EnergyCentral: "Supercomputer simulation seen as tool to guard against U.S. power grid failures." Let's start with the concept of exascale, which involves numbers with 12 zeros. Since a million—a number we think we comprehend—has 6 zeros, colloquially exa- as a prefix just means 1 million multiplied times 1 million, or a million-million. The next concept is FLOPS, which stands for floating-point operations per second, where 1 FLOPS might involve addition or multiplication involving a number containing a decimal, like 2.5 times 3 for example. Paper + pencil stuff, taking one of us about 1-2 seconds. The first supercomputer was put into operation in 1964, running 3 million FLOPS, or 3 megaFLOPS. Clear as mud so far? In May of 2022 the Frontier supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee clocked in at 1.1 exaFLOPS, at the time the fastest supercomputer in the world. Over next few yrs Frontier could reach a theoretical peak of 2 exaFLOPS. At Lawrence [no relation] Livermore National Lab in Livermore, California used software called HiOp "ran the largest simulation of its kind to optimize the power grid's response to failures from weather events, natural disasters and attacks." In only 20 minutes it was able to help scientists identify safe and cost-effective power grid setpoints for 100,000 grid failures. "A power grid setpoint refers to multiple measures of grid performance of conditions such as voltage, frequency and the active level of power." It's all about grid resilience + adaptability. Something we could use a lot more of.   #supercomputers    #electricgrid    #climatechange

Largest US Grid Declares Emergency Alert For July 27
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/largest-us-grid-declares-emergency-061927460.html #climatechange #climatecollapse #powergrid #energy #electricgrid

If the electric grid cannot handle the air conditioning use during a heat wave, we need to invest in upgrading it. #infrastructure #electricgrid #heatwave

Scorching heat to push #Texas #electric demand to record levels next week

#Climate #TexasElectricGrid #ElectricGrid
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4064935-scorching-heat-to-push-texas-electric-demand-to-record-levels-next-week/

France looks to hike offshore wind target above 40 GW https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/france-looking-to-hike-its-offshore-wind-target-above-40-gw/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #ecologicalplanning #electricgrid #Electricity #France #offshore

Poor #ElectricGrid planning in the U.S. has led to low transmission capacity & rising costs. To reach a #CleanEnergy future, we must invest in long-term planning that strengthens interregional transmission lines. https://nyti.ms/3N6kGUy

Poor #ElectricGrid planning in the U.S. has led to low transmission capacity & rising costs. To reach a #CleanEnergy future, we must invest in long-term planning that strengthens interregional transmission lines. https://nyti.ms/3N6kGUy

Utility Dive: "Why HVDC cables are poised to provide valuable alternatives." Moving bulk electric power over long distances is a huge part of adding renewables like wind + solar. In U.S. historically this has been performed by high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission lines, though high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission has much more often been deployed in many other parts of the world. Over long-distances HVDC actually cost-effective, 'can transport more power farther without the dielectric or capacitive losses experienced by AC cables over very long distances,' + can be deployed underground in a much narrower right-of-way (ROW) than overhead transmission lines. "Instead of a 150- to 300-foot-wide ROW for a high-voltage overhead line, an underground HVDC cable with similar capacity can be installed in a 10-foot ROW," though with a temporary 50-foot construction easement. 'Provides a system that is highly resilient against extreme weather, vegetation interference and potential pushback from local residential and commercial landowners.' While there are higher upfront costs of underground installation, factoring in lower maintenance costs, reduced wildfire risk + pure aesthetics argues for more support for underground HVDC, especially installed parallel to railroad lines + highways. Personally, I would be much more accepting of temporary excavation for underground lines than permanent high-tower transmission pylons. #highvoltage #directcurrent #electricgrid

I have to write a 20 page paper… so far I only have the title: “A comprehensive analysis of the impact of interconnection queues on Decarbonizing the US electric grid”-I think that alone will take up at least half a page…lol #energytransition #decarbonisation #renewableenergy #renewableenergyby2030 #electricgrid

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

UtilityDive: "California regulators find Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needed through 2030 to support grid reliability" The California Energy Commission just approved a staff analysis which recommended the state move on with extending the operation of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2030 to enhance reliability of the electricity grid. Its current license expires in 2025. The 2 reactors supply 17% of the state's low-carbon [not zero-carbon] electricity, and 9% across the board of all types of generation. “As California confronts a rapidly changing climate, extraordinary heat events and record energy demand are becoming increasingly ordinary,” said CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda. The extension would allow more time for additional clean energy projects to come on-line. The CEC notes that California reached an all-time high peak load of 52,061 megawatts during a record-breaking 10-day heat wave. In terms of complete disclosure, I report that I was 1 of hundreds of protesters in the Abalone Alliance arrested during construction of the plant. Photo credit" “Diablo Canyon Family Open House” by Tracey Adams, licensed under CC BY 2.0 #nuclearenergy #electricgrid

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

UtilityDive: "Hackers are 'increasingly bold,' NERC warns, as Dragos report identifies new grid threats" NERC is the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a quasi-governmental . Dragos is an industrial cybersecurity firm which is now tracking 20 “activity groups” that target a wide range of industrial sectors around the world. A group called 'Bentonite' first made its presence known in 2022, + is focused on the oil + gas sector. Another new group is 'Chernovite,' which developed a 'a modular industrial control system, or ICS, attack framework called “Pipedream” which could initially target the electric sector, among others.' NERC just released its annual report last wk. While I'm a huge fan of distributed generation + storage [homes with solar panels + backup batteries], I understand the point made that 'the increasingly-distributed nature of grid resources means more potential targets.' Bentonite group has been carrying out "initial access, reconnaissance, and they have demonstrated command and control capabilities within these custom properties and oil and gas facilities.” To date this group not yet demonstrated an ability to gain access into the industrial control system environment. Pipedream malware "“includes capabilities to disrupt, degrade, and potentially destroy physical processes in industrial environments.” Finally, don't discount the risks of physical or kinetic attack on electrical substations, as I discussed 5 days ago. #cybersecurity #electricgrid

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

OilPrice.com: "Attacks on the U.S. power grid are surging" Apparently a confidential analysis of the electric industry, reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, reports attacks on the U.S. power grid rose 71% in 2022. The Department of Homeland Security warns the grid is a particularly attractive target, + that this threat will be ongoing. Attacks involving intrusion, vandalism or gunfire are more + more problematic, with notable attacks in the Southeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. "In one of the most notorious recent attacks, a North Carolina power grid was vandalized in December, leaving some 45,000 people in Moore County without power after 2 substations of Duke Energy were attacked by gunfire." The perpetrators not identified + the motive remains unclear. Another attack was carried out earlier this month, after which "federal authorities arrested and charged a neo-Nazi man + a woman from Maryland for plotting to attack Baltimore-area electrical substations." The motive in this event was reportedly racist, as Brandon Clint Russell, 27, and Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, characterized Baltimore as predominantly Black + hoped to spark racial strife. Establishing microgrids which are 'islandable' + can be independent of the larger grid during an outage will enhance resilience for all of us. Having home + business energy storage with batteries will likewise make all of us more secure against these sorts of attacks. Photo credit: Sturmovik at en.wikipedia #electricgrid #sabotage

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY

People in Austin are still without power. Holy fuck

#texas #austin #electricgrid #infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LN470dR1LY