Paving the Way To a Clean Energy Future

News You Can Use from the NosTerra Energy Team

As we prepare for our in-person event with Noon Energy CEO Chris Graves (more about that here), we wanted to share with you some of the news we’ve been reading, to get you excited about what’s happening in the field of clean energy innovation. Here are four interesting reads we recommend!

This straightforward article leads with a Sankey diagram created by Lawrence Livermore National Labs and it’s a wealth of information. It shows that in the U.S. only about 1/3 of the energy that is put into the system, whether it’s petroleum, solar or wind power, gets used — the rest of the energy is wasted (or “rejected” as the large gray box on the diagram labels it). The numbers are even worse in the transportation sector, where just over 1/5 of the energy put into the system results in work. The rest is burned off primarily as waste heat. 

Just imagine what would happen if we could radically improve the efficiency of our energy systems. 

Well, a clean electricity grid can do that, and we envision two major paradigm shifts that will occur if we can electrify our energy markets: 

• We can commoditize energy and make a dramatic positive impact on the geo-politics of the world.
• We can increase the efficiency of the electricity network while significantly reducing wasted energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

Commoditizing energy is a key step towards lowering the cost of energy and setting us on the path to more abundant clean energy. We believe that increasing the generation of clean power will be critical for future applications, including desalinating of our water supply, carbon capture and sequestration, and driving our economy to a higher level.

The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think

You can get a dose of climate optimism in this story . From major auto-makers to how we cool our homes, the U.S. is rapidly shifting towards carbon-free energy sources, as the price of renewable power continues to drop. “About two-thirds of the new investment in clean energy is in Republican-controlled states, where policymakers have historically resisted renewables,” the authors write. “But with each passing month, the politics seem to matter less than the economics.”

At NosTerra, we strongly support market-based approaches as we transition to a clean energy future, but we also think we’re likely behind on our climate goals. Our work remains cut out for us: to transform our energy systems we need to act with efficient focus and fund the areas that have the greatest impact on our energy transformation, including expanding the electricity power grid and increasing its reliability and resiliency.

Psst…speaking of good news, don’t miss our event on innovations in battery technology with Noon Energy on Sept. 11. You can RSVP now or scroll to the end of this article to read more.

So, what’s up with these alternative fuels?

Hydrogen: In this report, two scientists working for the Environmental Defense Fund also cast their votes for electrification. According to Eriko Shrestha and Tianyi Sun , using green or blue hydrogen in home heating or road transportation requires, on average, “three to seven times more energy” than simply going electric.

Methanol and Ammonia: This story by reporter Michael Barnard analyzes whether these fuels could help the maritime shipping industry, but finds that “in sales pitches for methanol and ammonia for maritime fuels, the numbers don’t add up, and the omissions are glaring.”

Spotlight on Innovation: Noon Energy

LIVE EVENT: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, 6-8 p.m.

Want to hear more about what’s cutting edge in the clean energy sector? Join us for our next in-person talk with a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who’s innovating on battery technology for long-term electricity storage. The trailblazing Noon Energy CEO Chris Graves will speak at NosTerra's Menlo Park headquarters on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. Noon's compact battery technology uses the same carbon-oxygen chemistry that plants use in photosynthesis, eliminating the need for mining precious metals for energy storage. 

We are energized to be contributing to this sector. Please join us and RSVP here!