(A Lack of Good) Electricity Outage Data
When attempting to evaluate the overall health of the U.S. electric grid, one potentially important metric relates to outages – how often and how long customers are without power. But, data related to disruptions in electricity service are largely unavailable. In fact, many states do not require utilities to report data related to the impact of electricity outages. The end result is a limited dataset... Read More
Technology Transfer – From Lab to Marketplace
The U.S. is currently home to a suite of national laboratories that conduct cutting-edge research. Throughout the country, this network of 17 labs (overseen by the Department of Energy) focuses on a wide array of basic science and engineering questions. The results of this research have spurred innovation and technology development for more than seven decades. And, through the technology transfer process,... Read More
Kites: A Favorite Toy’s “Magnificent Future”
Saul Griffith likes kites – but not the kind that you might have flown during your childhood. I’m talking about kites with wingspans bigger than a Boeing 747 – kites that are capable of generating (several times) more electricity than today’s stationary wind turbines. In his March 2009 TED talk, Saul – with Makani Power - spends just over 5 minutes discussing the history... Read More
Solyndra: Soft Markets and Chinese Subsidies
In September, headlines erupted when the solar company, Solyndra, announced that it would be filing for bankruptcy just 2 years after the company received $535 million in federal loan guarantees under the Recovery Act. The situation quickly led to questions about why this company failed. And, according to recent discussions and yesterday’s testimony by energy Secretary Chu, the root... Read More
Negawatts and Megawatts – When Less Makes Money
Note: Many statements contained in this piece are the result of an in-person interview between the author (Melissa C. Lott) and Chevron Energy Solutions’s President, Jim Davis in the fall of 2011. In the future, the world will demand more energy than it does today. While the exact amount might be disputed, with a global population expected to hit 9 (perhaps even 10) billion people by 2050, it is... Read More
