Energy Central

Episode #15: "Why Utilities Need Digital Twins" with Brent Jensen of Bentley and Wayne Dias of Siemens - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

This week, Energy Central brings you a special conversation about the digitalization of the utility sector and the imperative role that digital twin technology will play in this industry evolution. Host DW Keefer and Producer Matt Chester are joined in the podcast booth by Brent Jensen, Sales Engagement Director with Bentley Systems, and Wayne Dias, U.S. Product Manager for PSS Sincal from Siemens. Through this engaging and spirited conversation, Brent and Wayne detail the inevitable changes that utility leaders must recognize are going on and argue for why digital twin should be a core focus for all areas of these power providers moving forward.

Brent and Wayne break down this complex topic to make their compelling arguments in a way that allows all to understand the importance, whether this is the first you’re hearing of the digital twin or if you’re knee-deep in the digitalization process. By the end of this episode, you’ll be eagerly seeking out the decision-makers at your organization to pass on the argument for digital twins yourself.

A special thanks to Bentley Systems for supporting this edition of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast.

Key Links:

Energy Central Post for Episode: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-special-edition-digital-twins-critical

Brent Jensen’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/256068

Wayne Dias’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/256215

Bentley Systems on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/o/bentley

The latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast sees Jason Price and Matt Chester joined by Will Gorman, a graduate student researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to discuss a recently published paper that studied the motivations and installation trends of hybrid generation-plus-battery projects across the U.S. grid system. Battery prices have been steadily decreasing and new “hybrid” power plants have been taking advantage by adding on-site energy storage to new and existing wind and solar energy installations.

This trend is being seen across the country, so there’s no doubt that the popularity of such hybrid power plants is growing, but what Will and his cohorts at LBNL were eager to analyze was why these power plants were popping up more and more. Was this a case of technology becoming viable and solving a problem? Were the availability of investment tax credits (ITCs) artificially making these projects appealing? And will co-locating batteries and generating units continue to be seen as a potentially optimal and efficient solution? Listen to this engaging conversation with Will to learn the answers to some of these questions and more on this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast!

Key Links:
Will Gorman’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/238776

Motivations and options for deploying hybrid generator-plus-battery projects within the bulk power system: https://energycentral.com/c/gn/motivations-and-options-deploying-hybrid-generator-plus-battery-projects-within

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/gn/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-14-%E2%80%98hybrid-generation-storage-key-efficiency

On this week’s episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, Jason Price and Matt Chester welcome to the show John Armstrong, Head of City Energy at E.ON. John’s experience in the utility industry and his passion for decarbonizing the energy sector brought him to Energy Central where he’s shared many insightful and compelling posts on the future of energy. While many may focus on the generation of power in a clean way, John has pushed forward some intriguing ideas about creating the green fuels of tomorrow.

Specifically, John’s recent article on ammonia as the clean fuel of the future generated immense interest within the Energy Central community. While hydrogen is often discussed as the futuristic fuel type and energy storage method that can help decarbonize our energy and heating systems, John argues that taking it a step further to green ammonia can really open up a new plethora of doors for the energy transition. John’s vast experience and clear explanation of otherwise complex topics make him a stellar podcast guest, so you won’t want to miss this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast!

Key Links:
John Armstrong’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/236301/about

Could ‘dirty’ Ammonia be the clean fuel of the future? https://energycentral.com/c/ec/could-%E2%80%98dirty%E2%80%99-ammonia-be-clean-fuel-future

Hydrogen may be a bit like Marmite – but love it or hate it..it’s probably going to happen: https://energycentral.com/c/um/hydrogen-may-be-bit-marmite-%E2%80%93-love-it-or-hate-it-its-probably-going-happen

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-13-%E2%80%98can-green-hydrogen-lead-us-green-ammonia%E2%80%99

This week on the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, Jason Price and Matt Chester is joined in the booth by Bill Meehan, Director of Utility Solutions at Esri. Bill is well-known to the regular Energy Central readers for his frequent posts on all things geographic information systems (GIS) and his clear drive to optimize the operations of the utility industry. In this episode, Bill shares numerous stories about how he’s seen the energy sector use GIS in new and compelling ways, as well as tales where GIS may have prevented headaches from utility executives should such solutions have been properly implemented.

In Bill’s 15 years with Esri, he’s been a clear thought leader and innovator in the field, having even authored multiple definitive books that are must-haves for the bookshelf of any GIS professional. No matter your experience level with GIS, Bill’s charismatic storytelling style will help you see the light when it comes to how powerful these technical solutions can be, so he was a no brainer as a guest on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast!

