sylvain gignac
@sylvaingignac.bsky.social
Energy Systems & Electric Grid + Reliability 🇨🇦
Use 🔌💡 for #energysky
Use 🔌💡 for #energysky
A direct parallel to FDR’s warning = "a nation that destroys its soils destroys itself". About the long-term costs of environmental degradation.
December 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A direct parallel to FDR’s warning = "a nation that destroys its soils destroys itself". About the long-term costs of environmental degradation.
"...power systems are evolving from large centralized generation to a multitude of diverse, distributed generation sources..." = "... a “systems” problem. It involves how all the parts of the power grid interact to maintain stability, and it requires a holistic solution." Great article
#Blackouts will continue to happen, especially given the continued changes in electric grids, writes Qing-Chang Zhong. But Virtual Synchronous Machines might be the key to keeping the lights on as we transition to a renewable future. spectrum.ieee.org/virtual-sync...
December 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
"...power systems are evolving from large centralized generation to a multitude of diverse, distributed generation sources..." = "... a “systems” problem. It involves how all the parts of the power grid interact to maintain stability, and it requires a holistic solution." Great article
EMT studies are now critical for interconnecting inverter based renewables + AI/DC loads. But model complexity is exploding just as experienced EMT engineers are retiring. We are stretched thin. Grid reliability is increasingly constrained by people, not physics.
cse.cigre.org/cse-n039/cha...
cse.cigre.org/cse-n039/cha...
Challenges faced by TSO to specify, test and integrate EMT models of IBRs to support grid stability | CSE
cse.cigre.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
EMT studies are now critical for interconnecting inverter based renewables + AI/DC loads. But model complexity is exploding just as experienced EMT engineers are retiring. We are stretched thin. Grid reliability is increasingly constrained by people, not physics.
cse.cigre.org/cse-n039/cha...
cse.cigre.org/cse-n039/cha...
If I could wish power systems a Merry Christmas: dynamic line ratings, power flow control + topology optimization which are easily deployable tools adding for real capacity and reliability. Not magic. Just using the grid we already built more intelligently.
Wind farms in Scotland are producing huge amounts of energy, but getting it flowing to London in the south is costly.
New grid-enhancing technologies allow more #power to be transferred across the UK grid, without building new power lines.
spectrum.ieee.org/grid-congest...
New grid-enhancing technologies allow more #power to be transferred across the UK grid, without building new power lines.
spectrum.ieee.org/grid-congest...
December 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
If I could wish power systems a Merry Christmas: dynamic line ratings, power flow control + topology optimization which are easily deployable tools adding for real capacity and reliability. Not magic. Just using the grid we already built more intelligently.
US DOI just announced that leases for 5 offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind, have been suspended over national security concerns = radar interference issues.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
US pauses leases for five offshore wind projects over radar concerns
The Trump administration on Monday said it suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects that are being built off the U.S. East Coast over concerns they would interfere with military ra...
www.reuters.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
US DOI just announced that leases for 5 offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind, have been suspended over national security concerns = radar interference issues.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
Amid trade tensions, a good way to attract Canadians back to US ski resorts (close to my Canadian hometown) like Jay Peak is accepting CAD to pay for half their lodging stay in CAD. Not bad when as for today a 1 USD equals 1.37 CAD.
jaypeakresort.com/resort/polic...
jaypeakresort.com/resort/polic...
Policies | Jay Peak Resort
jaypeakresort.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Amid trade tensions, a good way to attract Canadians back to US ski resorts (close to my Canadian hometown) like Jay Peak is accepting CAD to pay for half their lodging stay in CAD. Not bad when as for today a 1 USD equals 1.37 CAD.
jaypeakresort.com/resort/polic...
jaypeakresort.com/resort/polic...
Fascinating article of a CO2 battery charging by compressing / cooling CO2, storing it as a liquid, then discharging by evaporating it through a turbine = 200 MWh (20 MW for 10 h). Longer duration vs typical Li-ion BESS (4–8 h). Though Capex + Opex weren’t disclosed, just reliability wise, useful.
