Go Green

GE Ecomagination Challenge

There is currently a challenge where people are invited to share their best ideas on how to build the next generation power grid.  The idea behind the promotion is to change the way in which the world uses energy.  Some of the best known firms are involved such as Emerald Technology, KPCB and Rockport Capital and Foundation Capital along with GE who are helping to fund the best ideas.  There are 3 different challenges so let’s take a look at these.

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy has incredible potential for us to create energy that will meet our growing need for it.  Many forms of renewable energy tend to have high variables in their output.  This is where an intelligent grid is needed, by the integration and management of renewable energy sources.  GE are developing technology that will protect the quality of the power which will compensate for voltage fluctuations and the management of output intermittency.  GE want to be able to provide the utilities with the best information about the production of energy, the transmission as well as consumption and energy system health to protect the equipment and of course to ensure reliable, safe power.  The challenge here is to find the kinds of technology or processes that will maximize the renewables into the grid.

Grid Efficiency

The United States of America should have the most efficient grid in the world, sadly they don’t.  The grid actually wastes energy all the time all day long.  The solution to this is to connect an advanced power generation to a much more intelligent grid as well as a more efficient – this then connects to consumers.  Therefore, GE is looking for different grid technologies that will help lower the losses as well as something that will anticipate and monitor the demand.  This will free up the grid capacity and this will reduce the need for infrastructure capital expenditure which means the consumers won’t have to deal with rate increases.  Customers will not be charged for wasted energy.  The challenge here is what do you think is the best way to get greater volumes in the grid efficiently and outage management.

EcoHomes/EcoBuildings

Because there is such a huge demand for energy this has created an imbalance between the supply and the demand.  This means that there is a higher cost to the customers, so what is required is to change the way in which we use energy, when we use it and how.  GE are already working on incredible technology such as smart meters as well as appliances that let you know how much power they are using with technology such as time of use pricing, renewable integration tools, wireless AMI, demand response systems, plug in hybrid electric vehicle integration and home energy use monitoring.  The challenge will be to find new technologies, business models or processes that can help a consumer to use the energy in a more efficient way to improve the balance of supply versus demand.

http://challenge.ecomagination.com/ideas?utm_source=Digg&utm_medium=Display&utm_content=42&utm_campaign=Eco%2BChallenge