Power Surge 12.3

Volume 12 Issue 3
November 15, 2021 – November 21, 2021
Sunay Joshi ‘23 | Zihan Lin ‘23 | Amy Amatya ‘21 | Riti Bhandarkar ‘23 | Wilder Crosier '25 | Andrew Ji '25

Harnessing the energy of the ocean to power homes, planes, and whiskey distilleries
November 9, 2021 | Washington Post

Photo by Orbital Marine Power

In the Orkney Islands of northern Scotland, three projects are aiming to prove economic viability of hydro power by capturing energy stored in surface waves and tides. The most recent to arrive this past summer was the Orbital O2, a massive device measuring in at 240 feet long and 650 tons. The concept is simple - anchor the body of the submarine-shaped machine, attach several massive rotors underwater, each of 65 feet in diameter, and let the tides do the work. The produced energy, rated at 2 megawatts, is enough to power 2,000 homes. In the coming months and years, this project will demonstrate its future potential. - AJ

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 GE to break up into 3 companies focusing on aviation, health care and energy

November 9, 2021 | CNBC | Jesse Pound

On Tuesday, energy giant General Electric announced it would split into three companies within the next three years. The new businesses will focus on aviation, health, and energy. CEO Lawence Culp said in a statement “By creating three industry-leading, global public companies, each can benefit from greater focus, tailored capital allocation, and strategic flexibility to drive long-term growth.” While the company’s stock has fallen 2% on average annually over the past twenty years, analysts see opportunities for better performance thanks to the nimbleness of each individual organization. –WC

How the rise of copper reveals clean energy’s dark side
November 9, 2021 | Guardian Energy

Photo by Julie Dermansky

The rise of clean electricity grids and electric vehicles has spurred growth in the mining of copper, a highly conductive and malleable metal. Mining copper poses environmental issues, especially for local residents. Mines can drain and contaminate underground water supplies, which creates serious health concerns for the local communities. Experts insist that copper is essential for the energy transition. Some proposed to provide incentives for recycling copper. In 2020, recycled copper met 35% of its global demand. Countries like China have already issued regulations for manufacturers to recycle copper. However, the heated problem between copper mines and local residents continues. -ZL

Power Surge 12.2

Volume 12 Issue 2
November 8, 2021 – November 14, 2021
Zihan Lin ‘23 | Joe Kawalec ‘21 | Riti Bhandarkar ‘23 | Wilder Crosier '25 | Andrew Ji '25

World Leaders Vow to Cut Methane Emissions
November 2, 2021 | The Wall Street Journal | Timothy Puko and Katy Stech Ferek

In Glasgow, countries are teaming up to cut down on methane emissions, which trap far more heat than CO2. Over 100 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to cut 30% of emissions by 2030. President Biden announced an increase in US regulation of the oil and natural gas industry, which generates 30% of methane emissions, through EPA regulation of methane wells. The EPA will monitor leaks and intentional venting, and estimates a 74% reduction in emissions by 2030. - SJ

Countries pledge to quit coal - but the U.S., China and India are missing
November 4, 2021 | CNBC | Chloe Taylor

At COP26, twenty-eight new nations have joined the international alliance to phase out coal by the 2040s, including Poland, Ukraine, Vietnam, Chile, and Singapore, joining members such as the U.K., Germany, and New Zealand. However, the group still lacks the world’s largest polluters: China, India, and the U.S.. In order to achieve a net zero emissions world by 2050, however, new investments in coal plants must be stopped immediately, according to a May report from the IEA. “The end of coal is in sight,” said Alok Sharma, a U.K. lawmaker and the COP26 president. - AJ

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U.S. Air Force Base To Be First To Deploy New Nuclear ‘Microreactor’ - Soon Every Town Could Have One
November 1, 2021 | Forbes | James Conca

The Ellison Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska has been chosen to receive the branch’s first nuclear microreactor. Currently the base gets its energy from its own coal-fired power plant which burns 800 tons of coal per day. The new reactor, which is set to be operational by 2027, will supply roughly a third of the base's energy needs. The military is interested in microreactors because they are sources of clean energy and can provide power to remote bases without relying on the grid, which can undergo outages and attacks. In addition to this project, the US Department of Defense is working on Project Pele, which plans to create mobile nuclear reactors. The US military has been concerned with climate change for a long time, and their moves to accelerate the world into the nuclear age are promising for the future of sustainable energy production. –WC