This giant dome in Sardinia is filled with CO2 and serves an eco-friendly purpose: to store large amounts of excess renewable energy. In 2026, more of these "CO2 Batteries" will start popping up on multiple continents. Spectrum energy editor @emwaltz.bsky.social visited and explains how it works.
This giant bubble in Sardinia stores energy for the grid. Here's how.
Google is betting big on CO2 batteries to power its data centers with clean energy.
spectrum.ieee.org
December 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Fascinating article of a CO2 battery charging by compressing / cooling CO2, storing it as a liquid, then discharging by evaporating it through a turbine = 200 MWh (20 MW for 10 h). Longer duration vs typical Li-ion BESS (4–8 h). Though Capex + Opex weren’t disclosed, just reliability wise, useful.
Good article, but AI as a nuclear justification feels like a Minsky moment in the making known only to system planners. AI load is real and operationally annoying, but nuclear timelines don’t match AI’s need for power now. Need more people knowing BPS. Depressing.
spectrum.ieee.org/80-billion-u...
spectrum.ieee.org/80-billion-u...
Can $80 Billion Transform U.S. Nuclear Energy Landscape?
How will the $80 billion nuclear deal reshape U.S. energy and AI ambitions?
spectrum.ieee.org
December 20, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Good article, but AI as a nuclear justification feels like a Minsky moment in the making known only to system planners. AI load is real and operationally annoying, but nuclear timelines don’t match AI’s need for power now. Need more people knowing BPS. Depressing.
spectrum.ieee.org/80-billion-u...
spectrum.ieee.org/80-billion-u...
Reposted by sylvain gignac
Georgia utility regulators are taking up Georgia Power's request to add an unprecedented 10,000MW to the power grid in five years.
The utility and the PSC staff reached an agreement on the major issues last week and will vote on that today
Catch up here:
www.ajc.com/news/2025/12...
The utility and the PSC staff reached an agreement on the major issues last week and will vote on that today
Catch up here:
www.ajc.com/news/2025/12...
December 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Georgia utility regulators are taking up Georgia Power's request to add an unprecedented 10,000MW to the power grid in five years.
The utility and the PSC staff reached an agreement on the major issues last week and will vote on that today
Catch up here:
www.ajc.com/news/2025/12...
The utility and the PSC staff reached an agreement on the major issues last week and will vote on that today
Catch up here:
www.ajc.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by sylvain gignac
potentially a concerning partial downside decoupling of gas and electricity inflation
i.e., when the price of gas goes up, so does electricity, when the price of gas goes down, well, electricity isn't really 🔌💡
www.gridstatus.io/insights/311...
i.e., when the price of gas goes up, so does electricity, when the price of gas goes down, well, electricity isn't really 🔌💡
www.gridstatus.io/insights/311...
Overall inflation slightly declined, but the price of energy has increased, with
Overall inflation slightly declined, but the price of energy has increased, with electricity continuing to become more expensive in America. The BLS finally issued a new CPI release following a period...
www.gridstatus.io
December 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
potentially a concerning partial downside decoupling of gas and electricity inflation
i.e., when the price of gas goes up, so does electricity, when the price of gas goes down, well, electricity isn't really 🔌💡
www.gridstatus.io/insights/311...
i.e., when the price of gas goes up, so does electricity, when the price of gas goes down, well, electricity isn't really 🔌💡
www.gridstatus.io/insights/311...
"passing the test depends on who’s judging. If a grid operator finds the power from a VPP as dependable as electricity from an actual power plant burning gas to produce electrons, then the VPP has passed." Great article on value of DERs aggregation
Are virtual power plants just as good as conventional ones at balancing electricity supply and demand? A new Turing-like litmus test helps grid operators judge. @energyhub.bsky.social @alexckaufman.bsky.social https://spectrum.ieee.org/virtual-power-plant-litmus?share_id=9088532
December 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
"passing the test depends on who’s judging. If a grid operator finds the power from a VPP as dependable as electricity from an actual power plant burning gas to produce electrons, then the VPP has passed." Great article on value of DERs aggregation
"We just published a new report showing that 1,891 power projects with a combined 266 GW of generation capacity have been cancelled in 2025—equivalent to roughly one-quarter of America's current electricity generation capacity."
www.distilled.earth/p/america-is...
www.distilled.earth/p/america-is...
