Keep It Classy US Solar Industry
Jaw-Dropping News In The Solar Versus Fossil Fuels Debate Solar panels could destroy U.S. utilities, according to U.S. utilities Shortlink … Continue reading Keep It Classy US Solar Industry
Tag: Energy
Origins of A Tsunami Called Natural Gas
Before the natural gas tsunami came ashore of the U.S. energy sector in 2014/2015, it was little more than a rogue wave at sea. This is a story of its impacts on one energy technology while it was still barely discernible from the surrounding waves in which it lurked as it gained momentum and mass.
In 2008 through 2010 I worked with a small diversified “solar” company in Colorado as a Project Manager – “Jack of All Trades.” At the time, we focused on distributed solar thermal at the municipal and residential scales, while engineering a more versatile racking system than that on the market out of Europe.
We were using ingenuity as well as trial an error to combat limitations imposed by “one size fits all” applications, where the reality was, there were Continue reading “Origins of A Tsunami Called Natural Gas”
South Africa’s Base Load Addiction
South Africa finds itself at a complicated crossroads of its energy development, and the direction many signals point towards forces … Continue reading South Africa’s Base Load Addiction
Ideation, Travel and Energy
Last year at this time, after making the difficult decision to leave the job that paid me to travel around the world, I had about a month free before embarking on a travel adventure for as long as I wanted anywhere in the world.
How I achieved this “freedom” to do as I wish is grounds for another story, firmly rooted in my life story of doing such repeatedly over the years, and I tell bits and pieces of it often when asked. That is what Hans World Travels is intended to be about, and my Instagram page has come the closest to achieving this goal, but I have a ‘mental’ problem and it’s called … Ideation.
Shortlink…. http://wp.me/pfF9G-Dr6
Wisdom of African Mega Energy Development?
If Africa desires to “rise”, the knowledge and technologies to assist the journey are waiting in the wings to help them achieve flight under their own energy. Continue reading Wisdom of African Mega Energy Development?
Asteroids, The Titanic & The Allusive White Whale of Energy
A “Futurist” thinking colleague just emailed me….
“Hi Hans,
Always enjoy your posts.
Conversations can be so frustrating, let’s take land use for example, I briefly figured out the thousands of acres available along highways and inner median space; some areas maybe cover roadways (why not). Highways could involve all layers of community and government (which I realize could complicate)
What do you think? Also with greater efficiency why not hydrogen storage along canals, lakes and rivers.
Thinking BIG”
To which I quickly responded in this way…
^^^^ exactly what you are talking about.
I have wanted to take that to the next level and saturate all the open/brown space within transmission Right of Ways (ROW). Less chances cars or semis will plow through them… and they are already within the domain of the utilities –> so reducing the governmental and community hurdles you mention.
Continue reading “Asteroids, The Titanic & The Allusive White Whale of Energy”
Southern Africa Energy – Advancing Forward or Stumbling Back?
Within the context of South African energy development, and less so within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), I often find myself being misunderstood as to the role coal plays within the energy economy.
I recognize, on the surface, many observers and colleagues alike, may gather an impression I am advocating for the unequivocal closure of all coal assets and the direct economies they support. Nothing could be further from the truth, and although my knowledge and experiences tell me, coal’s impacts on the global climate are negative, with dire human and economic consequences, I have long since passed the days of being an ‘environmental crusader’, motivated by heart, not facts and reality.
Ending all coal fired electric generation tomorrow, if this was my position, would be pushing for the closure of currently operational power stations and ceasing the capital flow of hemorrhaging new builds under construction, struggling to meet project deadlines and cost projections. My pragmatism steers me clear of any designs that risk a near certain economic collapse regardless some “ideal energy world” I may dream up.
Continue reading “Southern Africa Energy – Advancing Forward or Stumbling Back?”
About Me – A Global Energy Experience
I’m Hans. Born, raised & educated in upstate NY, USA. After university (Bachelor’s degree in engineering & sciences), I moved to California and worked with several of the largest electric utilities;(PG&E, SDG&E and SPPC/Nevada Power) in the country. Not as an electrician or engineer, but rather within their USD $100m/yr, or more, vegetation management programs; learning and patrolling 1000s of miles of overhead power lines, experiencing generation schemes and customer needs first hand.
Outside training my fellow foresters, I broke new ground and developed protocols for system-wide implementation based on the simple concept of bringing all interested parties together and forging mutually beneficial agreements for all. They worked, very well. After I left, I was asked back on several occasions to assist during critical program milestones.
Shortlink… http://wp.me/pfF9G-Dlo
After chasing personal interests throughout the American West, living in Colorado, I settled in Oregon, building a residential tree pruning/removal start-up as a financial backstop to pursuing a nursing degree. I loved biology and chemistry, thrive under the demands of making life & death decisions quickly, and wanted to travel the world as a nurse in an ER/ICU capacity.
Achieving the Impossible
What I seek to accomplish in the global energy industry to facilitate accessibility for the under-served majority of the world’s population?
