Energy

In my teens, close family friends gave me a [Sega Nomad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_Nomad) along with several Genesis/Mega Drive games. Up until then, I was only allowed a computer and a GameBoy, so the Nomad—with its colour screen and vast game library—became an instant favourite as I travelled around Europe. It was a fantastic but little-known device; its biggest flaw was its battery life. Even with the brightness set to its lowest, you’d be lucky to get two hours of playtime. It basically turned into a mobile Genesis with a small TV, forcing me to hunt down cigarette lighters in cars or wall plugs to keep it going. You learned to time your gaming between the 6-AA life and finding a dependable source of electrons. ...

The current landscape of security approaches within Utility and ISO Programs is reminiscent of the early DITSCAP, DIACAP, and Rainbow Series progression of the Department of Defense world from the 80s and 90s. Given the ongoing Russia-Ukrain war and current geopolitical events, the urgency to bolster grid security and protect critical infrastructure in the US cannot be understated. Ageing power distribution systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks that can potentially jeopardise national security and bring the nation to a halt. ...

Crosspost from Power Mag Today, modern network technology can transform commercial and industrial facilities into power sources that generate, store, and trade clean energy, allowing owners to increase cash flow, achieve decarbonization goals, and improve energy reliability. Energy flexibility can be a competitive advantage, particularly when an industry is operating under increased constraints. Changeable power costs, the need to reduce carbon emissions, and questions about energy reliability are frequent concerns shared by commercial and industrial (C&I) companies. However, the industry has more options now to deal with these challenges, which include tapping into their building assets to increase cash flow, achieve decarbonization goals, and improve energy reliability—all at the same time. ...

Crosspost from Avionics International Nick Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer at Blueprint Power, recently offered some perspectives on their services and technology platform as well as the topic of decarbonization in the aviation industry. Check out our question-and-answer session with Nick Schmidt below. Avionics: How does the Blueprint Power platform work? Nick Schmidt: We think of airports as “mini cities,” given the number and variety of buildings and transportation operating at airports. Blueprint Power combines its “in-building data analytics” platform with energy advisory expertise to help airport and building operators harness the surplus energy in their buildings to generate new cash flows and help fund carbon reduction and energy resilience goals. We work with customers to identify existing flexible energy capacity, add new capacity, optimize its use, and connect it to energy markets that pay for flexible capacity. Many operators don’t realize that they have options to generate economic, decarbonization, and resiliency benefits at the same time. We can help them implement an approach that aligns with the airport’s preferred combination of goals and adapt it as business needs, energy and regulatory markets change. ...

When you learn new languages, you can often find connections in words and ideas. Sometimes it’s wholesale incorporation of a word into the zeitgeist. Dunkelflaute is one I see more and more used in the energy world. “A Dark Lull” is the exact translation, but it intends to describe what happens when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind is blowing. The German language is beautiful; I don’t care what others say, but it is also incredibly literal. It is less flowery in its descriptors and often combines disparate words to create anew. ...