Terry Virts’ Post

Complementing this piece with Adrian Gvosdev Kranz's identification of the need for nuclear power (https://lnkd.in/gidu76Mj) and reposting extended commentary below on how a nuclear strategy can become a Nahal Toosi style #omnipolicy approach where energy, economic, technological and national security imperatives can all be satisfied and reinforced. Having a world-wide nuclear energy strategy--and, as this Foreign Policy Research Institute note emphasizes, one specifically tailored for the #Indo_Pacific region, which is emerging as the global center for growth--would reinforce several different U.S. strategic imperatives. The world needs more energy, and decreasing reliance on autocratic suppliers strengthens the U.S. position. Nuclear energy helps nations meet their climate/emissions goals without requiring energy austerity that would stifle growth and productivity. Nuclear power is the only real option for countries that hope to deal with the water crisis by desalination efforts or want to power a high-speed rail system that reduces vehicles and increases connectivity. A nuclear power strategy is a way to grow exports for U.S. firms in the nuclear technology sector as well as in the mining sector. Finally, the need to protect nuclear plants and to protect the supply chains (especially for safeguarding spent fuel and securing it for processing) creates a more compelling rationale for U.S. power projection capabilities and for countries to accept or host U.S. forces.

💣 What to expect when russia visits you: "Life in the cold and the dark." 🔥 Russia´s aim appears to be to make life untenable for Ukrainians: 💡 Russia has taken out over half of Ukraine power generation Country’s #electricity capacity has dropped below 20GW, with Russian attacks causing worst blackouts since start of war. 💡 Ukraine’s domestic #energy production of about 55 gigawatts of electricity, one of the largest in Europe, has currently dropped below 20GW. ⚡ Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal: The consequences of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector are “long-term”, which means that saving power “will be part of our daily life in the years to come. Our goal is to save at all levels: from large enterprises to individual houses and apartments.” ⚡  One Ukrainian government official described Saturday’s assault as “devastating” while another said it was likely to mean that by winter residents would be spending a vast majority of their day without electricity. 👉 Ukraine’s leadership has blamed the recent destruction on insufficient air defences being provided by western allies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian missiles were able to hit Kyiv’s largest thermal power plant in April because Ukrainian forces had run out of munitions.   👉 👉 👉 "If no measures are taken, probably the population will have only two to four hours of electricity per day in January."

The Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation conference saw discussion between Ukraine and the United States planning for a future energy grid. Following Russian attacks on infrastructure, re-establishing energy security will be a critical step. https://lnkd.in/eddx8dSW

No comment on government or policy (my record on nuclear energy is pretty unambigious, see my previous posts). I just want to point out the Ontario Government created a new ministry: Ministry of Energy and Electrification Well sure, sure, EVs, Electric home heating, electrify everything, right. Except sometimes a google search is in order: "The Ministry of Energy and Electrification (Minenergo; Russian: Министерство энергетики и электрификации СССР) was a government ministry in the Soviet Union. It was the agency responsible for the Soviet Union's electricity policies. The State Committee for Power and Electrification was upgraded to ministerial status (union-republic) in 1965; changed to all-union on 17 July 1987." - Source: https://lnkd.in/emvMH7G3 Hey the Ontario Flag is a big banner with a Union cross in the upper left and the coat of arms in the center, why not get rid of the coat of arms and replace the union cross with a nice yellow hammer and sickle?

In the #DOE building today - it’s time to refocus the expansion of our our electric energy portfolio on #enhancedgeothermal and #advancedgeothermal. Solar and wind are cheap, but they do not enhance our energy supply in a way consistent with national security. They have become cheap only after $100bn in subsidies reduced their costs by 70-95% over two decades, with much of those tax dollars going in subsidies to Chinese manufacturers. Enhanced geothermal is a better complement to hydrocarbons and nuclear by doing things solar and wind cannot, like providing baseload, 24/7/365, fuel-free, carbon free, foreign supply chain-free, habitat-loss free, animal mortality- free, national security-reinforcing energy supplies. #Fervo, #Sage, #Eavor, #teverra, #quaiseenergy and others are proving the tech is real and #geothermalrising is real. #DOD and #Defenseinnovationunit, #afwerx are leading the way and #USCongress and #Energyandcommerce should lead on bringing 100% #madeinusa energy. Shout out to Ken Wisian Ph.D., Major General USAF (ret) Jamie Beard Charles Gertler Michael O'Connor #RussFulcher #JamesRisch, ##Mikelee and so many others for advancing the ball. Read the full story in the #geothermalliftoffreport here: https://lnkd.in/eCjmgWx8

The EU Commissioner for #Energy Kadri Simson proposes six actions to "blunt the impact of Russia’s deliberate destruction of infrastructure": 👉 1) repair and reactivate damaged power and heating facilities where possible 👉 2) transfer the largest possible number of small-scale decentralised generators 👉 3) solar rooftop photovoltaic systems deployed as fast as possible 👉 4) expand volume of electricity that can be exported to Ukraine 👉 5) expand interconnection capacity at the borders 👉 6) strengthen passive defence of energy infrastructure and air defence around critical installations Nice and very useful. My proposal for a more complex and longer term approach would be: 👉 1) All of the above plus: ☝ 2) Not passive but active #defence so that Ukraine can strike military targets in russia ☝ 3) #MakeRussiaPay - use the frozen assets ☝ 4) Enforce #sanctions and stop importing russian #fossilfuels ☝ 5) Maximum support to #energyefficiency and #renewables both in Ukraine and the EU ☝ 6) Work hard to get Ukraine into the #EU and #NATO What do you think? https://lnkd.in/ei836zvx

The ongoing war has exposed vulnerabilities in Ukraine's traditional #energy infrastructure, which heavily relied on Russian imports. Rebuilding the old Soviet-era system isn't viable. Instead, clean energy, smart grids and #microgrids present a secure, #sustainable alternative. These localized energy systems offer resilience against military risks and can operate independently or alongside the primary grid, ensuring energy security even in the face of threats. Explore more on microgrids and their benefits on The Energy Transition Blog. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung https://lnkd.in/ea2R5yrF

In light of the warnings by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister during UNGA in New York that renewed Russian missile attacks against Ukraine’s nuclear energy system may be imminent, the statement below is rather worrying: “The high-voltage open switch yards at nuclear power plants that offload electricity into the grid are particularly vulnerable. Neither Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy nor Energoatom, which operates the nuclear plants, have adequately addressed the protection of these critical points. Any attack on these substations could be devastating, as nuclear plants now provide up to 70% of Ukraine’s electricity generation. If these substations are hit, the consequences for the grid could be severe.” If true, it would be very useful to understand which construction works Energoatom has financed in 2023 - which apparently enjoyed a higher priority than the physical protection of the switch yards of the operating nuclear power plants.

My latest for the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) sums up Ukraine's current situation, with an eye to the energy sector. The short of it: Ukraine needs support, and fast. https://lnkd.in/gVdX34cA

Two years since Russia's unjustified invasion, the U.S. Department of Energy continues to stand with Ukraine. Through our support for grid enhancements and expansion of renewable energy sources, we are improving energy security for Ukraine and our European allies.