Looking to the future, the energy sector faces a series of problems that require solutions.
One is deciding how as a society we will meet the world’s energy production needs and whether those needs will continue to grow. Nuclear power has become a popular response to meet future sustainability needs. However, it also comes with challenges.
These challenges directly impact the direction in providing a robust power grid to a growing population. In addition to cost and affordability, power generation utilities must continue to serve customers while attempting upgrades and modifications. Although it is a difficult task, it must be done under the serious demands of the users themselves.
“Our customers know two things,” Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Deanna Rodriguez said at the POWERGEN International Exhibition in New Orleans. “They know when it’s turned on and when it’s turned off.”
Rodriguez said New Orleans has a different dynamic that makes it difficult to serve. Achieving high levels of resilience is often difficult in the face of affordability issues as well as frequent natural disasters. This includes hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.
After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021, Rodriguez signaled the need for a resiliency plan to ensure Entergy New Orleans can meet power demands under all conditions. She said communication has proven to be key in developing plans that focus on resilience while lowering costs and reducing carbon emissions.
“It’s expensive and requires communication,” Rodriguez said. “Cost is an important factor.”
Rodriguez’s call to communication provides a means to analyze how others in the same network have responded to their challenges. Just as Entergy New Orleans studied Florida Power & Light’s response to building resilience, other companies are networking and communicating with industry peers to develop necessary responses to grid problems. I’m trying to figure it out.
According to Todd Noe, director of nuclear technology engineering at Microsoft, the company is focused on empowering all individuals and organizations to accomplish more in their data centers. Like Entergy New Orleans, Microsoft must meet customer needs in a rotating landscape.
“Microsoft has more than 300 data centers and more than 175,000 miles of fiber around the world,” Noe said.
Noe points to specific characteristics of energy that Microsoft has identified. There are consumers, collaborators, and innovators. Although Microsoft consumes energy itself, we are committed to being a collaborator and innovator as we work to become carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030. . Microsoft believes that nuclear power is the best way to achieve resilience and sustainability goals. A path forward in providing carbon-free electricity that meets your needs.
Microsoft understands the need for collaboration and is looking to partner with power generation companies. The company actively participates in purchasing electricity and establishing technical cooperation. Noe pointed to policy advocacy as a way Microsoft is trying to make nuclear power a viable option.
“Microsoft is accelerating the advanced nuclear industry,” Nohe said. “Personally, I am proud to be part of the decarbonization effort.”
While fossil fuels remain under intense scrutiny, clean energy solutions continue to gain traction. DOE is helping advance carbon management in the power sector as companies like Microsoft seek to positively influence policy.
“Federal policy is consistent with technology,” said Bradford Crabtree, DOE assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management.
Citing the Biden administration’s goal of eliminating emissions from the power sector by 2035, Crabtree said expanding the renewable energy industry is the best path to achieving the zero emissions goal. He pointed out that there is.
“Nuclear energy will play a huge role in the future of electricity,” Crabtree said.
