#power grids

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

The Energy Department said on Thursday that it planned to offer $22.9 billion in loan guarantees to help eight electric utilities around the country modernize their power grids, add large amounts of renewable energy — and pass along any resulting savings to customers.

The deals amount to one of the biggest commitments ever made by the department’s Loan Programs Office, which under President Biden has already doled out tens of billions of dollars for battery factories and other low-carbon energy projects.

As part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats in Congress handed the office $250 billion in loan authority to repurpose or replace existing energy infrastructure in order to lower air pollution and reduce planet-warming emissions. So far, the office has used that authority to back efforts to restart a shuttered nuclear reactor in Michigan and to help California’s largest utility upgrade its electric grid.

The new loan guarantees, which still have to be finalized, are even more far-reaching. They are meant to help utilities that serve more than 14.7 million people across 12 states upgrade aging transmission lines or build new ones. Doing so, the office said, would help power companies tap into more wind, solar and hydroelectric power while improving grid reliability.

In Michigan, DTE Electric and DTE Gas would receive loan guarantees totaling nearly $9 billion to install thousands of megawatts of solar, wind and batteries and to replace existing gas pipelines in order to reduce leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

In the Pacific Northwest, PacifiCorp would receive a $3.52 billion loan guarantee to help build 700 miles of new transmission lines in Idaho, Oregon and Utah, with the aim of using more renewable energy and cutting emissions.

In Iowa and Wisconsin, Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries would receive a $3 billion loan guarantee to add more than 2,000 megawatts of wind power and batteries to the grid. The utility is planning to close a large coal-fired power plant by 2030.

Other recipients include Consumers Energy in Michigan; Jersey Central Power & Light in New Jersey; and AEP, which serves Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

[stone-cold-groove]

Light it up, boys!

[stop-war-ukraine]

Did you know #Ukrainians have deep roots in Latin America? From transforming rainforests to powering electrical grids, Ukrainian migrants have been quietly reshaping Latin America's landscape for over a century.

👆Uncover the stories of resilience, innovation, and unexpected cultural fusion - from a filmmaker who preserved his native language in #Brazil to a diplomat who became "Latin America's Schindler" in #Chile.

This isn't just migration history. It's a testament to how human determination can bloom in the most unexpected terrains.

This article was produced in partnership with the

@UA_Institute , Ukraine's major cultural and public diplomacy institution.

[poojagblog-blog]

The global Electrical Bushings Market share is expected to grow from estimated USD 3.67 billion in 2024 to USD 4.77 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. The growth in the global Electrical Bushings Market is attributed to several factors. The principal factor includes the expansion of the infrastructure for power generation and distribution, which has been primarily driven by an increased global demand for electricity. The Asian Pacific region and Africa have become significant sites for rapid urbanization and industrialization. The need for reliable electrical components to complement such development explains the growth rate. The increasing demand for renewable energy generation, wind, and solar power has further increased the demand for electrical bushings, particularly grid integration.

[energyandpowerresearchreport]

Busbar Technology: Revolutionizing Energy Distribution in Industrial Applications

According to a research report “Busbar Market by Material (Copper, Aluminum), Power Rating (Below 125 A, 125-800 A, Above 800 A), Insulation (Laminated, Powder-coated, Bare), Manufacturing Process (Molded, Stamped, Hybrid, Flexible), End-use and Region – Global Forecast to 2029″ published by MarketsandMarkets, the global busbar market is expected to grow very rapidly, from an estimated USD 15.10…

[dsiddhant]

The global Air Circuit Breaker Market is expected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2028 from USD 3.2 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 5.0% during the 2023–2028 period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™.

[nepalenergyforum]

Bangladesh and Nepal to Strengthen Energy Ties Through BIN Initiative

In September 2022, during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, Bangladesh made a request to import power from Nepal and Bhutan through India. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has requested authorization from the Indian regulatory bodies to export 40-50 MW of electricity to Bangladesh by utilizing India’s current transmission infrastructure. Hence, in the context of…

[reasonsforhope]

"Evening is approaching at the confluence of two rivers in the Bay of Bengal — the Payra and Bishkhali. Still, the fishermen at the pier in Gazimahmud village are busy preparing for the next day’s work — every boat here is now illuminated by small solar-powered devices.

