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32 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 -
Curtailment - the wind industry’s $1 billion problem (and how to fix it)
5 votes -
Base Power raises $1B to deploy home batteries everywhere
9 votes -
Fossil fuel decline, though still nascent, is already hitting countries leading the electric vehicle boom like China and Norway
27 votes -
Google has released data on how much energy an AI prompt uses
36 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 -
Make electricity cheap again (part 1)
7 votes -
China's emissions may now be falling
29 votes -
Meta signs twenty-year nuclear energy deal with Constellation Energy
8 votes -
By pairing computer processing facilities with district heating systems, countries like Finland and Sweden are trying to limit their environmental downsides
14 votes -
Denmark eyes lifting ban on nuclear power – examining pros and cons of using small modular reactors to balance renewables in its energy mix
20 votes -
Huge power cut causes chaos in Spain and Portugal as Madrid mayor warns people to stay put
27 votes -
Power outages in Spain, other EU areas
19 votes -
How Germany is fueling Namibia's green hydrogen revolution
7 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 -
Small German town starts testing geothermal power utilizing techniques developed by oil and gas industry
19 votes -
As global leaders, Canada and Norway's co-operation is timely in the face of surging energy demand
8 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 -
Over the last three decades, nearly everyone in Bangladesh gained access to basic electricity
26 votes -
Joint venture between Germany's Uniper and Blykalla has started work on a test reactor in Sweden – latest sign nation's nuclear renaissance is gathering pace
10 votes -
Finnish state should invest in a new nuclear power plant, according to Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Kai Mykkänen – electricity needs are expected to double over the next decade
22 votes -
Coal was on its way out. But surging US electricity demand is keeping it alive.
8 votes -
China to build world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet
12 votes -
US rural electric co-ops secure $4.37 billion in clean energy funding
19 votes -
UK targets 45 GW solar, 22 GW BESS in Clean Power 2030 plan
6 votes -
World’s largest 2 GW geothermal project approved in US, to power two million homes
12 votes -
The EU got 52% of its electricity from renewables in second quarter of 2024
31 votes -
Coal is powering the energy transition
8 votes -
AI will use a lot of energy. That's good for the climate.
12 votes -
Cubans begin third day without power as hurricane nears
23 votes -
Global average solar Levelized Cost of Electricity stood at $0.044/kWh in 2023, says IRENA
8 votes -
Modeling shows that reconductoring can quickly beef up US grids
6 votes -
The UK helped usher in the coal era — now it’s closing its last remaining plant
8 votes -
Constellation to restart Three Mile Island unit, powering Microsoft
13 votes -
Actually, we can deploy energy infrastructure very quickly
19 votes -
Solar will get too cheap to connect to the power grid
34 votes