Astounding growth in renewable energy
Also this week: hurricane-proof homes and IKEA innovation
More confirmation this week that renewable energy is on a rocket-like trajectory: in some parts of China, energy prices recently dipped below zero as the amount of wind and solar energy coming online at times overwhelmed the capacity of power grids to carry it. This is reminiscent of the negative price dip that we saw in Europe in August. (I wrote about that here.)
A leading energy publication, oilprice.com, this week highlighted that "China is building twice as much wind and solar energy capacity as the rest of the entire world combined." Astonishing.
Solar-generated power is also growing rapidly in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, "in the final five months of 2024, we expect new U.S. solar electricity generating capacity will make up 63%, or nearly two-thirds, of all new electricity generating capacity to come online.”
The boom in renewable energy is a strong sign that markets are serious about reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. The challenge now is finding solutions to harness all this new electricity so it can be adequately stored for when it’s needed and not wasted in limited capacity grids. It’s a good problem to work on. China and other countries are racing to ramp up storage capacity. The installation of storage sites in China, for example, is reported to have grown by 40% in the first half of 2024. Currently the main form of storage is in batteries, but new thermal and mechanical systems also are being developed, controlled by software to charge and discharge electrical power.
Worldwide demand for electricity is expected to continue rising. Computing power required for artificial intelligence applications, for example, require ever greater amounts of energy. According to the Financial Times newspaper, the International Energy Agency predicts electricity demand from data centres will double by 2026, exceeding one-thousand terawatt hours. That is approximately the same amount of energy consumed by Japan in a year.
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More info:
China’s Energy Grid Overwhelmed by Renewable Surge
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63324
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: Types of Energy Storage
Booming AI demand threatens global electricity supply
Storm-proof homes
In recent years the intensity of hurricanes and other storms battering the United States has resulted in such widespread damage that some insurers are refusing to offer coverage to local residents. However, some new housing developments are proving that the future need not be bleak for coastal residents.
A community on the site of an old fishing village near Sarasota on the Florida Gulf Coast recently survived Hurricane Helene without damage, thanks to its modern design and innovative homebuilding techniques.
The Hunters Point complex in Cortez was built by Pearl Homes to the highest sustainability standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. Despite power outages and storm surges from Helene that resulted in local flooding, the three-story townhouses in the community remained dry. Power was also maintained, thanks to renewable sources of energy.
In an article posted on the Good News Network, writer Andy Corbley explains how these homes are built:
On the first floor, two-by-six timber boards are used for the frames rather than two-by-fours, and the walls are filled with hard insulation rather than foam, making it sturdier and more energy efficient. The roof is made of steel, and the three floors are interconnected with steel seams.
Solar panels are installed on the roof in a design that was tested in an enclosed environment to be unmovable—the wind can’t blow underneath and tear it off the roof. The solar panels charge a battery system that can power the home for several days if the grid goes down—which happened in Cortez after Helene hit. The next morning, when the sun came out, the solar panels went back to charging the battery which was still running, and has been proven in tests to be capable of running in a limited mode for another 9 days if needs be.
Living areas are elevated off the ground to ensure protection from any flooding. During the recent hurricane, the garages below remained dry, thanks to channels purposely-built to direct stormwater away from the streets and into a nearby pond area.
Info:
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IKEA keeps innovating
Every time I go to IKEA, I'm surprised by some new innovation the organization has adopted to improve the shopping experience and to enhance its logistical operation. It really is quite impressive. Some examples include overhead product-finder maps to help customers navigate more easily inside their maze-like showrooms, QR codes in use throughout the operation, electronic systems for prioritizing clients who are waiting for returns and exchanges, hyper-practical product design, and assembly instructions with drawings and graphics designed for minimal language use so that they can be understood in any country. You must also have seen those wheeled vertical tray racks for families at IKEA’s in-store restaurants. Smart, right? At checkout, they’ve now added the option to order snack items that you can pick up at the exit area.
These iterative adjustments for a big multinational are not easy to introduce. Much thought, experimentation and coordination go behind each of these changes. IKEA continues to find ways to reduce friction in the user experience and increase revenues at the same time. They make hard things look easy, which is a feat itself.
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Do you have any reflections about IKEA or experiences you’d like to share?
This week I’m ending with a quick sketch from the kitchen.
(I don’t use a ruler on purpose. I’m trying to keep things a little loose.)
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