By Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
In the 10 years since the first modern electric cars hit the market in volume, they have had a remarkable ride and the pace is accelerating. Electric vehicles (EVs) are perpetually in the news these days, whether it is the latest idea from Tesla’s mercurial CEO Elon Musk or new models including pickups and SUVs hitting showrooms.
While the auto industry spans the globe, the three major EV markets are China, Europe, and North America. China intends to dominate the global production of electric cars, just as it does with photovoltaic cells and hopes to do with lithium-ion battery cells. Europe’s vehicle-emission regulations are growing more stringent; this means that manufacturers must sell increasing volumes of EVs each year and European consumers seem to be snapping them up.
Former head of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy says news of the Biden administration’s consideration of production tax credits to keep nuclear plants afloat would give nuclear equivalent footing with wind and solar producers.
Baranwal, now chief nuclear officer at the Electric Power Research Institute, believes her former office’s policy priorities will persist under the Biden administration.
In the 18 months that Dr. Rita Baranwal led the Department of Energy’s nuclear division, three U.S. reactors shut down and a fourth Indian Point in New York was months away from sunsetting, a continuation of a yearslong trend for the industry that has struggled with market viability despite its carbon emissions-free bona fides.
When we look back on the convulsion that is going to reset America â the great technology-driven revolution that will extend to nearly every corner of American life â it may be named for President Joe Biden, but it wonât be his revolution. It is innovationâs revolution. He will help finance it and smooth it out, but it is already happening and is accelerating. Bidenâs typically soft speech to Congress (no stemwinder he) was a wish list of things dear to him, but also an acknowledgment of what already is in motion.
Technology is rampant and governmentâs role should be to provide partnership and, above all, standards, according to two savants of the tech world, Jeffrey DeCoux, chairman of the Autonomy Institute, and Morgan OâBrien, a visionary in U.S. wireless telecommunications, now executive chairman of Anterix, a company providing private broadband wireless networks to utilities. Above all, they said in an interview with me for the PBS program â
The grid needs to smarten up to reach clean energy goals
Smart grids were supposed to come to the rescue a long time ago
In the future, our vehicles and homes will be in constant conversation with the power grid. Smart thermostats will send information about how much energy the home is using or potentially wasting to heat or cool itself. Solar panels will say how much energy they have on hand, while electric vehicles will share information about when and where they’re charging and how much juice they need for their travels. Solar and EV batteries might even offer up the energy they’re storing in case it’s needed elsewhere.
Here’s our exclusive wrapup of upcoming events happening across North Carolina in May. Included are the latest meetups, conferences, workshops, application deadlines and networking events happening in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triad, Wilmington and other parts of the state.
This post is part of our weekly column of upcoming events, along with our comprehensive resource guide for startups in the Triangle.
May 11, 8:15-11:30 a.m. (online)
NC Chamber’s annual Energy Summit will feature industry leaders discussing the trends, challenges and innovations impacting energy strategy and economic climate.
May 12, 7:30-9 a.m. (online)
Every Wednesday morning, entrepreneurs in the Lake Norman area join to present their companies to mentors, advisers and other startups. Join to meet new people and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs.