The "Official" 2020 Energy Twitter
Ultimate Thread of Threads

[2020 was a long year, with long threads.]
Here are the Top 100 threads... 1/102

#energytwitter #climatetwitter
Thread #1 of 100- In January, @hausfath and @Peters_Glen talked about the short comings of RCP8.5 in their Nature paper. A great overview of climate sensitivity, with a damning quote- "The world also doesn't end in 2100, even though most of our models do." https://twitter.com/hausfath/status/1222581640058114048?s=20
Thread #2 of 100- In February, @gnievchenko wrote the first of his 2-part series on the #hydrogen economy. Here Gniewomir lays out the case for competing with fossil fuel H2 through increasing yearly #curtailment & electrolyzer CAPEX reduction https://twitter.com/gnievchenko/status/1229760320555638787?s=20
Thread #3 of 100- In March, the world faced a #COVID19 pandemic and @gilbeaq wrote about the impact on global crude #oil prices. Alex talks about the result of the collapse of Saudi-Russia deal and low oil prices/ a shifting demand profile. #WTI #energy https://twitter.com/gilbeaq/status/1237015245262118912?s=20
Thread #4 of 100- In April, as #COVID19 caused mass #quarantine , @Adam_S_James conducted analysis of this new normal's impact on load profiles. From CAISO to ERCOT, electricity consumption changed drastically. Adam talks about everything LNG to Triscuits. https://twitter.com/Adam_S_James/status/1248368929514369024?s=20
Thread #5 of 100- In May, addressing talks on T&D cost trends, @RobertFares took a look at rising transmission maintenance costs (from FERC Form 1 data). Little did Robert know at the time there would be apocalyptic #California #wildfires next month... https://twitter.com/RobertFares/status/1267162052797267969?s=20
Thread #6 of 100- In June, @Silvio_Marcacci wrote an important piece in Forbes about plunging #wind, #solar, #storage prices, with a focus on technology-neutral policies to get to a 90% clean energy solution: refinance coal debt to reform wholesale markets https://twitter.com/Silvio_Marcacci/status/1270392389597716480?s=20
Thread #7 of 100- However Silvio wasn't the only one to notice. In July, @JesseJenkins talked about declining costs in his paper w/ @dhariksm & @nsepulvedam. Of particular interest is the economically justifiable storage deployment (%) vs. VRE generation. https://twitter.com/JesseJenkins/status/1283774939863056384?s=20
Thread #8 of 100- In August, @DrewSmithee finally explained to us the difference between reserve margin and operating margin. Smithee's style is sharp and unfiltered, like eating coffee grinds out of a bag. But I love his comparisons between ERCOT and PJM. https://twitter.com/DrewSmithee/status/1296308191572242432?s=20
Thread #9 of 100- in September, @CostaSamaras flexed his storytelling ability & intellect on #decarbonization of transit. The interplay of #electrification, VMT, and load factor are like three protagonists in a tragic comedy with Costa as The Bard. https://twitter.com/CostaSamaras/status/1306066319129878529?s=20
Thread #10 of 100- in October, @TimMLatimer did a deep dive into binary cycle #geothermal plants. "There is enough heat at binary cycle temperatures (<200C) to power the entire US, over 1,000 GW in just the shallowest 3 miles alone". https://twitter.com/TimMLatimer/status/1320867718980112385?s=20
Thread #11 of 100- in November, @leahstokes started a silver-linings-on- #climate thread. In a year that jumped from one crisis to the next, her thread is a ray of optimism on renewed attention to climate policy from Phoenix to Pennsylvania! https://twitter.com/leahstokes/status/1324035988709122049?s=20
Thread #12 of 100- in January, @CaitlinMcCoy_ focused on two pieces of regulatory reform: (1) Safer Affordable Fuel Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule & (2) new NEPA regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality. Here Caitlin dives into the latter! https://twitter.com/CaitlinMcCoy_/status/1284126954845810697?s=20
Thread #13 of 100- in January, @MaryHeglar, a phenomenal writer and brilliant mind, talked about her 7 favorite climate pieces from the previous year. I'd recommend re-reading her suggestions- two favorites are @jnoisecat & @aruna_sekhar's articles. https://twitter.com/MaryHeglar/status/1212516646683922433?s=20
Thread #14 of 100- in October, @solar_chase wrote her annual "Opinions on #solar" thread. Jenny's style is straight and to the point, which I admire. She also makes sure to keep a global perspective on solar - covering 42 countries in 2017! Please read: https://twitter.com/solar_chase/status/1317801426534486018?s=20
Thread #15 of 100- in April, @shaylekann responded to @pmarca's "Time to Build" article with a "What to Build" #climate thread. Shayle develops a great blueprint with ideas ranging from a zero-carbon electric grid to carbon transparency on products! https://twitter.com/shaylekann/status/1251910786668064771?s=20
Thread #16 of 100- In March, @AmyJaffeenergy explained to us why low #oil prices are different with coronavirus. Amy predicted that reduced travel/ consumption will lower the bottom due to fewer freight/commuter miles traveled. $WTI $XOM $CVX $BP https://twitter.com/AmyJaffeenergy/status/1236643349756555265?s=20
