The hottest Energy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The EV Revolution in Five Charts and Not Too Many Numbers

Renewable Revolution • 259 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Energy Transportation Technology Policy
  1. Electric vehicle (EV) sales are rapidly increasing, with countries reaching significant market shares in about six years. In 2023, around 20% of car sales will be EVs.
  2. Experts continuously revise their predictions upward for EV growth as prices drop and more people prefer EVs. Many now expect about 40% of cars sold in 2030 to be electric.
  3. The rise of EVs is pushing down sales of traditional gas cars and oil demand. As more EVs are sold, we could see a significant drop in oil use within 15 years.

I Know I'm Not Supposed to Use AI, But This Was The Best Conversation I've Had In A Long Time; Is That The Problem?

As If We Were Staying • 3 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Human Interaction Philosophy Energy Social Dynamics
  1. Using AI can be a helpful tool for deep conversations, but it shouldn't replace real human interactions. It's important to find a balance so we don’t lose the richness of personal relationships.
  2. AI can optimize energy usage and processes, but there's a risk it might outgrow our control. We need to think carefully about how we integrate AI into our lives to ensure it's used for good.
  3. A good approach may be to develop a symbiotic relationship with AI. This means leveraging its strengths while still valuing the unique qualities humans bring to interactions and decision-making.

Which Technologies Have Learning Curves?

Climateer • 755 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Energy Innovation Regulation Standardization Subsidies
  1. Some technologies progress faster than others based on factors like standardization, product complexity, manufacturing complexity, barriers to entry, project timeline, and market growth.
  2. The power of standards can accelerate cost reduction in technologies by promoting standardization, streamlining regulatory processes, and fostering international cooperation.
  3. Subsidies are effective for technologies with steep learning curves, like batteries and solar panels, but may not work well for complex or customized technologies like nuclear power or BECCS.
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Energy-as-a-service

GEM Energy Analytics • 239 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Energy Innovation Services Sustainability Renewables
  1. Energy-as-a-service is a new way to think about energy. Instead of paying for the electricity you use, you would pay for the services it provides, like heating or lighting.
  2. Mini-grids in Africa show how flexible energy solutions can work. These small systems can innovate with different pricing models to meet local needs.
  3. Smart technology could make it easier for consumers to handle their energy use. If providers take care of the complexity, people could just enjoy reliable services without worrying about fluctuating prices.

Supply AND Demand

Knowledge Problem • 235 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🔬 Science Energy Technology Economics Environment Digital
  1. Market value is determined by the interaction of supply and demand, allowing for price discovery.
  2. The traditional assumption in the electricity industry of fixed supply catering to demand is becoming obsolete due to digital technologies enabling flexible demand.
  3. Digital technologies and dynamic pricing are empowering consumers to have more control over their electricity bills and contribute to a greener future.

Sabine Hossenfelder promoting fossil fuels over electric vehicles

aukehoekstra • 59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🔬 Science Environment Electric Vehicles Climate change Physics Energy
  1. Sabine Hossenfelder, a popular figure known for her physics background, has been criticized for promoting gasoline cars over electric vehicles.
  2. Electric vehicles can help solve grid issues and contribute positively to the energy system by offering flexibility and potential cost savings.
  3. The sales of electric vehicles continue to rise, with advancements in technology making them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective compared to fossil fuel cars.

The Only Three Products in the Universe

Ulysses • 159 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Information Energy Software Industry AI
  1. The three primary products in the universe are information, matter, and energy. These are the fundamental components of economic activity.
  2. Software businesses focus on processing and disseminating information, which can disrupt social activities that involve thinking and language.
  3. The ultimate value in economic activity is derived from manipulating matter and energy efficiently, with the mastery of synthetic biology predicted to have a greater impact than AI.

Is AI a Silver Bullet for our Climate Problems?

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 216 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🔬 Science Climate AI Data Education Energy
  1. AI solutions in climate problems can be biased towards easily accessible data, encouraging broader solution development is crucial.
  2. AI must quantify its confidence in recommendations for climate problem-solving due to the high cost of mistakes.
  3. Encouraging new datasets and AI methods with confidence measurement can lead to more successful projects in addressing climate challenges.

1.6 The Plan & Purpose of this Book

Fields & Energy • 159 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🔬 Science Physics Energy Electromagnetism
  1. The book discusses two big ideas in physics: particles versus waves and two different ways of understanding nature. This involves looking at how scientists have debated these ideas over time.
  2. It introduces a new way of thinking about electromagnetism, saying that fields and energy are separate but related. Fields behave like waves, while energy can act like particles.
  3. Finally, the book explores how this fresh perspective can change our view of quantum mechanics, suggesting that light and energy might interact in ways we don't typically understand.

Agentic

Gradient Ascendant • 16 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Science Energy Economics
  1. Many people feel like life is getting worse even though, in many ways, it is improving globally. We're healthier and living longer, but people feel they have less control over their lives.
  2. There are two main ways to create wealth: by making something new (the 'forge') or by taking from existing resources (the 'siphon'). The siphon can lead to corruption and inequality, while the forge creates opportunities for everyone.
  3. Modern AI has the potential to help people gain more control and agency over their lives, but it can also take it away if it is used in ways that benefit only a few. It's important for designers to focus on increasing people's agency.

Why the German tender for offshore wind is bad news

Jérôme à Paris • 486 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
💼 Business Energy Government Investment Market Dynamics Corporate behavior
  1. Germany's offshore wind tender results indicate a significant increase in costs, impacting electricity generation prices.
  2. The licence payments may double the total investment needed to build wind projects, leading to higher electricity costs.
  3. The outcome of the German tender might set a concerning precedent for future offshore wind auctions, potentially affecting market dynamics.

Spotlight: John Bucknell – CEO of Virtus Solis

Space Ambition • 199 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Energy Space Aerospace Innovation Startups
  1. Virtus Solis is working on space-based solar power satellites. These can provide continuous energy, unlike traditional solar panels that depend on sunlight.
  2. The technology aims to solve global energy challenges by making clean energy accessible and affordable for everyone, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
  3. John Bucknell, the CEO, suggests that starting a business early in your career can make it easier, but experience also helps in understanding how to manage teams and solve problems.

India & Energy

Life in the 21st Century • 176 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics India Energy US Europe China
  1. India's population is the same size as China's, making up 35% of the global population.
  2. India's energy usage per capita is 7% of the United States, showing a huge gap in lifestyle and energy consumption.
  3. India's development model should not follow the West, requiring a new approach to 'development' for the entire world.

The Economist on New Electricity Technologies

Knowledge Problem • 176 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Energy Digitalization Innovation Policy Renewables
  1. The Economist reports on new electricity technologies, like high voltage transmission and grid-forming inverters, vital for a cleaner energy future.
  2. Systemic changes in energy infrastructure take time and investment, but are crucial for achieving reliable and sustainable power.
  3. Digitization and renewable energy adoption are reshaping grids, calling for new investments and regulatory adjustments to maintain stability and affordability.

A New Era in Energy Technology

Startup Pirate by Alex Alexakis • 176 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Energy Renewables AI Innovation Startups
  1. Europe is transitioning to clean energy to combat high electricity prices, energy dependence, and climate goals.
  2. Renewable energy advancements like solar power and batteries are facilitating economic growth and decarbonization.
  3. Innovations in energy technology, like AI-powered platforms and green hydrogen compressors, are reshaping the industry towards sustainability and efficiency.

The Trouble with Fusion

Gordian Knot News • 183 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🔬 Science Fusion Energy Technology Engineering Physics
  1. Fusion faces difficult technical challenges like damage to the first wall, intense heat transfer, and high maintenance due to activation of materials.
  2. Achieving economic viability in fusion is a major hurdle, with immense parasitic loads and a fusion gain ratio that can be a significant challenge to achieve.
  3. Standard fusion processes like using deuterium and tritium result in energy losses due to the need for high quality energy input, which makes fusion less self-sustaining than fission.

YPF: the laundromat of the century

BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets • 157 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Corruption Energy Lawsuit Fraud
  1. YPF, the national oil company of Argentina, was involved in a massive financial fraud through expropriation and private dealings.
  2. A small group of politicians and businessmen profited billions from YPF without investing their own money.
  3. Despite clear irregularities and financial loopholes, those involved in the scandal are unlikely to face prosecution or jail time for receiving billions at the taxpayer's expense.

