NPR’s Morning Edition has been looking at the future of the grid recently in a new 10-part series called “Power Hungry: Reinventing the US Electric Grid.” They also developed some cool web-specific content on the topic, like this interactive map of the US that shows existing and planned transmission lines, power plants, and renewable capacity. While the whole series is worth checking out, here are the must-listen “episodes” if you’re interested in the smart grid:
Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce released a discussion draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Waxman and Markey, represents a substantial step forward for those eager to see the development of a clean technology economy here in the US. From a clean energy standpoint alone the proposed legislation calls for a package that includes a federal RPS (requiring 6% renewable power by 2012 and 25% by 2025), carbon capture and sequestration, clean fuels and vehicles, and smart grid and electricity transmission deployment. But the bill (nice summary found here) is about more than just clean energy, as it includes title provisions on energy efficiency, global warming pollution, and economic transition. In short, the bill contemplates not only our fuel sources, but the manner in which we deliver and consume fuel, how we manage the associated greenhouse gas emissions, and the necessary economic and trade steps to ensure a successful transition.
Blogs are abuzz with news of the world’s biggest solar deal to date - that of Southern California Edison (SCE) and BrightSource Energy to build several solar thermal towers in the Mojave Desert, adding up to 1.3 gigawatts of energy - comparable to the biggest nuclear power plant in the US. And no wonder the cleantech world is excited - this could be one of the first utility-scale solar installations in California for 20 years, and surpasses in size last year’s PG&E and BrightSource deal for 900 MW. SCE is taking a major step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the power it delivers, and leading the way for the rest of California and the US.
I was recently in Washington DC for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Conference. At both the conference, and in the halls of Congress nearby, there was much discussion about the need to create policy “on-ramps” to eventual climate change legislation. The thinking appeared to be that putting a price on carbon is so politically untenable that we should work in the interim on piecemeal approaches, like a federal Renewable Energy Standard. I’m not convinced this is a good approach however. There are plenty of signs that carbon legislation is indeed politically possible, and there are good arguments against interim solutions.
A lot of people expect the incoming Obama administration to fundamentally alter the way our country thinks and acts around energy and environmental issues. While a lot of change can certainly come from top-down Federal initiatives (a country-wide cap-and-trade system, nationwide renewable portfolio standard, or federal tax incentives for renewable energy or energy efficiency investments are examples), at the end of the day energy policy really is a state issue. So we certainly need Federal action and direction, but ultimately we need legislative and/or regulatory bodies in 50 states and DC to take action as well.
This week we saw New Jersey and Virginia stake large claims toward a cleaner and greener future. And as a result, it looks likely that we can expect “big splash” actions in the near future from both states that would be similar to what I recently wrote about in Hawaii. The landmark reports that came out of New Jersey and Virginia are pretty thick and comprehensive so I’ll just offer a quick highlight of each and note that they are definitely worth a gander.
Hydrokinetic technologies are those that capture the kinetic energy in moving water, usually from fast-moving currents or waves, to produce electricity. (Typically, the term does not refer to dammed, hydropower resources.) Some companies active in this space include Finavera, Pelamis, Ocean Power Technologies, and Verdant Power. If successful, these technologies will allow us to capture the almost unfathomable amount of energy swirling around the globe in rivers and oceans - a source of energy as vast as the sun that shines or the wind that blows. FERC just approved the first commercial hydrokinetic project in the US today.
Unlike wind, which can be quite unpredictable and challenging to integrate to the grid, currents and tides are surprisingly easy to forecast. Tidal power is probably the most predictable type of renewable power, since tides are based on lunar phasing, making it possible to predict tidal patterns centuries in advance. Wave patters, can be known three to five days in advance, still relatively easy to forecast. But predictability is not the main benefit of wave and tidal power - it’s the amount of energy there is. An industry report from Greentech Media states that tidal and marine currents are over 800 times more dense than the air flowing over wind turbines. While estimates vary as to how much wave/tidal energy can actually be cost-effectively deployed, it has been reported that just looking at the ocean currents near population centers would lead to a market of 4,000 TWh. For comparison, worldwide electricity consumption is about 16,000 TWh.
Despite all this, the US Department of Energy requested only $3 million for ocean energy research in FY2009 - a stark contrast from the $156 million requested for solar energy.
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