were the main supplier, which let's just be honest: they buy power from NV and AZ and that power isn't "clean", but they tote that they're so good to the environment! (Please also note, CA is a huge supplier of CO2 courtesy of all the forest fires.) Also, note that my company literally owns two "peakers" (that's a term for an engine you can turn on and get power out of quickly, without all the slow startup times or shutdown issues that typical power plants have - think of it as a jet engine you just turn on for quick power with really high emissions compared to most plants) that put out more emissions than were typically allowed on permits when they were commissioned, but glorious Newsome realized that balancing the ability to charge your Tesla and having rolling blackouts was a bit precarious. Also alsø: if you look at the CaISO page, the geothermal output is all my company. That range of plants takes the grey water from SF and reincorporates it into the geysers to keep up the 100% clean output.
So, after the fact, I'll state that I'm a little biased: I grew up in CA, and I'm very conscious about emissions and climate change (and yes, I believe that has been playing into effect for a while). But I also am a realist living near California's little red-headed stepsibling Massachusetts that is trying to shoot their foot for carbon emissions and the like.
But, I wanted to put this out there because I hope that folks (who aren't in the industry) might appreciate the insight, and also learn how to figure out what is going on when you plug your <insert power demand item here>. :)
13 votes -
How nuclear power ambitions aim to wean Finland off Russian energy – nuclear share in electricity production went from 28% in 2022 to 39% in 2025
15 votes -
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
32 votes -
There’s a reason US electricity prices are rising. And it’s not data centers.
24 votes -
Do Red Dead Redemption 2's power lines connect to anything?
28 votes -
How can England possibly be running out of water?
27 votes -
Sweden to build more nuclear plants with US or UK technology – Vattenfall says it will chose between GE Vernova and Rolls-Royce's small modular reactors
12 votes -
Norway eyes 200-250 MW floating nuclear reactors to power industry and cut emissions – expected to supply electricity to nearby offshore platforms and feed power into the onshore grid
13 votes -
Edgy commercial for "MF Wind Farms!"
11 votes -
Puerto Rico’s solar microgrids power through blackout meanwhile, feds redirect $365 million away from solar toward grid fixes
12 votes -
The AI data center race is getting way more complicated
23 votes -
Unexplained electronic components found in imported equipment for Denmark's energy supply network – investigation underway to learn more
32 votes -
The crypto racket - public officials at all levels are propping up a Texas Bitcoin mining boom that’s threatening water and energy systems while afflicting locals with noise pollution
20 votes -
What caused the power outage in Portugal and Spain?
22 votes -
Finland ‘ahead of schedule’ on coal phase out as Salmisaari power plant closes – coal now less than 1% share of the country's energy mix
22 votes -
Market Renewal in Ontario: Navigating IESO's shift to a nodal system
3 votes -
Finnish utility Fortum focusing on renewable energy and nuclear lifetime extensions to cover growing electricity demand
8 votes -
Ann Arbor's sustainable energy utility aims to build the electric power grid of the future alongside the old one
9 votes -
Battery-storage project that will become the biggest in Finland has been given the go-ahead to start construction – can store power for two hours
11 votes -
Carved into rock beneath the Swedish city of Västerås, a huge man-made cave system is being used to heat local housing
10 votes -
Baltic states leave Russian power grid in closer EU integration
29 votes -
Power company finds evidence of unusual flashes around start of Eaton fire in Los Angeles
13 votes -
It's time to break up Big Medicine in the US
33 votes -
A transformer supply crisis bottlenecks energy projects
5 votes -
Which power plant does my electricity come from?
10 votes -
Gridlock: why it can take eleven years to connect solar farms to the UK network
8 votes -
Cubans begin third day without power as hurricane nears
23 votes -
Southern Water, serving 4.7mn UK customers, in discussions with private supplier to tanker water from Norwegian fjords to mitigate against potential supply shortages and drought
11 votes -
Modeling shows that reconductoring can quickly beef up US grids
6 votes -
Lawsuits allege deadly 2021 Texas blackouts were an inside job, that energy companies reduced energy supply before storm
18 votes -
Solar will get too cheap to connect to the power grid
34 votes -
Finland's Fortum starts using US nuclear fuel in bid to reduce Russian dependence
7 votes -
Generative AI requires massive amounts of power and water, and the aging US grid can't handle the load
27 votes -
AI boom risk: Can the world's power grid handle the technology's meteoric rise?
14 votes -
French power slumps as surging renewables push out atomic plants
14 votes -
Danish researchers are exploring multiple uses for wind farms far out at sea, such as producing fresh seafood
10 votes -
AI is exhausting the power grid. Tech firms are seeking a miracle solution.
21 votes -
How a simple fix could double the size of the US electricity grid
16 votes -
These autonomous drones can recharge themselves from power lines
15 votes -
California solar installs down for 2024, but battery installs up
18 votes -
Google will send the waste heat from its data center in Hamina, Finland, to that community's district heating system
21 votes -
Cryptocurrency mining as a novel virtual energy storage system in islanded and grid-connected microgrids
12 votes -
New rules to overhaul US electric grids could boost wind and solar power
9 votes -
PG&E rates: new fee would change monthly Californian electricity charges
18 votes -
AI to drive natural gas boom as utilities face surging data center demand
13 votes