Comments on: Guest Blog: What Exactly is a Smart Grid?

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:26:02 +0000

No doubt many will have read this quasi-populist article in Wired magazine – “7 ways to fix the grid, now”.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-04/gp_intro
What is at least as interesting however is the vehemence, expertise and in some cases change-resistance that’s manifest in the comments.
As a result, for me perhaps the most instructive quotation from the article is this:
“fixing the grid is not a technology problem—it’s a system problem on the broadest scale…..Right now, that system encourages everyone involved—customers, utilities, and private industry—to neglect the grid. We have to give those stakeholders new reasons to turn on, engage, and transform.”
This may be as great a communications and enablement challenge as it is a technical one…..

By: johnaw

johnaw — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:11:19 +0000

We have long-term problems and we are seeking long-term solutions.
We have some serious short-term problems and they are being obscured by the focus on long-term problems and their solutions.
The short-term problems need both urgent focus and urgent solutions.
We need a common sense perspective on the long-term and the short-term.
Common sense indicates we should not misallocate precious resources on long-term problems to the detriment of urgent short-term problems.
This is not to say we ignore the long-term problems.
We are the stewards of all the precious resources we are provided including air, natural resources, human resources and a safe-for-life planet.
The short-term problems I suggest we consider urgently focusing upon are two-fold:
One, we face the risk of a severe solar storm that is projected to peak in 2012.
We do not need another bungled Y2K effort until a strong and capable hand finally oversaw a successful transition in the last 18 months before Dec. 31, 1999.
We need to examine the possible ramifications of a severe solar storm, for we have had past examples of what can happen. The great solar storm of 1859 is an example where the HEMP E3 effect was evident as nascent telegraph offices exploded in flames from the power surges.
In 2003 there were also consequences from a solar storm to the power grid. This is discussed at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm
and http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mystery_monday_031027.html
To be continued….
Two, and related to a severe solar storm, the risk of a High-altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) attack grows stronger every day as rogue states and terror groups rapidly acquire the necessary component technologies.
For the past 60 years or so we have transitioned from a robust to HEMP vacuum tube technology to very vulnerable to HEMP solid-state technology. While providing great benefits, the transition has ignored the risks of EMP/IEMI severely damaging or destroying our entire power grid, and all electrical and electronic devices not protected against this and the solar storm threat.
We certainly need a smart grid but more importantly we need a protected and fully reliable power grid.
Without a protected and reliable power grid, and protected electrical/electronic devices we face chaos and potentially great loss of life according to the EMP Commission testimony and unclassified reports at: http://www.empcommission.org/
To be continued…

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:11:34 +0000

There’s a better way to use this technology to have a much bigger reduction in the carbon output on this planet we so dearly love. Simply outfit every orifice on every living creature on the planet especially humans with this technology. Then use this technology to limit co2 output from every orifice on every living thing on the planet. Once the daily output level is reached simply close all orifices until the start of the next 24 hr. cycle. The allowable co2 output could be decreased incrementally until the planet is finally co2 free. problem solved.

By: Dr. Manfred Baumgärtner

Dr. Manfred Baumgärtner — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:03:25 +0000

The traction battery of an electric car is a very expensive thing today – and it will be so even tomorrow. We shouldn’t oversize it – otherwise we will overcharge consumer’s budets. But by doing this we don’t have enough power for highway driving.
How to resolve this crucial limitation? Shai Agassi had a briliant idea: simply changing the battery at the filling station. But he will fail by overwhelming costs for the BETTERPLACE.com automated exchange stations.
See a very compelling, smart and simple answer: http://www.eBUGGY.eu. Pick a battery trailer and use it as a range extender – each time you’re entering the high-way – on demand… We can easily re-finance huge amounts of real large batteries with this rent-a-trailer concept. And we can add real value to smart grids by giving huge power storage capacity in a very near future. What does IBM think on this?
Best regards
Manfred Baumgärtner
http://www.eBUGGY.eu