(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022-11-05)
Simmons, Richard A.; Murphy, Sharon
Achieving net zero carbon emissions will require a combination of renewable energy technologies and carbon capture. Indeed, a great deal of investment has been devoted to the source side of the ledger, such as replacing fossil fuels with renewables, making combustion processes more efficient, and leveraging nuclear energy. Considerably less funding has flowed toward solving the problem of accumulating emissions in the atmosphere, for instance by capturing carbon at the point of electricity generation, or extracting carbon prior to combustion. Nonetheless, a variety of studies have shown that the lowest societal cost means of achieving net zero emissions, as well as ensuring a resilient grid, must include carbon capture. This whitepaper discusses the role of the southeast in this broader nation carbon capture landscape, particularly focusing on the question “What will be the role of Southeast region in this broader national carbon capture effort in the United States?”
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2020-10)
Farhat, Karim; Mueller, Milton L.; Schaub, Matt; Simmons, Richard A.; Murphy, Sharon
Industrial data (ID) has the potential to play a key role in finding efficiencies in energy markets and thus lower rates for
consumers. The realm of industrial data within the energy sector encompasses a broad ecosystem involving many stakeholders. This policy brief is intended to focus specifically on implications for Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs), energy service and technology providers including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), policymakers, and researchers, as well as interactions among them. Within this construct, we find that:
• IOUs could better leverage data analytics to utilize capital, natural resources, and public infrastructure more
efficiently;
• ID could lead to better alignment of incentives between utilities and policy/regulation;
• Methods to facilitate market entry for local third-party energy service providers should be explored to benefit the
regional economy and to avoid ceding leadership to foreign or out-of-state competition;
• More collaboration within the standards space and during the standards deliberation process is warranted (in
particular between OEMs and energy providers);
• ID and energy stakeholders have an obligation and opportunity to improve regulations for Critical Infrastructure
Protection (CIP) with future implications on grid cybersecurity;
• Coordination and R&D among utilities, policymakers and research institutions can enhance and accelerate
knowledge diffusion and beneficial outcomes for owners, consumers, and the environment.