[Lwvcnmtopics] Electric Power Comments

[atarghetta]

Thank you, George, for this enlightening information. Many of us know little of our energy systems and how they are changing, especially me.Andrea Targhetta, 505-280-8892 “Someone struggled for your right to vote, use it” Susan B. AnthonySent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy 
-------- Original message --------From: George Richmond <geomrich1 at comcast.net> Date: 11/24/20  2:30 PM  (GMT-07:00) To: lwvcnmtopics at mailman2.swcp.com Subject: [Lwvcnmtopics] Electric Power Comments 
    There is no PRC meeting this week because of the Thanksgiving
      Thursday holiday.
    Some observations:
    Historically, electric power is produced to meet demand, which
      varies, of course, so generating systems had to be flexible to
      meet a varying demand which is inefficient and thus expensive to
      operate.  Considering that demand varies by time of day, with late
      afternoon being peak, and late night times the trough, there is
      very large waste of capacity under the older coal fired electric
      generating systems.  In part, historically, electricity could not
      be stored efficiently.
    
    Renewable generation, with battery back up, means that cost of
      power is likely to decline and generation of power will be more
      efficient and less expensive.  The needed battery back up system
      which should be not just hours of potential electric power, but
      several days of power, is under development and expected in two to
      three years.  Thus, when the wind blows at night, but there is no
      demand for electricity, the power can be stored and used the next
      day, or in two or three days, or sold to another utility.
    As I shared last week, members of the Santa Fe Institute are
      helping the NM PRC so it might make better decisions regarding the
      electric utilities in New Mexico.  Here is a summary of one of the
      papers of the a researcher:
    society is facing unprecedented challenges in
        meeting rising demands for affordable, reliable and high-quality
        energy consistent with social environmental goals.  engineering
        future energy conversion and delivery systems will require a new
        way of thinking about networks and infrastructures, in addition
        to new energy sources.  Dr. blumsack's work in this area focuses
        on the integration of emerging energy technologies into existing
        systems, and how the "smart grid" can help enable both
        engineering and economic transformations.  with colleagues from
        engineering, economics, computer science, architecture and
        environmental science, he is working on the integration of
        utility-scale wind and solar systems into electric power grids;
        modeling the impacts of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles;
        small-scale distributed electricity and "micro-grids;" and
        cyber-security and risk analysis for the "smart grid."  Dr.
        blumsack is also developing online and resident courses with
        funding from the u.s. department of energy to support workforce
        training and development for the smart grid and the wind energy
        industry.
    I have written to Dr. Blumsack and as I learn
        more, I will share.  As he teaches at Penn State, our contacts,
        if any, will be virtual.
    Have a great Thanksgiving,
    George Richmond
      
    
    
    -- 
George M. Richmond
152 Juniper Hill Road, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122-1913

C: 505-280-2105
E: geomrich1 at comcast.net

  

	
        
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