Green Energy
Archived copies of the article: * [archive.today](https://archive.ph/G3z05) * [ghostarchive.org](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/jMODi)
with Google's assault on Invidious leaving it inoperable, consider watching this video [with FreeTube](https://freetubeapp.io/), a nifty [open source](https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube?tab=readme-ov-file) program that lets you watch youtube videos privately!
techxplore.com
Researchers have developed a model that can be used to project what a nation's energy storage needs would be if it were to shift entirely to renewable energy sources, moving away from fossil fuels for electric power generation. The model offers policymakers critical information for use when making near-term decisions and engaging in long-term energy system planning.
This is a big deal; when BlocPower started, it looked like they might do a lot to actually retrofit buildings away from fossil-fuel-burning heat systems. They don't seem to be actually doing that in any kind effective way.
electrek.co
I'm not convinced that hydrogen (green or otherwise) makes sense for powering transportation. I think it's best use case is in replacing fossil fuels in high-temperature industrial processes.
www.canarymedia.com
This is not a bad way to prioritize: 
This post uses a [gift link which has a view count limit.](https://www.ft.com/content/13e8fd48-7320-4c60-9703-51d12268e868?accessToken=zwAAAZIpSmAWkc8T6P1IcyBMYNOXA1HRImjoaA.MEYCIQCR0k1W7r3XIkJxirsVlbfxOLuR1plO9lw8PI98V5bANgIhALuSY8OxyFs8YXVeiUq65H95ahIRn9b0eZsVFai2-l2n&segmentId=e95a9ae7-622c-6235-5f87-51e412b47e97&shareType=enterprise&shareId=8dfdb486-d509-4c5d-a5dc-da13c3f7db31) When that runs out, there are archived copies of the article at: * [archive.today](https://archive.is/CVD5N) * [ghostarchive.org](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/HXaH0)
Access options: * [gift link](https://wapo.st/3MXJQVI) - requires registration, but includes all animations * [archive.today](https://archive.is/CrKKq) - animations missing * [ghostarchive.org](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/7f0zy)
TL;DW: Incorporating pumped hydro storage into skyscrapers is a possibility. Not necessarily practical, but possible.
"The UK’s era of coal-free power begins on the 1st October 2024, following a rapid decline over the last 12 years which has seen power sector emissions plummet by three quarters." "This report provides an overview of the UK coal power phase-out, looking at changes in electricity generation since 2012 when coal began to rapidly decline. It provides context on how phase-out was achieved through a mix of initiatives and policy frameworks, and considers how this can inform the next chapter of UK power sector decarbonisation." "Coal power provided almost 40% of UK generation in 2012, shrinking to 2% by 2019, and finally falling to zero by October 2024. In 2012, coal generated 143 TWh of electricity, equivalent to Sweden’s total power demand in 2023."
www.ft.com
basically: Pakistan, with Chinese financing, solved a problem of frequent rotating blackouts by building coal-fired power plants. Those are more expensive than solar, so people are installing small-scale solar right and left...which means that the coal-fired power plants aren't financially viable. This post uses a gift link which may have a capped view count. You can use an [archived copy](https://archive.is/11TFI) if that runs out.
This means that it's not going to be possible to simply assume that jobs produced from renewables are going to able to drive public support for an energy transition; we're going to need to attach decarbonization policy to a broader guarantee of employment, wages, and working conditions.
Heat pump water heaters already exist. These are hybrid things where a traditional electric water heater is fitted with a heat pump. The heat pump can increase the water temp but cannot deliver enough, so heating elements are still needed to reach a usable temp. I’m wondering if that design can be improved on this way: instead of powering the heat pump from the wall, the heat pump can be connected directly to a PV. I think that would be more efficient and cheaper because PV output is not normally directly usable. IIUC, it’s variable D/C which must be regulated and/or inverted to A/C involving more hardware, conversion, and waste. But exceptionally, I’ve heard that a PV can directly power a compressor with no middleware. Any reasons this would be infeasible or uninteresting? Of course the tank still needs wall power for the heating elements, but would use less wall power and entail less conversion loss.
solar.lowtechmagazine.com
[The most steel-intensive power source – by far – is the modern wind turbine. The steel intensity of a wind turbine depends on its size. A single, large wind turbine requires significantly more steel per megawatt of installed power than two smaller wind turbines.](https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2024/03/how-to-escape-from-the-iron-age/) The link is from the-most-solarpunk-website and is mostly about steel in general, but I wanted to pull out that one fact. Wind and solar energy are not "good for the environment"; they pollute; it's just that we hope they pollute less than the alternative. One major reason they pollute is because they require a lot of steel to build. But the household-scale or village-scale ones use less de Decker is citing: Topham, Eva, et al. “Recycling offshore wind farms at decommissioning stage.” Energy policy 129 (2019): 698-709.
www.tucsonsentinel.com
cross-posted from: https://tucson.social/post/1067292 > > > > Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighed more than $600 million in recent financing to support renewable energy in rural Arizona, including $83.5 million to Trico Electric Cooperative to expand battery storage and increase the reliability of electricity for residents on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation. >
This post uses a [gift link](https://www.ft.com/content/aa3c8928-e66f-4006-ad90-d2faa72c99d1?accessToken=zwAAAZHm_e8UkdOqPIko5m9ABtOtkNL6pyyZ0Q.MEUCIQCiNlD5zWJbb3qygdWtM4ACO8UyjuYgr0hItyrx6gBQ1QIgE4GZJkyO_EDlmUsOWGon-8AkyNQGzIIWC5DV9arXGas&segmentId=e95a9ae7-622c-6235-5f87-51e412b47e97&shareType=enterprise&shareId=7813ba95-d743-47f1-be02-92b7a83122f4) which may limit the number of times it can be loaded. When it runs out, there is an [archived copy of the article](https://archive.is/wip/sQK9b)
Green Energy
!energy@slrpnk.neteverything about energy production