Up Next
Back to Show
Energy Switch
Electric Grid Reliability
Season 4
Episode 9
Everything in the modern world relies on the electric grid. To keep the grid reliable, system operators order electricity from dispatchable generation, like coal, gas, hydro and nuclear, to balance intermittent generation, like wind and solar. Together, these must meet our enormous electricity demand, which varies by the second. It’s a hugely complicated task, and it's facing real challenges.
Support Provided By
26:46
The potential and risks of injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to cool the planet.
26:46
Capturing landfill gas and using digesters and gasifiers to make methane and biochar.
26:46
Plastic and other pollution, sea level rise, coastal erosion and potential solutions.
26:46
Can the US overcome budget, schedule, capital, industry and supply chain challenges?
26:46
How forests and other plants absorb one-quarter of human-emitted CO2 each year.
26:46
The global importance of the region’s oil, and its moves to diversify into other energies.
26:46
Experts debate the future of solar and wind energy, with surprising takeaways.
26:46
Can we have abundance with less environmental impact? Or must we reduce consumption?