From our previous post, there was the mention of Elon Musk’s talk at the Sorbonne in 2015. Since I’ve come across several other discussions referencing this talk, I think it’d be a good idea to share this talk with you all, below:
Discussion of Climate Change, Carbon Cycle and the vertical climb within the last few hundred years: 5:10-15:47
Need To Address Climate Change Q & A: 16:18-17:27
Solar Energy As The Main Power Source : 30:50-31:40
Keep in mind that, if we wait to transition into the Renewables, the best case is postponing the inevitable transition to sustainable energy (believed by 3% of the scientists), and the worst case is more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined (believed by 97% of the scientists). As Elon commented, “this is the dumbest experiment in history EVER…why would you do this?!” He explains that the reason that there has been such a delay in transition into renewable/sustainable energy is because there is a hidden carbon subsidy (there is an annual $5.3 trillion subsidies for fossil fuels industry, according to IMF, International Monetary Fund) on all of the carbon emitting activities. Therefore, there is 35 gigatons of CO2 emissions per year from fossil fuels into our earth’s atmosphere,
Elon Musk’s Talk at Sorbonne-Atmospheric CO2 chart readings at Mauna LOA Observatory
equating to not paying for garbage collections. Of course, due to the existence of such a huge subsidy, there is great amount of resistance to removing the subsidy for fossil fuel or carbon emitters. He continues to explain the need for revenue-neutral carbon tax (carbon tax + tax cut somewhere else), ideally in a phased-in approach.
Overview:
Elon Musk’s Talk at Sorbonne-Carbon Cycle1
03:34. Carbon cycle & temperature rise 08.10. Fossil Fuels Era 10:44. Carbon Tax
Q&A
Elon Musk’s Talk at Sorbonne-Carbon Cycle3
16:18. Importance of climate change 17:35. Effectiveness of incentives 19:50. Storing CO2 21:07. Lithium availability 22:30. Tesla PowerPack big projects 24:13. Government role 26:43. Colonising Mars 27:52. Future energy sources 29:16. Nuclear fission / Nuclear Fusion 31:45. Advices to energy entrepreneurs 33:22. Government incentives 35:00. Artificial Intelligence 36:22. Fund raising challenges (Tesla insight)
38:54. Changing society energy behaviour 41:19. Green energy lobbying 45:55. COP21 in Paris 46:50. Getting CO2-dependent countries on-board 49:21. Batteries carbon footprint 51:50. Sustainable future roadmap
We all need to talk to our policy makers about Sustainable Future, Carbon Tax, and policies that will speed up the transition toward our Renewable/Sustainable Future! So Let’s Do It! Did you know that states (such as CA, HI, and CO) within USA and countries (such as Germany) within EU that are more progressive with their renewable energy policy all have much lower unemployments rates than those that are not progressive with their renewable energy policy?
Just received a video that I trust all of us Solar Enthusiasts would enjoy, below, esp. from these three segments:
1. 0:48-2:05
7:50-9:10
12:25-13:40
Elon Musk concurs with our effort and interest in helping our planet Earth to transition into Solar/Renewable Energy! He is definitely our Peops!
In this next video, below, please especially note these segments where Elon Musk discusses carbon tax, battery technology, solar/renewable energy, and our sustainable future.
8:28-9:30
24:45-28:20
31:54-33:30
40:00-41:00
Our coverage on Elon Musk will continue in the next episode/post.
Sunshine of Hawaii (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
I’ve received a call from some one in Hawaii today, mentioning the likelihood/resistance of NextEra-Hawaiian Electric merger . It’s been months since I last read up on Hawaiian Electric Co., a quick research made me realize that even though both Hawaii and Nevada are going through growing pains, showing similar signs and symptoms, but their pains actually have very different root causes. In Nevada, the Nevada PUC (Public Utilities Commission) is reacting to the solar growth by implementing policy to stifle the distributed solar rooftops, without considering Value of Solar (the most fair way for consumers and power generators alike) or potential long term consequences for NV Energy. But in Hawaii, the Hawaii PUC (Public Utilities Commission) actually has established reforms through a collaborative process that will support further sustainable growth in the market for rooftop solar systems and other distributed energy resources (“DER”) desired by Hawaii’s residents and businesses.
View from a Hawaiian island, Kauai (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
For better understanding of Hawaii PUC’s Reform Energy Programs issued on Oct. 12, 2015 , please click HERE. This order will promote rapid adoption of the next generation of solar PV and other distributed energy technologies, encourage more competitive pricing of DER systems, lower overall energy supply costs for all customers, and help to manage each island grid’s scarce capacity. The Commission views distributed energy resources (including rooftop solar PV) as an important contributor to meeting the state’s 100% renewable energy goal, complemented by the recently enacted community-based renewable legislation and larger utility-scale projects (source: from http://www.puc.hawaii.gov).
One important element needs to be understood and appreciated by all is the fact that as more and more people install solar, in any form, the value of solar will be lowered. Since Hawaii does want to have a fair system that would be inclusive as well as ensuring all customers to benefit from continued growth in distributed solar energy, the rate needs to be re-evaluated periodically to reflect the actual Value of Solar (fair way of valuing solar for all) that changes with time. As more solar installations are in place, the NEM (Net Energy Metering) is no longer as feasible because it will not be valuing solar fairly for all. If there should be any displeasure resulting from the fact that NEM is on its way out when the possibility of NextEra-Hawaiian Electric merger is being discussed, that is purely Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc or post hoc fallacy: a simple example of this phenomenon–> the rooster crows immediately before sunrise;therefore the rooster causes the sun to rise. It is not surprising that the Hawaii PUC has proposed caps on the NEM program, for NEM is on its way out simply because it has already served its useful purpose and now requires some enhancement in order to be fair for all. If Hawaii PUC does not place caps on NEM, then Hawaiian residents who install solar may fall into the trap similar to Nevada residents who install solar, ending up with a monthly fixed surcharge.
