The Energy Collective - The world's best thinkers on energy & climate

Clean Energy Deployment: Time to Reinforce Success

onclimatechangepolicy — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

In view of the time required to build scale in new technologies, few energy policies seem more important than those that encourage continuing reductions in costs and increases in the rate of deployment of technologies already at scale.

Grid-Scale Energy Storage on the Cusp of True Market Entry

Eric Wesoff — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Energy storage is often called the holy grail of renewable energy. The problem with the "grail" language is that the grail was never located. At least not with a compelling business case.

Google and Wind Energy: Acquisition of Makani Kite Power

ZachShahan — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

It’s been a long time since we covered Makani Power, the company developing kite-like wind turbines. In fact, it has just been bought by Google, for development under its Google[x] division.

Third California Cap And Trade Auction Sells Out, At Record Price

SilvioMarcacci — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

California's third carbon allowance auction was held last week, and businesses snapped up all available 2013 permits, setting a record price level in the process.

New Poll: Strong Support for Clean Energy, CO2 Regulated as Pollutant

JosephRomm — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

This year’s Yale survey finds support for prioritizing clean energy remains high and strong majorities support renewable energy and regulation carbon dioxide as a pollutant.

Climate Change Policy: Should Ambition Always be First?

DavidHone — Sat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

The world is clearly not on a 2°C pathway, but does that mean our primary focus should be on seeking greater national ambition to correct the trend? A more pragmatic strategy may be a real focus on the necessary tools and practices related to mitigation.

Tesla’s Early Loan Repayment Earns Praise From Energy Department

TinaCasey — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Tesla used the DOE loan to transition its business model from building high-end roadsters to accelerate the development of its relatively affordable Tesla Model S sedan.

DOD Energy Innovation Impacted by Budget Sequestration

mstepp — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

DOD has ramped up its energy innovation investments to address strategic challenges impacting warfighters and addressing the geopolitical consequences of climate change. But sequestration threatens to slow, or even halt, these efforts.

Plug-and-Play Grid Energy Storage Thanks to 1Energy’s Software

JeffStJohn — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

A host of startups are working on software to optimize on-site energy storage systems to avoid peak demand charges, meet demand response calls, or keep the lights on during emergencies.

Our Energy Use In Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]

matstc — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

In order to navigate these conversations about sustainable energy and climate change, it helps to have a look at our current consumption patterns. So how much do we consume? And what do we use energy for?

US Oil Boom Shifts Focus to North Dakota Bakken Shale

EcsJessica — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Responsible production of the newly discovered oil and gas in the Bakken and Three Forks formations can promote energy independence. The US has already seen a reduction of 10% in net oil imports in the last year.

Can Energy Storage Make Wind and Solar Energy as Reliable as Coal?

Geoffrey Styles — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Wind and solar power generated 3.5% and about 0.1%, respectively, of US electricity last year. To what extent could more and cheaper storage enable wind and solar to function as the equivalent of high-utilization, baseload generation?

Bonn: Addressing Climate Change Threats to “Water in the Anthropocene”

globalwarmingisreal — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Experts from around the world have gathered in Bonn, Germany to “synthesize major global water research achievements in the last decade and help assemble the scientific foundations to articulate a common vision of Earth’s water future."

Busting Big Oil Myths on the Renewable Fuel Standard: Part I

GCooperRFA — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Anyone with an interest in energy policy knows that a full frontal assault has been launched against the Renewable Fuel Standard. Big Oil has gone on the offensive, spreading myths and misinformation about renewable fuels.

Climate Change and the Price of Carbon vs. a Price on Carbon [VIDEO]

RodAdams — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Instead of charging polluters a fee for dumping their carbon dioxide into our shared atmosphere, we are all paying the cost of the consequences of attempting to store about 30 tons per year in our air.

Cleanweb: Can IT Lead the Way to a New Energy Future?

KatherineTweed — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

The internet cannot climb onto your roof to install a solar panel. But there is a movement afoot where social media, IT, big data and mobile communications could upend how we use limited resources in the future.

Climate Change: Arctic Ocean Rapidly Acidifying

globalwarmingisreal — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

After three years of ongoing research by an international team of scientists, a study commissioned for a first-ever comprehensive assessment of Arctic Ocean acidification was presented last week.

The Renewable Energy Reality Check

Schalk Cloete — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Renewable energy is ideologically very attractive. But such ideological perfection can easily switch off the critical thinking of environmentally-conscious individuals and this is exactly what we are seeing at the moment.

New DOE Secretary Moniz Stresses Energy Efficiency to Start

cnunez — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

In his first official remarks as Energy Secretary Tuesday, Ernest Moniz focused on an aspect of energy policy that lends itself to consensus perhaps a bit more easily than others: the need for greater efficiency.

Can Solar Energy Keep the Lights On in the UK?

robertwilson190 — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

In last week’s Guardian Jeremy Leggett had a post that seems to argue that solar energy is the UK’s best option for keeping the lights on. Well, how about solar?