My primary objective is to architect, launch and advance a social enterprise within the geographical sphere of sub-Saharan Africa, facilitating the use of regionally abundant resources to promote energy accessibility through mutually beneficial partnerships and self-sustaining economics. The premise being to springboard beyond the physical, governmental, technological and social constraints presently hindering the realization of a true “Africa Rising” for over one billion people, where the exploitation of natural resource abundance has garnered minimal localized benefit, and energy exists as the critical ingredient and catalyst to regional, educational and social empowerment.
What qualifies my position within a niche market that has exponential growth potential?
Utilizing the experience and knowledge acquired over 20 years within a professional capacity as a consultant to several of the largest investor owned electric and gas utilities within the United States, and as an intermediary to multinational energy interests around the world;
Thoughts on global energy development trends
You know the saying, ‘3 steps forward, 2 steps back’? Maybe that’s what the entire world energy scene is all about…. As more people come to the table at an accelerated pace.
Shortlink here… http://wp.me/pfF9G-cxN
We have 3-4 billion in a rush to get energy (China, Africa, India, SE Asia & less so South America), while a billion or so already have it (USA, Canada, a decent part of Europe, South Korea, select Middle Eastern countries, and up until the Tsunami, Japan). The latter fell into the trap of needing to refurbish legacy plants (coal & nuclear) while bringing on national gas (NG) and renewable energy (RE). While the former are building whatever they can, maybe at a 10 to 1 ratio (fossils/nuclear/large hydro to REs).
Continue reading “Thoughts on global energy development trends”
Why the US is not doing more?
A quick write up on what I have been seeing over the past month in Europe with regards to energy … Continue reading Why the US is not doing more?
King of the Belgians – Leopold II
Not the nicest man ever – during his reign, King Leopold II (King of the Belgians) owned a small park … Continue reading King of the Belgians – Leopold II
Natural Gas Realities – Now
Shortlink – http://wp.me/pfF9G-aO
There is currently much “buzz” about methane releases from Natural Gas Exploration & Production (NG E&P), especially with regards to the buzzword friendly “Fracking” dominating all discussions. The NG industry is clearly “green washing” the public through slick advertisements, as it knocks off its primary competitor Coal, and has already surpassed Nuclear for electrical output in the US.
The fact of the matter is, there are currently NG “Peaker” plants associated with almost all existing Coal and Nuclear plants, often on the same properties, owned and operated by the same generation company. This is really no different than many of our most famous hydroelectric dams being built with coal plants just out of view of the sweeping and magnificent concrete arches. Glen Canyon Dam, on the mighty Colorado River, and the 2,225 MW Navajo Generation Plant were paired in construction under the CRSP (Colorado River Storage Project) to mitigate water storage requirement priority over hydroelectric generation.
My use of the word “competitor”, when we discuss Natural Gas in contrast to Nuclear or Coal, becomes very much a gray area once we dig into the numbers of overall electrical production. But back to the topic of methane releases.
Wind pulling a fast one on us?
I recently responded to a post on LinkedIn in the “Energy Innovation by Statoil” group about wind turbines being “unappealing” visually within the discussion brought about by a completely wide-open question “How do you feel about wind farms?”
If you would like to share, shortlink here… http://wp.me/pfF9G-ak
Obviously, that is a subjective question, setting the stage for far ranging arguments lacking substantiated reasoning. This being akin to the common misunderstanding of billowing exhaust plumes at power plants thought to be laden with green house gases, pollution and toxic chemicals. The reality being, most of the visible “offenses” are waste heat removal through water evaporation cooling, not the invisible fossil fuel combustion effluent as commonly believed.
It was also stated, wind farms can be the cause of drought, which initially caught me off guard as I have lived and breathed water issues the past 20 years and it is a major determinant in my self assessed classification as “A Westerner”. Water is in our blood, both figuratively and literally. A transplant, to the western US, can be easily identified based on their lack of understanding and comprehension of where their water comes from and exactly how precious it is to maintaining our lifestyles. “Water Wars” are not just some future post apocalyptic scenario, they have been fought for over a century here in the United States.
Participate in My European Energy Adventure, August 6 to November 4th
Shortlink: http://wp.me/pfF9G-ad
I will be traveling around Europe for 3 months starting August 6th. So it is not all “fun and games”, I plan to dedicate substantial time to a personal project focused on energy supply and need, Europe as a case study.
It centers around a theory linking the successes [and shortcomings] in the transition towards more balanced energy portfolios; including renewable sources, as fueled by a home grown cultural “energy awareness”.
This may seem a “no-brainer” to Europeans experiencing it, however it is a significant departure from the realities present in the US and struggling to be realized around the globe.
I also see commonalities in regional scarcities experienced historically throughout the EU, as significant limitations & realities to developing/under developed nations worldwide.
Continue reading “Participate in My European Energy Adventure, August 6 to November 4th”
Hans' World Travels 2.0 & Beyond 