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The
Future of Energy Initiative (FOEI-CIRCA
2012)
is an open-source working group. Our mission is to develop sustainable concepts
for clean energy systems. Our role is architect. As engineers we focus on
tipping points and the key technical questions that will ultimately determine
the structural foundations of clean energy systems. The main management process
is review and critique during weekly 2-hour video conferences.
Our
chosen goal is to power the planet without fossil fuel. With finite fossil
resources, this goal is inevitable and has no ambiguity except for timing.
Whether it is 50, or 150 years, it is important for policymakers to understand
which concepts can be scaled to deliver
3.4 x 1017 Wh/y
of primary sustainable
energy. This process is explained in a paper titled Engineering
Clean Energy Systems.
Primary products – The following links notable products by members:
·
Alex Pavlak’s addressed a number of key issues in the clean
energy transition including:
o
America’s
Emerging Electric Power Emergency explains why the nations electric power
systems have degraded to the point where National Emergency powers are needed.
o
Decarbonizing
CAISO (with Gene Preston) - NREL’s LA-100 report
overstates the performance of wind + PV because their model misses the
lackluster performance of wind + PV during December.
o
States
owned power authority for new nuclear – A centralized
vertically integrated management structure, at least temporarily, would
simplify the reintroduction of new nuclear.
·
Charles
Forsberg argues that the
hydrocarbon industry will not disappear. Hydrocarbon fuels, with the highest
theoretical chemical energy density are just too useful. Oil companies will
shift their focus from refining crude to synthesizing
biocarbon fuel from carbon and H2.
·
Darryl Siemer has
a new university textbook titled Nuclear Power: Policies, Practices and the Future, 2nd Ed
·
Gene
Preston submitted a filing to
PUCT on how Transmission System
Constraints Decrease Generation Reliability. He also has a paper explaining ERCOT’s continuing reliability decline
·
Charles Rhodes provides an excellent summary of the causes and mitigation of global warming. He also explains why nuclear fission will
evolve towards fast neutron reactors and the nuances behind interruptible electricity markets.
·
Matt Wald has written
a series of articles on decarbonization for the Breakthrough Institute.
·
Paul Acchione through
the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers authored a study of Ontario’s
Electricity Supply mix. He also authored Retail Price Plans for a Zero Emission Future, a version of which is currently being
implemented in Ontario Canada.
·
Bob Borlick submitted a Review of market reform assessment produced by energy and
environmental economics, inc as a formal filing to the PUCT.
·
Ralph Ellis
explains Why Ice Ages Occur without resorting to CO2 as
a greenhouse gas
·
Jerry Cuttler has taken on
the challenge of mitigating the public fear of radiation by showing that low
dose radiation is an effective therapeutic for Alzheimers, arthritis, and COVID pneumonia
·
James Conca explains why
long-term nuclear
waste disposal is a non-issue provided the disposal site satisfies appropriate
engineering criteria.