“Solar power is now not only in homes, it is also at our work. Now, there is no rush to return home when it is evening,” says fisherman Altaf Hossain, who is arranging fishing nets in his boat so that he’s ready for tomorrow.

Hossain is now able to work longer hours and boost his income, and he doesn’t have to worry about his wife and kids at home at night. The children sit under a solar-powered light to study, while Hossain’s wife, Roksana Begum, does various chores.

“The sun gives us light both during the day and at night,” Begum says. “It has made our lives much easier and has changed our livelihoods.”

Gazimahmud village is about 30 kilometres away from Barguna Sadar, the southernmost district of Bangladesh. A winding road leads to this village, where the sea and two rivers meet. The people of this remote community still remember the devastation caused by the powerful Cyclone Sidr in 2007, when 30 locals died. When the storm hit, it was difficult for many to reach safety as the entire area was dark. Now, thanks to most of the houses in the village having solar power, the community feels better prepared for future disasters.

“We have more faith in solar power, because, when a storm comes, the electricity connection may be disconnected or the power may be turned off, but solar power helps us to find a safe shelter by showing us the way,” says resident Monir Hossain.

Unprecedented success

Bangladesh has implemented the world’s largest off-grid solar power programme, with 20 million people across the country benefiting, according to the World Bank.

What began as a pilot project in 2003, involving 50,000 households, ultimately reached 14% of the population within 15 years, while some 200,000 rural businesses and religious facilities benefited from the Solar Home Systems (SHS) initiative as well.

The programme, which officially ran until 2018, was implemented in partnership with the private sector. Among other measures, the state provided generous incentives, such as tax breaks, for rooftop solar installers, and also focused on ensuring financing mechanisms were in place.

Together with 56 partner organisations, the government installed 4.1 million solar systems in remote areas by 2018.

According to the World Bank, the initiative has improved health and living conditions — including by reducing the use of kerosene lamps and thereby tackling indoor air pollution — and boosted school attendance. It also led to household solar becoming “a credible electricity source”.

“The Solar Home Systems programme has shown that millions of dollars raised internationally can be efficiently leveraged to provide loans of as little as $100 in remote corners of the country, enabling a rural household to purchase a solar home system,” according to Amit Jain, a senior energy specialist at the World Bank...

To clean up its power grid and contribute to the fight against climate change, Bangladesh plans to install 4.1GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from around 1.2GW today."

-via The Progress Playbook, March 10, 2025

[pi-slices]

Power Grid.

[katgecs]

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edited by me

[kedreeva]

Can you guess where I put the heating pad

[reality-detective]

The Dakota fire hole is a type of fire pit used by Native Americans, particularly the Dakota people. It is an efficient and easily concealed fire that burns clean, even in windy conditions. To create a Dakota fire hole, two holes are dug in the ground. One hole is vertical and is used to start the fire. The other hole is angled and connects to the bottom of the vertical hole, providing oxygen to the fire. This design allows the fire to burn hotter and cleaner than a traditional fire pit. Dakota fire holes are ideal for cooking and for staying hidden when a fire is not desired to be seen. 🤔

[ruurat]

can they STOP looking at each other homoerotically for a moment...

spoiler art under the cut!

[poojagblog-blog]

The global Smart Grid Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $73.8 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $161.1 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 16.9% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™.

The global demand for smart grid is increasing due to strong focus on modernization of aging grid infrastructure. Factors such as rapid industrialization, urbanization, and rising requirement for energy efficiency are driving this growth. The demand for smart grid is growing due to the supportive regulatory framework of governments worldwide to promote deployment of smart grids and spreading awareness about energy conservation. Additionally, With the increasing complexity of the bulk power system and the growing focus on mitigating power outages, smart grid technology is poised to transform the traditional grid and is likely to become a more reliable and resilient approach.

[rejectingrepublicans]

[wormzandgutz]

environment studies featuring Atlas and Star hanging out