The hottest Energy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Weekly Dose of Optimism #84

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 97 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Energy Resources Artificial Intelligence Medical Innovation
  1. AWS made a significant move by acquiring a nuclear data center campus in Pennsylvania, signaling the company's first venture into nuclear energy to power its data centers.
  2. Advances in clean energy include Terraform Industries scaling technology to create cheap natural gas using solar energy, showcasing the potential for cleaner energy sources.
  3. The discovery of a massive helium deposit in Minnesota highlights how continuous resource findings like this play a crucial role in various industries like MRI machines, semiconductor manufacturing, and fusion reactors.

TEA productivity framework — Making the best of your time, energy, and attention ☕️🚀

10x your mind • 99 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Time Energy Attention
  1. The TEA productivity framework focuses on optimizing time, energy, and attention for improved productivity.
  2. Each pillar of the TEA framework - Time, Energy, and Attention - plays a crucial role; lacking in one can lead to feelings of exhaustion, distraction, or being overwhelmed.
  3. To enhance productivity, invest in time by planning ahead, recharge your energy physically and emotionally, and direct your attention towards tasks by minimizing distractions.

Nuclear Fusion: The State of Play

State of the Future • 34 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🔬 Science Energy Technology Physics Innovation Research
  1. Nuclear fusion has great potential for clean energy, but it still faces big challenges like cost and technical hurdles. Commercial fusion might not be realistic until around 2040, despite recent progress.
  2. Different methods of achieving fusion exist, each with their own pros and cons. For example, magnetic confinement is well-researched but expensive, while inertial confinement uses lasers but has its own limitations.
  3. Investment in fusion technology is growing, with billions already being put in by both private companies and governments. This means, even though it's a tough path, there's hope for fusion as a key player in future energy strategies.
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Virtual Power Plants and software

Software and the energy transition • 20 HN points • 29 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Energy Software Infrastructure Standardization Innovation
  1. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) use distributed energy resources like solar panels and batteries to reduce the need for traditional fossil fuel power plants during peak demand times.
  2. DERs can help reduce the strain on the electricity grid by offering demand reduction services and energy generation through remote, efficient control.
  3. Standardization and virtualization innovation are key for the future of VPPs, making communication between DERs and platforms easier and allowing for virtual upgrades to power grids.

What do Americans use electricity for?

Sustainability by numbers • 75 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🔬 Science Energy Electricity Renewable Energy Data Analysis
  1. American households primarily use electricity for heating, cooling, and controlling humidity.
  2. Future challenges in energy demand will revolve around balancing supply and demand, particularly for temperature control like heating and cooling.
  3. Electricity consumption is dominated by heating, cooling, and humidity control in households, highlighting the importance of efficient solutions in this area.

Links for 2023-04-20

Axis of Ordinary • 78 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Policy Military Energy Health
  1. LLM cognitive architectures are advancing AI development with natural language alignment.
  2. US AI policy suggestions are being explored in 12 tentative ideas.
  3. New methods like DINOv2 for training computer vision models are gaining traction with self-supervised learning.

Cheap nuclear is healthy nuclear

Gordian Knot News • 139 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🔬 Science Nuclear Radiation Health Energy
  1. Engineers must balance desirable factors like performance and safety in their work.
  2. Our understanding of numbers and rational thinking is a relatively recent development.
  3. Low levels of radiation exposure from nuclear accidents may not cause measurable harm and nuclear energy can have health benefits compared to fossil fuels.

ALARA

Gordian Knot News • 241 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🔬 Science Energy Regulation Costs Bureaucracy
  1. ALARA philosophy in nuclear regulation aims for minimal radioactive emissions.
  2. ALARA can lead to increased costs and hinder technological advancements in nuclear power.
  3. ALARA's focus on reducing radiation exposure may lead to excessive regulation and operational costs.

Atomic Energy! Can nuclear power our 100GW AI factories?

State of the Future • 29 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Energy Nuclear AI Engineering Infrastructure
  1. Nuclear energy might not fully power the future's huge AI data centers, but it could play a significant supporting role. It offers reliable and flexible energy, especially where renewable sources might struggle.
  2. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could address the increasing energy demands for AI, but their high costs and complicated regulations are big hurdles. They might work well as part of a mix with other energy sources instead of being standalone options.
  3. The market for nuclear power is growing, driven by needs for cleaner energy and the specific power requirements of data centers. Big tech companies are already looking into using nuclear to meet their future energy demands.

