1. Part Four
Possible New
Infrastructures
associated with new energy
technologies
Sarah Evins, HON 401: Global Issues

2. Outline
I. Paradigm shift:
Can energy be produced where it will be used?
II. A case study:
How can we minimize energy loss?
III. Integration:
How might distributed generation work with current
infrastructure?

3. I. paradigm shift:
can energy be produced where
it will be used?

4. Ray Kurzweil, notable futurist
TED Talk, 2006

5. Classic Electricity
Paradigm:
Central Power Station Model
Central Power Station Model
centralized power plants distribute energy
plants usually powered through: combustion
(coal, oil, and natural) or nuclear generated
power is transmitted up to several hundred miles
away from the central source

6. The inefficiencies of
centralized power
it’s dirty: centralized power plants contribute to
consumption of fossil fuels or creation of nuclear waste
transporting energy is wasteful: a lot of
energy is lost in the process of moving it
consumers rely on the grid:
inconveniences and inefficiencies for those living in
remote areas or places with congested consumption of
energy

7. Our current utility system
is “a dumb machine”
utility company has a fundamental interest in consumers
“gorging on electrons”
utilities make money by building stuff (Friedman, pg. 222)
“reserve margin”: in order to always meet peak load
demand, utilities overbuild their supply capacity
adding supply was the answer to every problem, never
managing the demand
overvalue ubiquity and reliability over cleanliness and
efficiency
“undifferentiated electrons,” (Friedman, pg. 220)

8. What is distributed
generation?
power is generated at the point of consumption
decentralized power generation
modular technology: closed system, does not rely
on the grid, use power as you need it
can be both stand-alone or integrated into the
existing grid network

11. What are
What technologies have
developed that would some
enable distributed
generation? obstacles to
overcome?
intermittencies
Biofuels
not enough power
Solar Technologies
low efficiency
Wind Technologies
conditional
costly Residential solar power
Residential solar power
using solar panels is at
using solar panels is at
least twice as costly as
least twice as costly as
residential electrical power.
residential electrical power.
*

12. A case study of
distributed
generation:
how Solar Nanotechnology
can minimize energy loss

13. Promising Innovations in
Solar Nanotechnology
Here are some startling facts about solar energy
Nanoantennas: can absorb the infrared part of the spectrum,
allowing solar cells to capture light energy if it is cloudy or after the
sun has set
Quantum dot solar cells: convert light into electricity at 114%
efficiency (through multiple electron generation)
Silicon wire arrays: greater conversion efficiency at a thousandth of
the cost of traditional silicon solar panels
Spray-on solar ink: can be printed or sprayed, scientists anticipate
being able to spray solar technology onto building surfaces or
embed solar plastics into clothes

14. What technologies have been
developed to support a distributed
generation infrastructure?
The liquid metal battery,
Donald Sadoway

15. Do we have technology to
overcome obstacles to solar-based
DG?
The problem The solution
intermittencies storage through highly efficient batteries
cheaper production costs -> larger solar cell
not enough power areas
-> more power
developing nanotech with high efficiency (quantum
low efficiency
dots and MEG)
conversion of infrared spectrum (nanoantennas)
conditional
storage
costly cheaper than traditional solar panels

16. III. Integration:
distributed power and the
renovation of current
infrastructure

17. How has distributed power
been integrated around the
world?
China: accounts for two-thirds of the world’s solar water heaters
Denmark: 20% of total power supply in 2009 generated from wind
turbines integrated with other forms of generation (coal- and gas-fired
capacity, interconnection to hydro-dominated systems)
Spain: 2000 Barcelona Solar Thermal Ordinance resulted in over 40%
of all new and retrofitted buildings in the area having a solar water
heating system installed

18. The IPCC’s model for integrating distributed
generation

19. Incorporating Distributed
Generation into the “Smart
Grid”
What is the smart grid?
analog to digital monitors: utilities will be able to see
what energy is being consumed in real time and respond
accordingly
meets demand “intelligently”: utilities can charge
tiered rate for power, electricity costs more at peak rates,
supply more efficiently meets demand
incentivizes more efficient energy production: AA
can make renewable energy electricity cheaper than dirtier in
in
energy to
t
in
in
distributed generation takes over when the grid is congested or an
a
supply energy to remote areas im
im
sell distributed power to your neighbors an
a
di
d
*

20. Can we combine these two
approaches and meet in the
middle?
Top-Down Bottom-Up
Approach Approach
Distributed
Smart grid
generation
Government
Consumer-
and policy
driven
driven

21. How might we combine
both approaches?
“I would also create incentives for all utilities to help their
customers buy and even install distributed solar or wind
power for their homes, offices, roofs, and parking lots,
particularly at the stressed points on the power grid where
those sources of energy will do the most good. If we can
target more homes and offices—at those points on the grid
that are most congested or hard to reach—to install their
own solar and wind generation, it can take pressure off the
grid. And as solar and wind technologies improve and
move down in price, there is no reason utilities cannot be
distributing and connecting them as part of their service.”
-an excerpt from Hot, Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman

22. The end

23. Discussion:
Do we have a commitment
to provide energy to
everyone, or can we turn
energy into a form of
currency?
Do we have a commitment
to provide energy to
everyone, or can we turn

24. technology revolution is on the
horizon?
Many innovations have been introduced recently that
would enable the proliferation of cleaner energy
practices.
•What might it take for these technologies
to be implemented?
•Who might drive an energy revolution
(consumers, government, companies) and how?
and how?
and how?
and how?