What is brilliant and insightful about Hawaii PUC is the fact that this Commission has not only placed caps on NEM, but also offered three new options for customers who wish to invest in rooftop solar and other distributed energy resources (DER), in italics (Source: http://puc.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DER-Phase-1-DO-Summary.pdf) :
“Self-Supply” systems: for customers that primarily intend to consume all of the energy produced by their solar system onsite at their home or business, and do not need to export excess energy to the grid. These systems will typically be designed to use energy management and energy storage systems to balance onsite generation with demand. With these advanced features, self-supply systems have reduced technical impact on the grid and will receive expedited interconnection review. At this time, there is no cap on the number of Self-Supply systems that may be installed.
“Grid-Supply” systems: this will allow customers to export excess energy to the grid as needed, and customers will receive energy credits on their monthly bills, similar to the NEM program. The Grid-Supply option does reduce the credit rate for energy exported to the grid for participating customers, and as a result, it will reduce the overall cost of each island’s renewable energy portfolio, which benefits all customers (including those who do not have the ability to install DER). The lower credit rate for energy exported to the grid reflects the Commission’s commitment to achieve an affordable, cost-effective energy supply for all customers. There is a cap on the total capacity of Grid-Supply systems to ensure each island grid can accommodate GridSupply systems, complemented by community-based renewable projects, and lowercost utility-scale projects.
“Time-of-Use” tariffs: – The Commission has also directed the HECO Companies to develop a new, expanded time-of-use tariff that allows customers to save money by shifting energy demand to the middle of the day to take advantage of lower-cost solar energy. Initially, this tariff will be available for any residential customers that opt-in to the program. By sending the right price signals to customers, customers can increase energy demand during times of high solar supply and alleviate some of the grid constraints to further renewable integration. This new tariff will also spur investment into new “smart home” and “smart business” technologies that can help customers take advantage of this program.
*The time-of-use tariff of Hawaii is similar to the Value of Solar that’s been discussed in various discussions with Karl Rabago, below:
Karl Rabago’s comments about NEM and Value of Solar Tariff/Time of Use Tariff, below:
Astronomer Antoine Caron Studying Solar Eclipse (public domain in USA)
Solar Eclipse path map for March 8/9, 2016
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Sharing an event that’s occurred between March 8-9, 2016:
For Movement of March 2016 Total Solar Eclipse Shadow (Animation), below:
The moon will pass in front of the sun, casting its shadow over much of Southeast Asia on March 8, 2016 EST (March 9 local time). People on the nearly 100-mile-wide path of totality will experience a total solar eclipse, in which all of the sun’s bright face is blocked by the moon, while people outside this path will see varying degrees of a partial eclipse.
The total solar eclipse was visible from parts of Indonesia including Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi, and from locations in the Pacific Ocean. Observers in northern and eastern Australia, in South Asia, and in East Asia were able to see a partial eclipse. Take a look at the Solar Eclipse on March 9, 2016, from the Pacific Ocean, below:
For better understanding of Solar Eclipse, please feel free to visit our previous posts at:
This is a continuation from the previous post, by Karl Rabago, on the Value of Solar, in Boulder, Colorado. This talk explores many issues associated within solar industry and is very timely and relevant. With more than 25 years of experience in policy and regulation, energy market and energy technology development, Karl Rabago brings us in-depth insight. He now operates an energy consulting practice, Rabago Energy LLC, providing strategic policy, regulatory and market development consulting in the clean and innovative energy sectors. He is serving as the Chair of the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organization that advances voluntary clean energy markets, and sits on the Board of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Without further ado, Karl Rabago in Boulder, CO, talks about Value of Solar, Beyond Value of Solar (where Value of 4S’s-Storage, Smarts, Security, Savings), and Ideal Distributed Solar Tariff are also discussed, below:
Now for the Q & A session after Karl’s talk, below:
Solar Decathlon 2013 of U.S. Department of Energy-Collegiate teams at Orange County Great Park, Irvine, CA
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Some of you have written me and asked why is it that I am not posting as frequently as I used to. To this, I respond: my dear solar friends, because I believe Solar Tsunami is unstoppable now. When I started posting at www.sunisthefuture.net back in 2011, the solar age was approaching the inflection point, a region on the curve when it was much more likely to be stifled by unfavorable policies. But now, we have gone way beyond that point of inflection. Solar industry has become an industry of over $100 billion and cannot be stopped. Efforts or policy such as what occurred in Nevada in placing that extra $40/month of fixed fees on solar installations may slow down the distributed solar installations in the short term, but it is going to drive Nevada Energy toward being unprofitable at a much faster pace in the long run….for this would speed up the process of consumers wanting to go off grid rather than trying to stay on the grid. As for states that are progressing slower, such as my beloved Florida, solar installations will continue to increase simply for the fact that cost of solar has dropped so much within the past five years and battery technology continues to advance. If the utility companies are able to learn and adapt to becoming more bank-like/energy service manager rather than energy generator establishment and consumers take on more of a prosumerrole, the transition may be much smoother. So, I hope those involved in the energy industry will keep an open mind while listening to some words of wisdom from Karl Rabago and Toby Couture below:
I apologize if you have already seen these two videos above….for I believe these two experts (Karl Rabago and Toby Couture) have thoroughly understood and presented our next phase of energy profile.