CATL

Tech Buzz China Insider • 79 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🕹 Technology Energy Innovation Market Analysis Electronics Automotive
  1. CATL's Qilin batteries are positioned for high-end vehicles and currently target about 15% of the domestic EV market due to their high cost and superior range.
  2. CATL's Qilin battery faces competition from Tesla's 4680 battery, which is still working through production issues affecting its yield rate.
  3. By 2025, the battery industry landscape is expected to greatly favor incumbent manufacturers with CATL's capacity projected to exceed 700 GWh, and laminated products anticipated to increase to over 60% of the market.

What is nuclear's should-cost?

Gordian Knot News • 212 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Regulation Cost Analysis Risk Assessment
  1. Nuclear power can be more cost-effective than traditional sources like coal plants.
  2. Naive LCOE may not accurately represent the true cost of nuclear energy due to fluctuations in demand and the need for backup.
  3. Key challenges for nuclear power include regulatory risk, construction risk, and ensuring liability for unplanned outages and radiation releases.

Stage 2: Nuclear Power's Economics Suck

Gordian Knot News • 219 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
💼 Business Energy Economics Regulations Costs Market
  1. Nuclear power in the West is incredibly expensive and time-consuming to build, hindering its potential to combat global issues like climate change.
  2. Historically, nuclear power has been cost-competitive with coal, but rising costs due to regulations and construction delays have made it less viable.
  3. The core issue with nuclear power's economics lies in the perception of any radioactive release as intolerable, leading to excessive safety measures that drive up costs.

Offshore wind and big company lobbying

Jérôme à Paris • 121 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy Lobbying Climate change Government
  1. Big offshore wind projects often require government support or changes in regulations to be built
  2. Companies involved in offshore wind projects may try to renegotiate after making commitments, leveraging their political weight
  3. Offshore wind projects have high visibility, symbolic value, and political weight, making them a common target for lobbying and political maneuvering

Links in Progress: Expanding the Mediterranean's busiest port

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Transport Energy Construction Innovation
  1. There's a new rail tunnel in Switzerland that cuts travel time between Switzerland and Italy by an hour. It's called the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
  2. A massive tunnel is being built between Denmark and Germany that will make travel faster by replacing a ferry with a quick car drive. It will be one of the longest tunnels in the world.
  3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is getting a driverless monorail to connect different areas. It's part of a bigger plan to improve public transport in the city.

ex150ish-3

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Ketosis Weight Loss Energy
  1. The author is experimenting with a diet called ex150ish-3, which involves low protein, very low carb, and high fat intake. This diet seems to induce ketosis and is leading to rapid weight loss.
  2. During the first week of ex150ish-3, the author experienced mild headaches and some episodes of listlessness, but overall felt energetic. Despite rapid weight loss, the author noted a lack of hunger and difficulty eating.
  3. The author is considering a new hypothesis that ex150-type diets help regulate fat stores, while heart-attack-keto diets may disrupt this balance and lead to weight gain. The five constant diet rules the author follows are no-PUFAs, no-sulphites, no-willpower, no-goodharting, and don't-be-a-psycho.

Ancova Energy Market Update

Ancova • 58 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
💼 Business Energy Oil Markets Pricing
  1. Crude oil prices are rising due to various factors like weak U.S. dollar and decreased inventory.
  2. U.S. oil and gas rig count shows fluctuations across different basins and sectors.
  3. Natural gas market faces challenges with mild demand, impacting prices and regional cash prices.

Seven reasons why the world should say No to Sam Altman

Marcus on AI • 61 HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Energy Economics Financial risk Human Capital
  1. Investing $7 trillion in AI infrastructure would have significant energy and climate implications, possibly leading to heavy environmental costs.
  2. $7 trillion for AI exceeds the economic resources allocated to critical areas like education or ending world hunger, highlighting potential opportunity costs.
  3. Such a massive financial risk of a $7 trillion project could have severe consequences on the world economy, similar to the impact of the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

A Great Unravelling

Diane Francis • 339 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
💼 Business Economy Supply Chains Manufacturing Energy Trade
  1. China is facing big problems with power shortages that are affecting its economy. Many businesses are shutting down because they can't get enough energy to operate.
  2. Britain is struggling due to a lack of gasoline, which is causing major disruptions. People are having trouble finding fuel and grocery items.
  3. The shortage of semiconductors is causing car manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe to stop production. This means fewer cars being made and possibly higher prices for consumers.

Can dissipating energy be profitable ?

GEM Energy Analytics • 79 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
💼 Business Energy Economics Renewables Market Analysis Investment
  1. Dissipating energy can actually be a business opportunity, especially when there's a lot of renewable energy that needs to be used quickly. This could be done by creating heat with electricity.
  2. The European power markets show that there is potential to earn money by providing flexible energy solutions, such as using heaters or other simple devices to quickly use excess electricity.
  3. A smarter way to approach energy dissipation is to use the heat generated from electricity for useful purposes, like district heating, instead of just wasting it.

