Energy

Learn Why Ohm’s Law Is Not a Law

|

Learn Why Ohm’s Law Is Not a Law

All diodes violate ohms law as they are inherently non linear loads - which is why you can't use ohm's law to understand solar power or LEDs as they are diodes which conduct electricity in a non linear fashion.

If solar panels were linear their output would would be the same regardless of load but the silicon junctions are more efficient at certain current levels. That's why people use buck and boost converters to maximize their efficiency - and why most larger solar systems use MPPT controllers. 

Likewise, if you limit the current and under drive LEDs they can be much more energy efficient and last longer. For example, two LEDs each driven at 10 mA will produce much more light than one LED driven at 20 mA, even though ohms law says that's impossible. This important - if you pack more LEDs in a light bulb and run them at lower current you can boost efficiency and lifespan at a greater cost of building the bulb.

I think it’s great the Joe Biden administration is making climate change a top priority of their agenda

|

I think it’s great the Joe Biden administration is making climate change a top priority of their agenda. There is a lot of advantages to the economy and society’s well being by reducing urban pollution, increasing efficiency and promoting electrification over direct burning of fossil fuels in urban neighborhoods. While we have to be cautious about the bold powers that any climate program is likely to give the government, we should move forward, away from traditional, highly-polluting ways of conducting business.

This Week in Petroleum

|

This Week in Petroleum

EIA forecasts that OPEC crude oil production will increase in 2021. The production forecast reflects OPEC’s announced increases to production targets and rising production in Libya. On January 5, 2021, OPEC announced that it will maintain the previously agreed to January 2021 production increase of 0.5 million b/d. The latest OPEC agreement also calls for production increases from Russia and Kazakhstan in ebruary and March (totaling 75,000 b/d per month). Saudi Arabia announced that it would voluntarily cut production by an additional 1.0 million b/d during ebruary and March, however, resulting in lower overall OPEC production in early 2021. EIA forecasts that OPEC crude oil production will average 27.2 million b/d in 2021 and 28.2 million b/d in 2022, up from an estimated 25.6 million b/d in 2020.

EIA expects crude oil production in the Lower 48 states, excluding the ederal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, (L48) will decline through ebruary 2021 because declining legacy well production is expected to offset production from new wells. or U.S. tight oil production, EIA analysis shows that changes in oil prices affect changes in crude oil production with about a six-month lag. EIA expects that recent increases in oil prices and active drilling rigs will contribute to L48 production beginning to grow in the second quarter of 2021. EIA expects L48 production will average 8.9 million b/d in 2021, 3% lower than 2020 production levels. As drilling activity increases during the forecast period, EIA expects L48 production will rise by 0.4 million b/d from 2021 and average 9.3 million b/d in 2022. Most of the L48 onshore growth is expected to occur in the Permian region.

Bitter Cold Means Chaos as Global Energy Systems Show Strain – Bloomberg

|

Bitter Cold Means Chaos as Global Energy Systems Show Strain – Bloomberg

reezing weather that’s sweeping the northern hemisphere is causing chaos in energy markets and damaging infrastructure with households from Japan to Pakistan and rance being asked to curb their electricity use.

In Asia, extreme cold prompted record-high power demand and a scramble for natural gas to keep the lights on in China, Japan and South Korea. In Sweden, a utility is paying for hotels for its customers after heavy snow brought down sections of the power grid cutting supplies while rench households were advised to delay doing their laundry to save energy.

How might the new NOAA climate temperature normals change for your county?

|

How might the new NOAA climate temperature normals change for your county?

We're almost one month into 2020, and this is an exciting time for climatologists. Upon the completion of this year, calculations will begin to update the climatological normals. Wondering what those are? Well, any time you hear your local meteorologist mention the average for the day, or see headlines like "temperatures much above average" or "expect drier than average conditions," that average is based on climatology that has been calculated, using the most recent 3 decades, by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

Our averages are currently based off temperatures and precipitation observed 1981-2010. After the end of this year, the new averages (or normals) will be for the period 1991-2020 (basically we're dropping the 1980s and adding the 20-teens). Why update the normals? Well, whether you think climate change is human caused or not, we all agree that the climate is variable. It's important to make sure that we're accurately representing the current climate when talking about what's "normal."

NPR

|

Green New Deal Gets Fresh Push As Democrats Take Control : NPR

A coalition of progressive groups say they are organizing a sweeping network to mobilize around climate change, racial and environmental justice, making a new unified push as President-elect Joe Biden is days away from taking office with emocrats set to control both the House and the Senate.

The group, the Green New eal Network, plans to invest in partner organizations in 20 key states to mobilize grassroots power to pressure elected officials to support their goals; introduce Green New eal-related legislation at the state and local level, spearhead federal legislation that would implement parts of the Green New eal agenda, and to pressure the incoming Biden administration to enact a series of executive actions related to climate, jobs and justice.