Key Links:
Bill Meehan’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/360/about

Asset Management Starts with Great Data: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/asset-management-starts-great-data

Stanley’s Leaning Pole: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/stanley%E2%80%99s-leaning-pole

Shred All Those Paper Maps: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/shread-all-those-old-paper-maps

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-12-%E2%80%98-unlock-modern-utility-gis

For our latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, we had the pleasure of being joined by Mitchell Beer, Managing Editor of The Energy Mix. Mitchell curates and writes on climate, energy, and the shift to a post-carbon future via this Canadian-based e-newsletter. Clearly passionate about shepherding in the types of global changes needed to meet the IPCC carbon reduction goals via individual action, political support, and international activism, Mitchell shares with us his views on everything climate. In this conversation, he helps us compare and contrast the U.S. government and Canadian government responses to pending issues, assesses how the utility industry can and should be making moves today, and breaks down what individuals can and should do in their own right.

Mitchell keeps the Energy Central and subscribers to The Energy Mix up to date on the most relevant news of the day, which keeps him rather busy, but we’re thankful he found the time to join as a guest on the Power Perspectives™ Podcast, kicking off with a question to make us step back and think outside the box when it comes to climate action: what if we’re not asking the right question regarding climate change? Dive in and listen to his compelling takes!
Note: This episode was recorded before the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we did not get a chance to discuss with Mitchell the change in priorities and overall impacts this brings about with regard to energy and climate. But if our listeners want to hear Mitchell come back as a guest to discuss these timely topics then let us know!

Key Links:
The Energy Mix’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/223551

Mitchell Beer’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/214104

Mitchell’s Tedx Talk “Climate Change: What If We’re Asking the Wrong Question?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rkDTXEOpEM

Keystone XL to Start Construction with $8 Billion in Financial Aid from Alberta: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/keystone-xl-start-construction-8-billion-financial-aid-alberta

New U.S. Energy Legislation Backs Solar, Wind and Storage, Misses Out on Efficiency, Pushes Fracked Gas Exports: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/new-us-energy-legislation-backs-solar-wind-and-storage-misses-out-efficiency

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: www.energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-11-%E2%80%98tackling-climate-change

Episode #10: ‘The Past & Future of Circuits & How GIS is Transforming the Grid, COVID-19 Response, & More’ with Pat Hohl of Esri - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

Marking the 10th episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, we are joined by Pat Hohl, the Director of Electric Industry Solutions at Esri. Pat is a prolific writer and contributor to the Energy Central community, and he shares with us how even though distribution circuits are beloved—even revered—in the utility business, the future of these building blocks of the grid are undergoing some long awaited evolution. We also hear from Pat how Esri is pushing the boundaries with geographic information systems (GIS) to open up a new world of energy industry data, as well as empowering an even wider spectrum of businesses to streamline operations, sastisfy customers, and even help track and address the COVID-19 outbreak.

Pat brings with him over three decades of experience in business and is considered to be a pioneer in leveraging GIS technology for the electric utilities. It’s no wonder his writing is so popular on Energy Central, so we knew we had to bring him in for an episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast!

Key Links:

Energy Central Post for Episode: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-10-%E2%80%98-past-future-circuits-how

Pat Hohl’s Energy Central Profile: energycentral.com/member/profile/204983/about

Three Ways Distribution Circuits Will Disappoint You - Part 1: energycentral.com/o/esri/three-way…point-you-part-1

Three Ways Distribution Circuits Will Disappoint You - Part 2: energycentral.com/o/esri/three-way…point-you-part-2

Three Ways Distribution Circuits Will Disappoint You - Part 3: energycentral.com/o/esri/three-way…point-you-part-3

Esri’s ArcGIS for COVID-19: gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdas…67b48e9ecf6

On this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, we are joined by Charles Bayless. Charles Bayless is retired after a long and esteemed career in the utility industry that took him from Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to the Climate Institute to E Source to Pike Electric and many other stops in between. But just because he’s retired doesn’t mean Charles hasn’t stayed busy, and in fact he’s taken to the Energy Central community to share his wisdom and insights on the climate crisis and what we need to do collectively to tackle this largest of challenges.

Charles shares his views on transportation, on nuclear energy, on VARS technology, and what it will take to decarbonize utilities and society generally, and his decades of experience carry much weight with them. Listen in as Charles imparts his wisdom about how it takes unreasonable people to truly change the world!

Key Links:
Charles Bayless’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/235468/about

Why Economics makes it so hard to solve Climate Change: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/why-economics-makes-it-so-hard-solve-climate-change

Ocean Acidification – The Evil Twin: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/ocean-acidification-evil-twin

Nuclear Energy – Our best weapon against Climate Change: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/nuclear-energy-our-best-weapon-against-clliamte-change

Climate Change – Physics 101: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/climate-change-physics-101

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: www.energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-9-transportation-nuclear-and

Episode #8: ‘Demand Response and Flexibility Via Residential Customers, Predictions for 2020, and More’ with Matt Duesterberg of OhmConnect - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

This week on the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, we dive into the world of on demand load shifting and the business model it supports outside of the utility space. The most typical load management strategies in the utility space involve large customers in the commercial and industrial sectors, but Matt Duesterberg and his fellow Co-Founders realized that, in aggregate, residential customers could make a huge impact as well. Not only that, but by incentivizing residential customers with direct payouts, they could create virtual power plants of negative generation. With that business model, Ohm Connect was born.