Subsidies, External Costs, and Deadweight Loss

Knowledge Problem • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
💼 Business Energy Tax policy Market Dynamics Subsidies Political Economy
  1. Understanding economic analyses of power markets is crucial for applied economics.
  2. Federal subsidies for wind and solar impact wholesale power markets by creating inefficiencies and distorting outcomes.
  3. Tax credits like the PTC/ITC are costly ways to encourage renewable energy generation, and a carbon tax might be more efficient.

Heart Attack Keto: Rebound

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Weight Loss Energy Carbohydrates Ketosis
  1. Refeeding syndrome can occur after a period of no carbs, causing symptoms like exhaustion and lethargy.
  2. Unexpected weight fluctuations can happen when transitioning from a low-carb diet, often involving regaining and losing water weight.
  3. Maintaining ketosis may not always result in the same energy boost for everyone, as energy levels can vary based on individual reactions to carbohydrate intake.

X-change: Cars

Renewable Revolution • 39 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Automotive Electric Vehicles Sustainability Innovation Energy
  1. Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing rapidly, with predictions that they will dominate car sales by 2030. The demand for gas-powered cars is dropping fast.
  2. The cost of owning EVs is becoming similar to gas cars because battery prices are falling. This makes EVs more accessible to more people in different countries.
  3. Even though there are challenges like needing better charging networks, the transition to EVs is happening quickly. Companies are investing heavily in technology and infrastructure to support this change.

Compilation Post 2

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science AI Climate Population Medicine Energy
  1. The AI industry is rapidly evolving and impacting various sectors, with a rise in incidents of misuse and growing demand for AI-related skills.
  2. Different perspectives on regulating AI and the importance of considering equilibrium and feedback mechanisms in AI development.
  3. Climate and energy topics like the declining cost of cultivated meat and the impact of global warming on temperature-related deaths are being discussed.

ex150ish-3

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Exercise Weight Loss Energy Mental health
  1. The author shares their experience of regaining appetite and energy after a period of almost no appetite and significant weight loss.
  2. Engaging in activities like cold showers and swimming in cold water helps the author manage overheating and boosts their energy levels.
  3. Despite focusing on fixing the boat and feeling energetic, the author reflects on their weight loss journey and the impact of reintroducing carbohydrates to their diet.

Nuke My Money

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Energy Startups Investment Innovation Artificial Intelligence
  1. Big tech companies are investing heavily in nuclear energy, especially fusion technology, which aims to provide unlimited zero-carbon electricity.
  2. Helion, a startup backed by Y Combinator, has gained attention and funding from major players like OpenAI and Microsoft for its fusion power developments.
  3. Google has also joined the race by partnering with TAE Technologies, another fusion startup, to enhance it with AI and computational resources.

Circular Economy, Challenges for the Recycling and Repurposing Models

Divergent Futures • 19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Waste Management Energy Recycling Economic Models
  1. Recycling requires a lot of energy. To make recycling effective, we need to ensure we have enough energy left over for future use, not just for recycling now.
  2. Repurposing items can be costly at a large scale. It's often cheaper to produce new items because mass production is more efficient than repairing unique, broken items.
  3. The main focus should be on reducing waste, not just on conserving resources. Waste creates urgent problems like pollution and health issues, which need more attention in discussions about sustainability.

1517 Does Astronomy & Astrophysics: The Physics of Supernovas

1517 Fund • 121 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Astrophysics Physics Technology Energy
  1. Supernovas are powerful explosions from single stars that can outshine entire galaxies, impacting human understanding and progress.
  2. Advancements in astronomy and technology, like robotic telescopes and big data analysis, are revolutionizing our exploration of the universe.
  3. Nature's energy events, like neutron star mergers creating elements, are incredibly powerful and creative, shaping our world and existence.

The New Energy Economy

Equal Ventures • 178 implied HN points • 23 Aug 21
🕹 Technology Energy Renewables Tech Innovation Digital Transformation
  1. The grid is transitioning to a new energy economy that resembles the internet, with decentralized power sources and real-time supply and demand management.
  2. The future grid will be dominated by network effects, similar to how internet companies have leveraged network effects for success.
  3. Business model innovation in the energy sector is crucial for driving adoption of new energy technologies, even more so than technological advancements.

The duck is coming

GEM Energy Analytics • 39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Market Trends Solar Power Consumption
  1. The 'duck curve' shows how solar energy impacts power prices throughout the day. Prices are usually low around noon and spike in the evening.
  2. In March 2023, the duck curve was very noticeable, especially in Italy-Sardinia, where power prices varied significantly from day to night.
  3. Previous months displayed weaker effects of the duck curve, but trends are expected to become clearer as solar generation increases and power consumption decreases.