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.
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.
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!
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
Solar power, intermittency and energy storage
If you’re curious about trying to go off-grid and supply your own electricity from seemingly attractive renewable energy options like solar panels, you will quickly gain an appreciation for the inherent challenges of intermittency and the value of reliable power from (battery) storage. You will also get closer to understanding how similar those challenges are for millions of people around the world who currently live without access to reliable electricity.
Ivanpah changed what I know about solar power
What I find most interesting is that concentrating solar power (CSP) plants represent a completely different way of harnessing the sun’s energy. Most of us associate solar power with photovoltaic (PV) panels like those on many houses and buildings. But researchers have been looking at other options too and while they don’t yet enjoy the same level of success as PV panels, they are viable options.
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
Drawing inspiration from BioLite Energy
Imagine being offered a cleaner cooking alternative that also provides its own source(s) of light and has spare FREE electricity to power your devices - it is a truly incredible vision!