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Thursday's Energy Absurdity: This Single Chart Rings the Death Knell for Any Real 'Energy Transition' [Follow me on X at @EnergyAbsurdity] As published by the energy transition boosters at the Financial Times, the build-out of new high capacity transmission lines has collapsed to a trickle. There can be no energy transition in any real sense without a doubling or tripling of the US power grid - including transmission - in just a little more than a decade. The Biden government itself admitted last year the US would need to build more than 200,000 miles of new high voltage transmission by 2030 [!], a very, very conservative, low-ball estimate. But none of that is happening, which means the vaunted “energy transition” is not happening, either. Somebody pop the champagne! That is all. #EnergyAbsurdity #Energy #transmission #highcapacitytransmission #powergrid #energytransition Financial Times https://lnkd.in/gAq6NFjX

As monopoly utilities struggle & often fail to meet the electricity needs of businesses & residents, those same monopoles fight tooth & nail against expansion of decentralized electric generation, such as solar. We need to allow more decentralized generation. Lots of it.

Now, I try my best to stay updated on specific things around the world. I'm not saying I'm a caveman, but I don't want to overconsume myself with so much information that could lead me overwhelmed. An article written by Evan Halper, The Washington Post on how "America is running out of power", immediately gained my attention. Jason Shaw, Chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates electricity states “When you look at the numbers, it is staggering. It makes you scratch your head and wonder how we ended up in this situation. How were the projections that far off? This has created a challenge like we have never seen before.” (Halper, Evan) Over time I've always wondered what the negative complications of creating things that constantly require an energy source to function. Would people be at harm? Our Earth? The environment we live in? The list goes on.. Since 2020 we've seen a rapid increase in tech companies being developed, the surge of AI, electric cars, data storage, and crypto mining, and now navigating the next steps with outdated power grids that could lead specific areas without electricity in years ahead. This results in destroying more of our land to build more power grids to generate electricity. Although it may be beneficial as a temporary fix, and maybe have methods to refrain from zero-emissions fuel, we're still destroying more of the earth that we have left. There must be other alternatives. There are plenty of methods of clean energy that we can use and provide more funding and access for humans to utilize. Such as solar power, geothermal energy, wind turbines, hydropower, and biomass energy to assist with decreasing our use of electricity and harming the Earth. What are some ways you try to reduce energy use? Are there any companies that I'm unaware of that are committed to zero-emission fuel and ways to save our environment? If you wish to learn more about who will pay for the need for more power grids, areas in demand of power grids, staggering data, and creating ways for clean energy feel free to read below. https://lnkd.in/g2HXAmu8

Building data centers with their own #Solar plus #BESS makes more sense. How a simple fix could double the size of the U.S. electricity grid Rewiring miles of power lines could make space for data centers, AI and a boom in renewables. https://lnkd.in/gy5zTw2i

U.S. power challenges identified in this report include an aging grid, surging demand from data centers and AI, transmission bottlenecks, and the balancing act of transitioning to more sustainable energy sources. Interestingly, the solutions may also lie in some of these challenges. These include: ☀ Grid Renewables Expansion: Bring new power sources (e.g. large-scale renewables) and storage (e.g. battery-backed systems) online via accelerated grid expansion to relieve bottlenecks. ⚡Decentralized Power Generation: Incentivize off-grid power sources to reduce reliance on the overtaxed grid while it is modernized. 🤖 AI-Powered Optimization: Drive system efficiency by implementing AI to make the existing grid smarter. For example, programming demand shifts to match renewable power generation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTXP6cSj #EnergyManagement #EnergyStorage #cleanenergy

States across the country are struggling to prevent blackouts in times of high #electricity demand. According to an estimate from University of Texas at Austin research scientist, Joshua Rhodes, replacing the grid and adapting it to modern-day needs would cost around $5 trillion. Instead of using consumers’ hard earned money on costly and outdated “grid fixes,” we must incentivize the upgrade of our grid with a focus on #cleanenergy, so everyone has access to eco-friendly, resilient, and affordable energy. Solar power emerges as a readily accessible, cost-effective option, and investing in a revamped grid to accommodate the widespread utilization of clean energy is not only practical but crucial for ushering in a sustainable, more efficient energy era. This modernization is also an opportunity to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and drive technological innovation. It not only improves our #energysecurity but also positions us at the forefront of the global clean #energytransition. More in Axios.

🌍 Unveiling Insights from NREL's Energy Scenarios! 🌿🔌 Dear friends! 🌟 Just got my hands on some intriguing data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) regarding the energy landscape. Here's a quick rundown: 1️⃣ Wind and solar are on the rise! By 2050, we're talking about a staggering 770 GW of wind and 1,090 GW of solar (5× and 10× increases, respectively). Together, they'll contribute 55% to 85% of total energy in 2050. 2️⃣ Natural gas is holding its ground. With current policies, expect a 200 GW increase in natural gas capacity by 2050. Even with 95% net decarbonization, it grows by 130 GW. 3️⃣ Fossil generators without carbon capture step back in generating power but become key players in providing firm capacity – 47% of total firm capacity by 2050. 4️⃣ New tech in the spotlight! Emerging technologies like natural gas with carbon capture, coal with CCS, bioenergy with CCS, hydrogen combustion turbines, and small modular nuclear reactors enter the scene. Their combined contribution peaks at 1% of total annual generation and 3% of firm capacity under current policies but can soar in scenarios with breakthroughs. 5️⃣ Emissions on the decline! US electricity sector emissions plummet – an 81% reduction by 2035 compared to 2005 levels. With current policies, it's a range of 71% to 86% across all scenarios. 6️⃣ Tax credits in play! Clean electricity tax credits hang around until at least 2032 or until emissions drop below 25% of 2022 levels. In most scenarios, including the Mid-case, they persist. 7️⃣ Decarbonization comes at a cost. Achieving 95% net decarbonization by 2050 comes with a 0.5% increase in costs, while aiming for 100% by 2035 hikes costs by 14%. The amazing details you can see on special internet-page here (https://lnkd.in/dYQxnSSi) ⚡️📊 #RenewableEnergy #CleanFuture #NRELObservations

The U.S. Must Close the Long-Distance Power Transmission Gap with China. The gap in long-distance transmission technologies between the United States and China raises significant national security implications In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a triennial report that revealed, among other things, that the U.S. transmission system, as currently built, is already at or near capacity across several states, including Texas and Alaska. A transmission system at capacity restricts growth in at least two crucial ways: more electricity cannot easily be added to the grid,

We are at a pivotal moment in history where electricity demand is skyrocketing, and the present #grid infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Some states are expected to see demand rise 17 times what is currently available as AI and data centers grow at a relentless pace. Capable of alleviating congestion and enhancing resilience, #solarenergy emerges as a sufficient outlet to reduce strain. #Renewables come with the scalability to meet growing demand and open the door to sustainability that would be threatened by building additional power plants. It is the fix we need to begin implementing now. More from The Washington Post.