Generation Guide: Monthly Digest of Insights Shared by Your Peers in the Energy Central Generation Network – August 19, 2022

Welcome to the Generation Network roundup, Generation Guide. As always, your fellow network members are paying close attention to generation and clean power trends and sharing their insights. This month’s selection includes information about the future of coal, the need for energy storage technology in agriculture, and more. Be sure to like and comment on your favorite posts. Happy reading!

How Can the Solar Industry Help the Global Aluminum Shortage?

Emilie O’Leary

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/how-can-solar-industry-help-global-aluminum-shortage  

Aluminum, used to build solar panels, is an abundant resource, yet it is in short supply. Why? In this piece, Emilie O’Leary, Owner & CEO at Green Clean Solar explains that an increase in demand and China capping its production and export of aluminum are two of the primary reasons. Given the shortage, aluminum recycling is becoming increasingly important because recycling aluminum uses much less energy than mining it. Therefore, she recommends implementing recycling mandates for aluminum and developing waste action plans before projects begin.  

Is There a Future for Coal?

Hossam Morsi

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/gn/there-future-coal  

Given the worldwide excitement about renewables, new Energy Central member Hossam Morsi, self-employed Senior Consultant for Power Generation wonders in this post whether there is a future for coal. It’s a timely question considering Russia’s war on Ukraine and resulting challenges with oil and gas supply to Europe. Some countries are turning to coal to compensate for reduced supply and higher costs of other fuels, a trend that’s likely to continue and impact Net Zero goals.

Agriculture Exploring Renewable Energy Storage Solutions

Jane Marsh

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/ee/agriculture-exploring-renewable-energy-storage-solutions

Farmers are improving their financial position by installing renewable energy resources and using the energy to power farms and surrounding areas. But true success — a system that achieves optimal functionality and provides emergency power — involves a critical missing piece: effective storage solutions. In this article, Jane Marsh, Editor at Environment.co explains that fuel cells and pumped-hydro plants are two potential solutions for making renewable energy a cornerstone of the agriculture industry’s future.

“Why Is California Continuing To Curtail Solar & Wind Energy Production?”

Ron Miller

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/%E2%80%9Cwhy-california-continuing-curtail-solar-wind-energy-production%E2%80%9D

Here, Ron Miller, Principal at Reliant Energy Solutions LLC explores why California has curtailed between 891,065 and 1,587,496 MWh of solar and wind energy per year over the last three years. He explains that, to use all renewable energy produced, CAISO is evaluating more storage and California is commissioning several major utility-scale battery projects this year. He notes that the additional costs for these measures are driving up electricity prices on these lower-cost energy sources.

Thanks again for reading this edition of Generation Guide! The authors listed above are eager to hear your thoughts and questions, so don’t hesitate to engage them. And if you want your content to be featured in this spot in future issues, be sure to publish your posts within the Generation Network Community.

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