A Brief History of Energy

Ulysses • 179 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🔬 Science Energy Nuclear Fusion Civilization
  1. Human civilization is driven by the type and availability of energy sources, dictating growth, quality of life, and societal scale.
  2. Energy originates from nuclear reactions and its evolution through fusion and fission have shaped both natural processes and human advancement.
  3. Fusion energy holds the potential to revolutionize energy production by offering a clean, abundant, and safe alternative to traditional sources.

Global energy demand could be lower in 2050, despite the world getting richer

Sustainability by numbers • 168 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Decarbonisation Efficiency Electrification Inequality
  1. Global energy demand in 2050 could be lower due to decarbonisation leading to efficiency gains
  2. Final energy use per person is projected to decrease with increased decarbonisation
  3. Electricity demand will rise significantly with the electrification of transport and heating

Biofuels: the US could switch to electric cars and solar power on just a fraction of the land

Sustainability by numbers • 296 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Renewables Transportation Land use
  1. Growing biofuels in the US is a poor use of land, especially when solar energy needs much less land and could power the country three times over.
  2. Biofuels may not have as positive an impact on the environment as initially assumed, with some studies suggesting they could increase emissions.
  3. Switching from biofuels to solar power for electric cars in the US could significantly reduce land use and still meet transportation needs.

Masterclass With Masterjohn: Energy Metabolism

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 519 implied HN points • 02 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Energy
  1. The Masterclass With Masterjohn on Energy Metabolism is a course with 39 lessons focusing on how our bodies burn carbohydrate and fat for fuel.
  2. The course covers essential concepts like thermodynamics, the role of enzymes in controlling reactions inside our bodies, and the use of citric acid cycle and electron transport chain to produce ATP.
  3. Lessons also delve into interesting topics like the regulation of energy metabolism, the production and utilization of ketones, and the historical origins of the ketogenic diet for treating epilepsy.

Argentina's Energy Landscape from 2024 onwards

BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets • 137 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy Infrastructure Industry Trade
  1. Argentina is likely to achieve energy independence in the near future.
  2. The current energy mix in Argentina relies heavily on fossil fuels, with plans for nuclear and hydroelectric expansion.
  3. Investments in pipelines and production in Vaca Muerta could lead Argentina to become a net exporter of energy by 2026.

Underwriter Certification of Nuclear Power, 2.0:

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
💼 Business Regulation Insurance Certification Market Energy
  1. Regulation of hazardous activities requires finding a balance between safety and economy to prevent both excessive harm and economic burden.
  2. Certification Societies, like those for ocean transportation and high-pressure steam, play a crucial role in setting industry standards, inspecting compliance, and ensuring safety.
  3. Underwriter Certification for nuclear power leverages market competition, government oversight, and insurance to provide a feasible and safe regulatory system for nuclear energy.

The Cost of Changing Course

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Energy Healthcare
  1. America's economy is built on incentives favoring oil and gas, making it difficult to transition to renewable energy.
  2. Wealthy individuals and big corporations often benefit the most from government aid and investments, rather than the intended recipients.
  3. Challenges in implementing new policies arise due to resistance from established industries and fear of disrupting the capitalist system.

Electric-Gas Interdependence: History and Transaction Cost Economics

Knowledge Problem • 117 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
💰 Finance Energy Regulation Contracts History Economics
  1. The interdependence between electric systems and natural gas systems has been highlighted during severe winter storms.
  2. Over the past century, the objectives for electric service have evolved to include resilience, decarbonization, and reliance on natural gas.
  3. Transaction cost economics can help understand the challenges in coordinating reliable input supply between the electric and gas industries.

The Gordian Knot News "A" List

Gordian Knot News • 168 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Energy Regulation Nuclear Safety
  1. The Gordian Knot News focuses on the importance of cheap nuclear power for humanity's prosperity and environmental conservation.
  2. Understanding key features of radiation and where we went wrong in nuclear power are crucial to solving the issues in the industry.
  3. Proposing a new regulatory system and a radiation harm model are essential steps towards a better future for nuclear power.