The Impact of Electric Vehicles (EV)

Electric Vehicles (EV) Proliferating Electric Vehicle The proliferation of electric vehicles appears to be increasing across the United States as state legislatures and city governments are working hand in hand with electric utilities to incorporate this initiative into their overall clean energy plans. Some specific recent examples include: In October 2008 the state of Hawaii and the Hawaiian...

Distributed Electric Power Storage

Distributed Electric Power Storage The storage of electrical power has been an age-old challenge facing the electricity industry. A number of electric utilities are now in the process of placing equipment in residential areas that is capable of storing several hours of electricity supply. These localized or distributed technologies include lithium ion batteries and underground compressed air...

Potential Barriers to the Rebirth of Nuclear Power

With the recent offer of federal loan guarantees to the Southern Company to build two new nuclear reactors and plans to expand these federal loan guarantees by a factor of seven as part of a comprehensive energy policy, the electric power industry is taking a huge step toward introducing a new generation of nuclear power plants. Recognizing that it has been almost 40 years since the last nuclear...

Nuclear Power – Fuel Cycle Options

Fuel Cycle Choice is a Critical Decision As the electric industry moves towards a rebirth of nuclear power one of the more critical decisions will involve choices around the nuclear fuel cycle. These choices will include: Type of fuel, Type of reactors, and Spent fuel storage and/or disposal These decisions will have a direct bearing on the four challenges that need to be overcome to include...

The Economics of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power Fails Initial Economic Tests Nuclear Power Station Nuclear energy has the potential to return to the forefront as an acceptable solution to the environmental challenges posed by pulverized coal and natural gas combined cycle plants. To do so, it must surpass the performance characteristics of forms of renewable energy and gain public acceptance. Some of the actions will be necessary...

Nuclear Energy and the Environment

Many electricity consumers would like to believe that the solution to providing clean electrical energy is to simply add scrubbers to the stacks of fossil-fired plants and ultimately replace these plants with renewable sources of electricity (e.g. wind and solar). The vast scope of the capacity of the fossil-fueled plants that supply more than 60 percent of the U.S. electricity output and current...

Public Perceptions of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power Provides an Imperfect Solution Nuclear Power Station Almost 40 years have passed since a U.S. electric utility last broke ground on a new nuclear power station. Despite this rather extended passage of time, the seemingly slow introduction of attractive alternative renewable energy technologies, a heightened interest in energy independence, and a greater appreciation for the need to...

Introduction to District Energy Systems

District energy systems produce steam, hot water, or chilled water at a central plant and distribute it to individual buildings for space heating, domestic hot water heating and air conditioning. Consequently, individual buildings served by a district energy system don’t require their own boilers or furnaces, chillers, or air conditioners. Mature systems are most commonly found in the central...

Smart Grid Interrelated Communication Network

Smart Grid relies on a number of interrelated communications capabilities, namely: The ability to transmit and receive electronic signals (messages) between devices on the transmission and distribution grid. The ability to transmit real-time data from meters installed at the customer premises. The ability to control electronic devices installed within the customer’s location. The ability to...

The Benefits of District Energy Systems

District energy systems offer a variety of benefits, including: Improved energy efficiency – Steam, hot water or chilled water arrive at a building ready to use. They are 100 percent efficient “at the door,” as compared with 80 percent efficient or less when burning natural gas or fuel oil at a building. In addition, district energy systems can use the “reject heat”...