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Electric Energy is created from a generation source and used in the same instant of time. Is there anything else that has this level of real time delivery? No chance. All other energy delivery systems involve some type of storage. Gasoline, natural gas, diesel, etc. all involve storage before consumption. |
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This website is designed to provide an energy plan that is based on the technical delivery and supply realities that are the rules of the road on how things operate in our world. Principals of engineering, physics, and economics must be used when considering the objectives of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, or increasing the usage of renewable energy. We live in a sound byte society trying to solve huge problems with a you tube video. We won't solve energy issues in a simple video or sound byte. Stay tuned, engage your mind, and think about the big picture. We shouldn't assume we have been so far off in our current approach that we need to start over. Without a solid understanding of our current world, we will not be able to make good decisions. |
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· The Plan o Electricity § Electricity energy is measured in kilo-watt hours(kWh) or mega-watt hours (MWh). Maximum Electricity usage is measured in kilo-watts (kW) and Mega-watts (MW). § Electricity Generation, delivery and usage is the most complicated of all energy types. For each instant of time, generation plus losses required to deliver electricity must always match the load. Electricity is transmitted from the generation to the load at slightly less than the speed of light, which is nearly instantaneous. Load is determined by usage, which is simple as saying every time we switch on a light, the usage changes. Turn on the electric oven, hair dryer, blender, power drill etc etc, the electric load changes. Each time the load changes, electric generation follows this change in the load by instantly monitoring the system, and increasing or decreasing generation. § We use 20 Quads of Coal, 8 Quads of Nuclear, 7 Quads of Natural Gas, and 0.5 Quads from liquid fuels, 3.9 Quads (2.7 Hydro, 0.3, Geothermal, 0.5 Wind, 0.4 other) § Wind and Solar generation do not allow for changes in generation driven by load, but the generation output is driven by the availability of wind and the sun. Studies have shown that for a specified region, 20-25 % of the total electricity generation can be from resources such as wind or solar. Wind cannot replace all existing resources, but can provide a share of the energy. If too high of a percentage of resources are utilized, other generation would be required to increase or decrease to match the load, and if there would not be enough generation to increase or decrease, the electric system would crash, and be blacked out. If wind was integrated with a storage technology such as a Sodium Sulfide battery, it could result in wind being a resource that could follow the changes in load.
What are others Saying - Other Plans etc?
In a recent 32 minute interview with Jeffrey Immult, Google's CEO Erik Schmidt asked about the "grid problem" which was defined as the intermittent nature of the wind resources. Jeffrey Immult's response was very troubling. He said that the "grid problem" would be solved by more transmission and distribution capacity and smart grids. Additional wind would require more transmission and distribution, but a smart grid will not change the issue of wind being intermittent. A storage technology integrated with wind would deal with what they are calling the "grid issue" as it would allow the power electronics and storage to allow the wind energy to match the demand for electrity. The fact the the head of General Electric is saying that smart grid will fix our intermittent problem is very troubling. Mr. Immult also said that GE's large central station power is available is for developing countries such as China. Mr. Immult clearly stated that we simply need to add more and more wind, and that we need a CO2 cap and trade (carbon tax) in order to make this new renewable energy approach work for the United States. I will put this in the Blog section and ask for comments.
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· Developed by Thomas J. Butz P.E tbutz@energysense.net |
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