December 26th, 2011
Via Freakonomics, an interesting article on the possibility of a rooftop solar “bubble” forming and the absence of a truly “smart market” for electricity generated by rooftop solar installations. As the report notes: Rooftop solar in California. (Photo: 4johnny5) Government efforts to boost affordability and expectations of unsustainably high investment returns generated a booming market […]
Read more »Brazil To Launch Environmental Exchange: Precursor To A Smart Market?
December 18th, 2011
As frequent readers know, we have oft discussed the need for smart markets to underlie smart grids and smart meter deployments. Now, via The Financial Times, we have the hint of a potential smart market – albeit on a corporate vs. individual level and in the carbon space. But, that said, it is an intriguing […]
Read more »December 13th, 2011
Via GigaOm Pro (subscription required), an interesting report on why the future of smart meters is data, not hardware. To observers of most technology and other sectors (e.g. computers, etc.) this realization of the primacy of software, content, data over hardware has long been understood. That said, the report is interesting in the comments it […]
Read more »Driving Smart Grid Uptake: Money Talks
December 1st, 2011
Two interesting and contrasting articles looking at the challenges of motivating residential customers to engage and utilize the smart grid. The first echoes a theme we have long advocated: widespread acceptance of many smart grid applications will depend upon economical incentives. Smart markets anyone? The second presents a confusing viewpoint, summarized by Alex Laskey (president […]
Read more »December 1st, 2011
Courtesy of ThomasNet News, a look at whether games and social media can help people change their energy behavior: Energy management offers obvious benefits to businesses and organizations, but retail electricity consumers seem harder to engage, even with smart-metering technologies and peak-load pricing incentives penetrating the market. The problem: Saving ten or fifteen dollars on […]
Read more »Clean & Green: The Myth Of Renewable Energy
November 26th, 2011
Via The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, an interesting article on renewable energy and the myth that wind, solar, hydro, and other sources of energy are really “clean and green”: “Clean.” “Green.” What do those words mean? When President Obama talks about “clean energy,” some people think of “clean coal” and low-carbon nuclear power, while others […]
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