Archive for the 'Energy' Category
Irma: Over 5 Million Homes and Businesses Without Electricity in Florida
September 10th, 2017Via: Reuters: Hurricane Irma knocked out power to about 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida, even as the storm’s power waned as it crept up the state’s west coast, according to state officials and local electric utilities.
MOTIVA: FLOODING SHUTS LARGEST U.S. REFINERY
August 31st, 2017Via: CNBC: The largest U.S. refinery was shutting down completely on Wednesday morning as heavy rains from Tropical Storm Harvey flooded the 603,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, plant, owner Motiva Enterprises said in a statement. “At 5 a.m. (CDT (1000 GMT) on Wednesday, Motiva began a controlled shutdown of the Port Arthur refinery in […]
Energy Storage: Lithium from Supervolcanoes?
August 27th, 2017Cobalt is a much more serious blocker than lithium. Via: Smithsonian: There’s no doubt that in coming years, we’re going to need a lot of lithium. The growing market of electric automobiles, plus new household energy storage and large-scale battery farms, and the current lack of any technology better for storage than lithium ion batteries, […]
Call from Tesla
August 17th, 2017Disclosure: I sell solar power systems in New Zealand. — I had a call from a Tesla energy specialist yesterday. She confirmed what we learned a few days ago about the Powerwall 2’s ability to island grid tied inverters for backup purposes. She also said that Powerwall 2 demand is, “Extreme,” and far in excess […]
Confirmed: Grid Tie Inverter Continues to Generate Electricity During Grid Failure with Powerwall 2
August 13th, 2017Disclosure: I sell solar power systems in New Zealand. — Man, I’ve been waiting a long time to see this confirmed. Here it is! Tesla remains silent on generator backup options, but I have no doubt that people are going to start rolling their own if Tesla doesn’t address it. In any event, very special […]
Trump Threatens Venezuela with Unspecified ‘Military Option’
August 11th, 2017Via: Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened military intervention in Venezuela, a surprise escalation in Washington’s response to Venezuela’s political crisis. Venezuela has appeared to slide toward a more volatile stage of unrest in recent days, with anti-government forces looting weapons from a military base after a new legislative body usurped the authority […]
New Zealand: Solar Battery Packs May Have to Be Stored Outside in Fireproof Enclosure Under Proposed New Rules
August 7th, 2017Disclosure: I sell solar power systems in New Zealand. — Behold, the batshit insane machinations of an out of control retail electricity cartel in its death throes. Via: Stuff: A new proposed battery safety standard would stop the installation of solar power systems’ battery packs, which have been described as the “future of energy”. Consultation […]
Small Alphabet Team Researching Energy Storage
July 31st, 2017Via: Bloomberg: The research lab, which hatched Google’s driverless car almost a decade ago, is developing a system for storing renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted. It can be located almost anywhere, has the potential to last longer than lithium-ion batteries and compete on price with new hydroelectric plants and other existing clean energy […]
Motor Trend: The Tesla Model 3 “Is the Most Important Vehicle of the Century”
July 29th, 2017Via: Motor Trend: The Tesla Model 3 is here, and it is the most important vehicle of the century. Yes, the hyperbole is necessary. The original Tesla Model S was a proof of concept—it was possible to make a long-range electric vehicle. The Model X showed that you could make an electric SUV. But neither […]
Bollinger Unveils New Minimalist All-Electric Truck with Up to 200 Miles of Range
July 27th, 2017No pricing was revealed, which is good, since it would probably melt our faces off. Via: Electrek: Today, Bollinger Motors unveiled what it calls a “no nonsense back-to-basics all-electric sport utility truck (SUT).” The minimalist-looking vehicle with sharp edges and bare interior will not be for everyone, but with a promised range of up to […]
