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Can the Electric Grid Handle EV Charging?

Union of Concerned Scientists

As the adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses gains momentum, many people are wondering if the electric grid is up to the task of charging all of those vehicles. And will the grid be able to handle all of the electric vehicles we will have as we progress toward a highly-electrified transportation future, by say 2040 or 2050?

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Extreme Heat Makes Electricity More Expensive, More Polluting, and Less Reliable

Union of Concerned Scientists

But extreme heat also hits our electricity system in ways that make it more expensive, more polluting, and less reliable. Extreme heat means more expensive electricity Extreme heat can sharply increase electricity consumption as people turn up their air conditioners for relief. Here’s how. That’s the supply part.

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Rural Drivers vs. Disinformation: Three Facts about Electric Vehicles to Set the Record Straight

Union of Concerned Scientists

Availability has also increased , with many auto dealers offering a wide range of new and more affordable electric passenger car and pick-up truck models. Disinformation and misconceptions about electric vehicles are a major reason for this lag. some essential facts about electric vehicles in rural areas.

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Danger Season Heat Is on–It’s Past Time to Act

Union of Concerned Scientists

We would run around all day until we finally needed to cool off, which meant we would go to whoever’s house had the most sodas, ice cream, or popsicles. Just last week I went without electricity and air conditioning for over 8 hours on a day when the heat index reached over 105°F. Without electricity, our home reached 87°F.

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Can the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Avoid a Major Disaster?

Union of Concerned Scientists

It has been reported that on August 25, the plant temporarily lost all of its off-site electrical power from the grid, which is essential for its safe operation, forcing it to rely on on-site backup power. That could lead to loss of the cooling ponds, which are needed to cool the plant’s diesel generators, enabling them to function.

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Five Things the “Nuclear Bros” Don’t Want You to Know About Small Modular Reactors

Union of Concerned Scientists

SMRs are nuclear reactors that are “small” (defined as 300 megawatts of electrical power or less), can be largely assembled in a centralized facility, and would be installed in a modular fashion at power generation sites. What are SMRs? Some proposed SMRs are so tiny (20 megawatts or less) that they are called “micro” reactors.

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Solar farms keep the neighbourhood cool, inspecting solar panels in broad daylight

Physics World

As the area of land covered by solar panels increases, have you ever wondered if converting all that solar energy into electricity is affecting the local environment? Both solar farms created “cool islands” that extended about 700 m from the perimeters of the facilities. You can read more about the imaging system here.

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