MIT discovery resurrects potential of molten salt batteries for grid level power storage New Atlas, January 22nd, 2018 One of the primary problems with renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, is that power gets generated when the wind or sun is available, rather than when it’s most needed. This problem would more or less disappear if … Read more
Elana Cole, ERS, for Zondits On September 14, 2017, 19.8% of European electricity demand was met by wind power. A new record was later reported that day, setting the mark for the largest amount of offshore wind energy generated across the continent. Over the course of one day, onshore wind consistently produced 1,360 GWh of … Read more
Zeroing in on energy: Planned buildings expected to make as much energy, or more, than they burn The Post and Courier, September 3, 2017 Every hour, the sun beams more energy onto Earth than it needs to satisfy global energy requirements for an entire year, according to National Geographic and other sources. Of course, harnessing … Read more
Boise State researches energy efficient living in Driscoll Hall The Arbiter, August 22, 2017 With the new Honors and Sawtooth Hall in place and opening its doors to students, Driscoll Hall—the former Honors College dorm– is becoming a home for a new kind of living. John Gardner, director of the Energy Efficiency Research Institute and … Read more
Solar For Hospitals: Here’s What to Consider The Energy Collective, August 26, 2017 A hospital is not just a place for healing; it’s a place of discovery. It is not only a place to diagnose, but also to develop. It represents the community it serves and contributes to its health and prosperity. And as the second … Read more
Brian McCowan, ERS, for Zondits [bctt tweet=”Progress on #climatechange will not be slowed due to the president’s decision on the #ParisAgreement.” username=”ZonditsEE”] President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change is a major disappointment. Reaching agreement in Paris required a massive international effort that resulted in nearly two … Read more
Is the Battery Rush Distracting Us From Better Energy Storage Options for the Grid? Batteries are helping the grid everywhere from Aliso Canyon to South Australia. But some are concerned that battery-based storage might not be the universal panacea that evangelists believe. Launching the Tesla Powerwall in 2015, for example, Elon Musk claimed: “The size … Read more
How Batteries Could Revolutionize Renewable Energy Time, May 1, 2017 All over California, there’s evidence of the state’s goal to lead the country in renewable energy. Enormous farms of shiny solar panels have popped up across southern California, and gigantic wind turbines dot the landscape outside nearly all the major cities. There are less flashy—and … Read more
Dan Pidgeon, ERS, for Zondits The historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan has put forth a plan to use geothermal heat from 2,250 feet beneath the schist below the cathedral floor. Ten wells have been drilled and are hooked up to a water circulation loop linking the cathedral to the hot temperatures of the inner … Read more
Daniel Pidgeon, ERS, for Zondits Stephen Lacy, the editor-in-chief of GreenTech Media, sat down with Shayle Kahn, Senior VP of GTM Research for a special podcast on the solar industry’s record-setting 2016. The 36-minute podcast is worth the listen, but we’ve summarized some of the highlights here: America’s solar market nearly doubled in size last … Read more