A software product manager commits to the renewable energy transition
This is the story of my path into the renewable energy space and how I am navigating my career for the next decade.
A post from my future
Looking back from the year 2040, I am reflecting on the role I played in making this world a better - and cleaner place. This is the story I want to tell of my (upcoming) career path and the series of decisions I made to be part of the broader climate solution.
My path widens - why I am excited about VPPs
After first writing about DERs a year ago, I am diving back in to better understand the part that software products & platforms will play in this space. I am convinced there will be an explosion of new, distributed, clean energy assets over the next 10-20 years. I want to help realize the massive potential of harnessing those resources to accelerate the clean energy transition.
Updated Climate & Energy Podcast List
No two people ramp up on new topics in exactly the same way but for those that enjoy audio-based information gathering, I have been sharing this curated list of podcasts.
Addressing the inconvenient truth about intermittent renewable energy
Whether or not you have ever thought about where your electricity comes from, if you are on board with the clean energy transition, you will need to understand more about the inconvenient truth behind the intermittency of solar and wind power.
Keeping up the Energy around the Energy Transition
The recent COP26 Climate Summit brought much-needed attention to the Energy Transition. Here's hoping we can keep up the collective energy around the crisis, keep our attention focused on solutions and keep our optimism strong for what will likely be a long path ahead.
Why you should read Bill Gates’ book about climate disaster
Either you don't know how scary climate change is and feel like it might be time to bone up a little OR you already understand that things are bad in the world and you want to feel more positive about what might be done or at least where you can start.
Climate Change is driving this Energy Transition
I’ve been researching a broad range of energy topics for many months now because I'm captivated by the urgency and scale of our global Energy Transition. I had originally planned to skim over the whole Climate Change area, but I now realize that there is not only a direct and critical connection between the two but that this Energy Transition is being spurred along by our current climate crisis.
My growing interest in Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
I am drawn to DER for multiple reasons. Partly its because updating aging technology systems is what I’ve been doing my whole professional life and this is an opportunity to tackle familiar problems on a global scale - with no shortage of urgency. But part of my fascination is that microgrids and islanding just sound cool! I get interested because our global power story is changing - and change usually means new opportunities!
Will Vehicle-to-Grid help power our RE future?
Can a single car really help the Grid in a power emergency? Probably not. But people that are pushing V2G are not thinking about individual cars. They are imagining millions of EVs that can be dynamically pooled together on demand.
Ripples! How each of us can have a bigger RE impact
If our collective goal is to reduce carbon emissions, we can look for alternatives to the conventional choices we make in our own immediate proximity. But the sobering news is that we are not going to get to zero emissions with these kinds of individual heroics. We can, however have a significantly larger impact by deliberately making conspicuous choices that stimulate or even inspire conversations with others.
Waypoint 3
The only sensible electrification approach is one that is powered by clean energy | Emergency vehicles might struggle to be fully-electric | Will natural disasters provide opportunities for rebuilding the power grid infrastructure? | My friends and colleagues are finding RE jobs!
My RE POV in April 2021
This point-of-view represents my current understanding of the renewable energy space as it is coupled to the larger Energy Transition movement and ultimately being propelled by the looming(!) climate crisis.
Waypoint 2
Resources for ramping up on clean power, renewable energy, the electricity infrastructure, climate science | list of helpful and informative books, audiobooks and podcasts
Waypoint 1
Nuclear energy is technically clean energy | All fossil fuels are technically renewable | Like with real estate, energy production is all about location, location, location | People will protest any/all forms of energy
Pumped-storage hydro power is just a giant battery!
What I learned at Cabin Creek near Georgetown Colorado is that pumped-storage hydropower is one of the most efficient, “rechargeable” batteries we have ever created.
1st Post: the Renewable Path?
At the beginning of 2021, I made an earnest decision that will certainly impact my life and my career for the next decade. I am joining in on the global Energy Transition movement and more specifically, I am focusing my energy in both my personal and professional life to head down a renewable path.