Energy Musings

Advent of the SmartGrid-- Effect on Utility Data?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:13:01 -0500

http://theenergycollective.com/node/96091

Hertzog raises an interesting question regarding the information about utilities which consumers and the industry have access to— should we measure in uptime or downtime? Currently our standards measure disruptions in services. Instead, we should consider aiming for perfection, uptime nearly 100% of the time. While this measure would be impacted by large natural disasters and states of emergency, most utility level data is compared locally (especially by consumers) when performing analysis. With improved smart grid technologies, utilities will be able to monitor usage and backups that could lead to brownouts or outages. Improving storage techniques (it all comes back to storage) and data visualization and correction from the utilities, consumers could realistically expect near perfect utilities.

Academic Integrity & Fracking

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:33:23 -0500

Academic Integrity & Fracking:

A research project led by Dr. Groat at the University of Texas concluded in February that there was no direct link between fracking and groundwater contamination, however, Groat is reported to have (significant financial) ties with a Houston based fracking and exploration company.

Having attended a university well known for its research and academic contributions to society, I find this report sickening. Academia’s place in the world is to conduct un-biased research and tackle issues to move science and understanding forward for the world. By biasing reports such as Groat’s, there is more opportunity to hurt society by continuing in our current projection without correcting our previous mistakes. Fracking companies will not change processes or look to invest in new technologies if all is said to be perfectly safe for the environment. Understanding mistakes moves society forward and matures processes until they are virtually flawless, and the faster we can get there… the better.

What do you think? At what point does the fossil fuel &...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:11:00 -0500

What do you think?

At what point does the fossil fuel & renewable combination balance out? We need real energy storage solutions to make any balance work! Once we have large scale solutions for renewables, we will begin to see the abundance, or lack thereof, of jobs.

Do newer technologies offer enough employment to compensate? Not currently, but having major energy companies invest in R&D and develop alternatives in house could help ease a switch.

Government Regulation & It's Place in Fracking

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Re: http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/07/19/billionaire-father-of-fracking-says-government-must-step-up-regulation/

With the boom of fracking and heightened interest in natural gas as an oil alternative, we have seen growing concern over the safety of this procedure. Moreover, environmental concerns abound, especially among fracking opponents. For Mitchell, the so-called “father of fracking”, his concern of lack of regulation in the industry is a prudent stance. Nuclear reactors, for example, have a very negative connotation both in public perception and political stance because of large incidents that have drawn public attention (ie., Fukushima, Chernobyl). For a technique that is still so new to the public, as fracking is, preventing large scale issues before they happen is crucial.

Mitchell is mainly concerned about smaller, independent companies. He should be. Larger companies, such as a Devon energy, have a name and reputation to live up to and should proceed with more safety than a company that has nothing to lose. On the flip side, larger companies have less capital invested (percentage wise) than a startup or independent company and can afford minor slips. Placing regulation on companies of all sizes ensures that protocol is followed to some standard.

“Because if they don’t do it right there could be trouble,”[Mitchell] says. There’s no excuse not to get it right. “There are good techniques to make it safe that should be followed properly,” he says. But, the smaller, independent drillers, “are wild.”

One of the biggest concerns around fracking deals with the impacts to nature; groundwater, earthquakes, how fracking fluids effect ecosystems. While adverse effects have been seen across the country, the industry is still new enough that we haven’t seen yet the long term effects of fracking. While stringent regulations should be imposed on the process, it still remains seen if these regulations will be enough to protect the environment.