Matt joins us in this episode to discuss the success of using the demand response strategy as a business, the potential growth of this strategy outside of his backyard in California, as well as the submission he made to the Energy Central community with his personal predictions for what 2020 will bring to the energy industry. From the opportunity of big data in energy to electrification to security, we cover the gauntlet of buzzworthy topics in the utility field, so you won’t want to miss this one!

Key Links:

Energy Central Post for Episode: https://energycentral.com/c/em/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-8-%E2%80%98demand-response-and

Matt Duesterberg’s Energy Central Profile: https://www.energycentral.com/member/profile/238754

2020 Energy Forecast: What You Need to Know: https://www.energycentral.com/c/um/matts-2020-energy-predictions

Episode #7: ‘Small Modular Nuclear, Zinc Air Batteries, and Microgrids—Oh My!’ Gary Hilberg of Continuum Energy Discusses All - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

We’re thrilled to bring you this next episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, featuring another seasoned veteran of Energy Central’s network of experts. Gary Hilberg is the President of Continuum Energy and serves as an Energy Central expert in the Clean Power Group, the Digital Utility Group, and the Energy Efficiency Group. His expertise indeed stretches wide and deep, and his content submissions to the community have reflected many different areas of the utility industry that are undergoing great changes and have immense cause for excitement.

In this episode, Gary will share with us what is really behind small modular nuclear reactors and why they are poised to disrupt the generation field in the coming decade, before sharing his excitement about technologies that serve to further enhance and optimize the grid, including advanced energy storage and the power unleased due to advanced microgrids. After listening to this episode, you’ll be left for a thirst to learn more about these critical topics, and we hope that desire for information continues to bring you back to the EnergyCentral.com community.

Key Links:

Energy Central Post for Episode: https://energycentral.com/c/gn/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-7-%E2%80%98small-modular-nuclear-zinc

Washington State Intends To Be the Clean Energy State and Nuclear is Key: https://www.energycentral.com/c/cp/washington-state-intends-be-clean-energy-state-and-nuclear-key

New Rolls-Royce mini nuclear power station to be built in the North: https://www.energycentral.com/c/cp/new-rolls-royce-mini-nuclear-power-stations-be-built-north

Zin-air battery being deployed in New York aims for extremely low $45/kWh cost: https://www.energycentral.com/c/cp/zinc-air-battery-being-deployed-new-york-aims-extremely-low-45kwh-cost

Microgrids Are Quickly Becoming A Top Solution to Energy Problems: https://www.energycentral.com/news/microgrids-are-quickly-becoming-top-solution-energy-problems

After a brief hiatus, the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast returns with an innovative topic that one of our most forward-looking Energy Central experts will guide us on. As the nation's grid gets more distributed, has an increasing amount of renewables plugged into it, and experiences more and more pressure from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders to simultaneously achieve affordability, reliability, resilience, and environmental consciousness, the ways in which the capacity markets of tomorrow operate will be front and center in dictating how these goals are accomplished.

Seeking out ways to mold the future capacity markets that will create these answers, Richard Brooks (prolific Energy Central writer and registered to our network of experts for the Load Management Group and the Digital Utility Group) has been hard at work sharing his ideas and looking to leverage the Energy Central community platform to seek out ideas, feedback, and resources to accompany his proposal for the Always on Capacity Exchange. This idea is so compelling that we knew it warranted a deep dive on the latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast.

Key Links:
Richard Brooks' Energy Central Profile: https://www.energycentral.com/member/profile/225424/about

"2019 Insights: Just in Time Capacity Acquisition through an Always on Capacity Exchange (AOCE)": https://www.energycentral.com/c/em/2019-insights-just-time-capacity-acquisition-through-always-capacity-exchange

"It's time to give Traders, Energy Suppliers and Green Buyers, like Google and Budweiser, free access to Capacity Markets Nationwide": https://www.energycentral.com/c/cp/it%E2%80%99s-time-give-traders-energy-suppliers-and-green-buyers-google-and-budweiser

"Carbon Pricing on Electricity is Bad for Consumers and could slow EV adoption": https://www.energycentral.com/c/pip/carbon-pricing-electricity-bad-consumers-and-could-slow-ev-adoption

"Snowed-in and disappointed I cannot attend the 2019 NEPGA Energy Summit Today": https://www.energycentral.com/c/pip/snowed-and-disappointed-i-cannot-attend-2019-nepga-energy-summit-today

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: www.energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/c/um/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-6-%E2%80%98transforming-iso-new