America is Losing Power Projects When It Needs Them Most
Developers have cancelled 1,891 power projects this year with a combined capacity of 266 GW, with clean energy accounting for 93% of cancellations.
www.distilled.earth
December 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"We just published a new report showing that 1,891 power projects with a combined 266 GW of generation capacity have been cancelled in 2025—equivalent to roughly one-quarter of America's current electricity generation capacity."
www.distilled.earth/p/america-is...
www.distilled.earth/p/america-is...
Asked AI on BPS' reliability = so wrong. Their apologies: "My previous responses, while apologizing for the errors, lacked the direct admission that the tool failed to execute the task as requested. That is a form of misdirection, and in a professional context, it is unacceptable and dangerous."
December 13, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Asked AI on BPS' reliability = so wrong. Their apologies: "My previous responses, while apologizing for the errors, lacked the direct admission that the tool failed to execute the task as requested. That is a form of misdirection, and in a professional context, it is unacceptable and dangerous."
An unseasonably cold snap in December pushed HQ’s system near its limit, forcing it to issue two Level 2 alerts. Bad timing: peak demand hit right as turbines were down for maintenance. Often-overlooked factor that kept the lights on: power imports. Might become recurrent.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
How an early cold snap pushed Hydro-Québec's power grid to its limit | CBC News
A recent cold snap pushed Hydro-Québec's network near its limit, forcing the utility to issue two rare alerts as it scrambled to meet the surge in demand for power.
www.cbc.ca
December 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
An unseasonably cold snap in December pushed HQ’s system near its limit, forcing it to issue two Level 2 alerts. Bad timing: peak demand hit right as turbines were down for maintenance. Often-overlooked factor that kept the lights on: power imports. Might become recurrent.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Virginia creates a new rate class for loads ≥25 MW, mostly DC starting 01-01-27. Must shoulder more of the grid costs: at least 85% of contracted T&D demand and 60% of generation demand = avoiding that everyone else pays for unused capacity built for DC.
www.scc.virginia.gov/about-the-sc...
www.scc.virginia.gov/about-the-sc...
Virginia SCC - SCC Issues Order on DEV Biennial Review 2025
www.scc.virginia.gov
December 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Virginia creates a new rate class for loads ≥25 MW, mostly DC starting 01-01-27. Must shoulder more of the grid costs: at least 85% of contracted T&D demand and 60% of generation demand = avoiding that everyone else pays for unused capacity built for DC.
www.scc.virginia.gov/about-the-sc...
www.scc.virginia.gov/about-the-sc...
Good question heard today = At what point does an external AI, not its physical assets, become a functional part of grid planning or operations? If system operators increasingly rely on AI tools for forecasting, siting, topology optimization, situational awareness, and tutti quanti.
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Good question heard today = At what point does an external AI, not its physical assets, become a functional part of grid planning or operations? If system operators increasingly rely on AI tools for forecasting, siting, topology optimization, situational awareness, and tutti quanti.
"Currently, Quebec has 81 data centers. Consumption in this industry in the province is projected to increase sevenfold, giving an idea of the increase in the number and size of these server buildings over the next 10 years."
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220...
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220...
Hydro-Québec anticipe le boom des centres de données
Hydro-Québec a presque doublé sa prévision de consommation d'électricité des centres de données, avec la nouvelle vision économique du gouvernement Legault.
ici.radio-canada.ca
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
"Currently, Quebec has 81 data centers. Consumption in this industry in the province is projected to increase sevenfold, giving an idea of the increase in the number and size of these server buildings over the next 10 years."
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220...
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220...
NERC tells FERC the rapid growth of large loads = a core reliability challenge. DC/AI loads are scaling too fast to forecast + already causing disturbances. NERC stresses that AI/DC should fall under NERC’s reliability scope.
www.nerc.com/newsroom/ner...
www.nerc.com/newsroom/ner...
