When we talk about adding renewable energy to the U.S. power supply, there is often a lot of talk about getting that power from the supply source (the solar farm or wind turbines, etc.) to the local power grid. There is less talk of what happens once that power hits the grid and how buildings may be able to adapt to the influx of power from renewable sources. Read More
After the hurricanes the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. has seen this year, there’s been a lot of talk about stabilizing and improving the power grid to contend with major events. One idea is that of microgrids, which are used throughout Alaska and in other states to power business, industries, and communities, some of which are extremely remote and difficult to connect to the main power grid.
With wind turbines estimated to last between 20-25 years, some of the earliest turbines are coming due for decommissioning. As these aged turbines start to need replacing, there’s a question of what to do with them. Fortunately, many parts of the wind turbine are recyclable. The foundation, tower, gearbox and generator can all be recycled. The blades, however? That’s another story.
On August 21, 2017, much of the U.S. will be able to see a total or near-total solar eclipse. While the phenomenon has been met with excitement by many, it also raises the question of how solar eclipses impact solar power generation. This is a situation we haven’t really faced before, since the widespread use of solar power and total eclipses have rarely overlapped.
How’s this for an unintended side effect of so many states legalizing the sale and consumption of marijuana? A dip in power consumption.
While many thought that marijuana legalization would overwhelm the power grid, and we did see a spike in demand when states first legalized it, demand is leveling off for a totally unforeseen reason: more growers are taking their crops outside.
When we talk about adding renewable energy to the U.S. power supply, there is often a lot of talk about getting that power from the supply source (the solar farm or wind turbines, etc.) to the local power grid. There is less talk of what happens once that power hits the grid and how buildings may be able to adapt to the influx of power from renewable sources.
California leads the nation in the production of solar power. Solar produces nearly 14% of the state’s electricity annually. Some months that percentage climbs higher and some months it is lower. And those high months are starting to cause problems for the Golden State.
In early June a wind turbine caught fire in Iowa. The fire caused the blades to disconnect and fall to the ground. While the cause of the fire was still unknown at the time of this post, it looks like mechanical failure is to blame. Read More