NERC Files Comments in Response to FERC’s Large Loads ANOPR
www.nerc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
NERC tells FERC the rapid growth of large loads = a core reliability challenge. DC/AI loads are scaling too fast to forecast + already causing disturbances. NERC stresses that AI/DC should fall under NERC’s reliability scope.
www.nerc.com/newsroom/ner...
www.nerc.com/newsroom/ner...
Great study on EGS as a game-changer for western and northern 🇨🇦. It already appears cost-competitive with other baseload options. But the real value is its flexibility, providing a backstop to variable gen and a credible CO2 free-answer to increasing energy deficits.
November 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Great study on EGS as a game-changer for western and northern 🇨🇦. It already appears cost-competitive with other baseload options. But the real value is its flexibility, providing a backstop to variable gen and a credible CO2 free-answer to increasing energy deficits.
"...the technology can also be harmful if misapplied. In one high-profile example, around 40,000 Michigan residents were wrongly accused of unemployment insurance fraud based on a state AI system with a faulty algorithm and inadequate human oversight." 🤷♂️ // power grid
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
November 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
"...the technology can also be harmful if misapplied. In one high-profile example, around 40,000 Michigan residents were wrongly accused of unemployment insurance fraud based on a state AI system with a faulty algorithm and inadequate human oversight." 🤷♂️ // power grid
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
Reposted by sylvain gignac
" ... No other country has made such a substantial recent policy U-turn in the past year, turning against renewables deployment at the same time as it is seeing electricity demand leap up thanks to data centers."
heatmap.news/energy/iea-w...
heatmap.news/energy/iea-w...
Data Centers and Natural Gas Are Bending the Climate Transition Curve, IEA Says
The group’s latest World Energy Outlook reflects the sharp swerve in U.S. policy over the past year.
heatmap.news
November 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
" ... No other country has made such a substantial recent policy U-turn in the past year, turning against renewables deployment at the same time as it is seeing electricity demand leap up thanks to data centers."
heatmap.news/energy/iea-w...
heatmap.news/energy/iea-w...
Reposted by sylvain gignac
Grid Strategies has analyzed utilities' summer peak load forecasts: an astounding 166 GW, with data centers representing 90 GW. But it cautions that the utility industry has a long history of exaggerated forecasts to justify massive investments in power plants & grid infrastructure.
November 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Grid Strategies has analyzed utilities' summer peak load forecasts: an astounding 166 GW, with data centers representing 90 GW. But it cautions that the utility industry has a long history of exaggerated forecasts to justify massive investments in power plants & grid infrastructure.
2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment = "Potential for insufficient operating reserves in normal peak conditions" If demand leads to a shortfall of generation and all operating reserves are exhausted, manual load shed may be needed to stabilize the system.
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment = "Potential for insufficient operating reserves in normal peak conditions" If demand leads to a shortfall of generation and all operating reserves are exhausted, manual load shed may be needed to stabilize the system.
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
Large computational loads are forcing a permanent shift in how we plan, model, and operate the grid. The era of predictable, passive demand is over. Recommended read for planners, ops, and AI/DC developers. I’m honestly overwhelmed by the scale of the work ahead.
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
November 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Large computational loads are forcing a permanent shift in how we plan, model, and operate the grid. The era of predictable, passive demand is over. Recommended read for planners, ops, and AI/DC developers. I’m honestly overwhelmed by the scale of the work ahead.
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
www.nerc.com/globalassets...
"Rack densities have gone from an average of 6 kilowatts per rack eight years ago to the point where racks are now shipping with 270 kW,” says David Holmes, the global industries CTO at Dell Technologies. “Next year, 480 kW will be ready, and megawatt racks will be with us within two years.”
Microfluidics: the next frontier in AI chip cooling. Explore how this technology could transform data center efficiency.
Microfluidics: The Secret to Cooler, Faster AI Chips
Microfluidics cools chips efficiently, lowering temperatures by 80 percent. How does this impact AI and high-performance computing?
spectrum.ieee.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"Rack densities have gone from an average of 6 kilowatts per rack eight years ago to the point where racks are now shipping with 270 kW,” says David Holmes, the global industries CTO at Dell Technologies. “Next year, 480 kW will be ready, and megawatt racks will be with us within two years.”