Thread #17 of 100- in May, @ramez wrote a great piece for ultra-low #solar prices. Why is this happening? Ramez says it's due to 1.) learning rate (Wright's Law) 2.) doubling of scale which results in percentage drop in cost. The Naam 2011 forecasts > IEA. https://twitter.com/ramez/status/1261011825354657792?s=20
Thread #18 of 100- in September, @SilaGene and @Gleb_Yushin wrote an excellent white paper about the future of #batteries and #energystorage. Besides the Li-Ion tree, Gene&Gleb write on advanced cathodes (fluorides), anodes (silicon) , and electrolytes! https://twitter.com/SilaGene/status/1301197888333123586?s=20
Thread #19 of 100- in October, @joeljean9 and Patrick Brown from @NREL wrote a book on "Emerging #photovoltaic Technologies". Enjoyed Joel's section on how #solar benefits from time-varying generation rates & the part on penetration vs. LCOE (curtailment) https://twitter.com/joeljean9/status/1315045351481507840?s=20
Thread #20 of 100- in August, @noahqk wrote a paper on a new approach to carbon prices. This new "near-term to net zero" (NT2NZ) approach, estimating CO2 prices needed in the near term for consistency with a net-zero CO2 emissions target. ($34-64/ton 2025) https://twitter.com/noahqk/status/1295401966693228550?s=20
Thread #21 of 100- In September, @OmairTAhmad wrote about an agricultural revolution in Southeast Asia centered around growing resilient crops in areas increasingly impacted by #climatechange. Omair references @aparnakarthi's book on marginal farmers. https://twitter.com/OmairTAhmad/status/1308450009453531136?s=20
Thread #22 of 100- In April, @AukeHoekstra wrote an amazing analysis of why the semi-trucking market will be cornered by #electric trucks not #hydrogen ones. Auke responds to @MLiebreich / @bryworthington: electrification is feasible for 40t trucks. https://twitter.com/AukeHoekstra/status/1253989067823480832?s=20
Thread #23 of 100- in January, @emorwee wrote a piece on the #climatecrisis in her newsletter HEATED. She references @EricHolthaus 's piece in the Correspondent as well that articulates a vision for our climate future. Both are worth a read! https://twitter.com/emorwee/status/1215324453837705223?s=20
Thread #24 of 100- in August, @cleantechsonia wrote about @California_ISO and how CA's "complex, multi-layered set of institutions that oversee electricity" made them slow to act in the face of rolling #Blackouts . (Sonia's Hint: not caused by renewables) https://twitter.com/cleantechsonia/status/1296496952415268870?s=20
Thread #25 of 100- in July, @arvindpawan1's piece in @techreview on the injustice surrounding carbon border taxes caused a stir. Arvind mentioned that this "reflects the colonial practice of wealth transfer from the developing to the developed world". https://twitter.com/arvindpawan1/status/1287742738625167360?s=20
Thread #26 of 100- in July, Dr. @ayanaeliza reviewed @JoeBiden 's climate plan, showing how it builds upon Inslee's suggestion to build a Civilian Climate Corps. Addressing everything from coastal ecosystems to #environmentaljustice! https://twitter.com/ayanaeliza/status/1287437642829881345?s=20
Thread #27 of 100- in August, Congressman @SeanCasten joined the #energytwitter scene by resurfacing an old debate: is #hydrogen really a viable solution moving forward? Sean talks about round-trip efficiency, ease of storage, + H2 transport in this take! https://twitter.com/SeanCasten/status/1291443249228517376?s=20
Thread #28 of 100- In September, @DrSimEvans wrote about #China's aims for going ' #carbonneutral' by 2060. In particular (1) Xi pledged to raise China's NDC and (2) how "carbon neutrality" is ambiguous and might only refer to CO2 rather than all GHGs. https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1308429012092452865?s=20
Thread #29 of 100- in February, @JigarShahDC announced that @GenerateCapital had raised $1 Billion for clean energy investments: everything from #fuelcells to dairy digesters in Indiana! In the words of Jigar "Repeat after me: Deployment Led Innovation." https://twitter.com/JigarShahDC/status/1224697170521096198?s=20
Thread #30 of 100- In November, @AkshatRathi highlighted the importance of addressing #climatechange through the comments and congratulations of leaders around the world in response to #ELECTION2020. A green transition is on the horizon! https://twitter.com/AkshatRathi/status/1325146754078003200?s=20
Thread #31 of 100- in May, @liamdenning and @NatBullard waxed poetic about "two energy worlds colliding- one of molecules, one of electrons." In this @climate opinion piece they write about how negative oil will give rise to #clean power: https://twitter.com/NatBullard/status/1259955598961098756?s=20
Thread #32 of 100- Also in May, @colinmckerrache wrote about the findings from the @BloombergNEF 2020 #ElectricVehicle Outlook. Of particular interest is how price parity is achieved with internal combustion engines by the mid-2020s https://twitter.com/colinmckerrache/status/1263461968192520192?s=20
Thread #33 of 100- in June Dr. @S_HastingsSimon wrote a mini thread about Suncor planning for a low carbon future. The "not too distant" demand decreases for oil would also be mimicked by BP, Exxon, & the other major oil majors in the months following. https://twitter.com/S_HastingsSimon/status/1268576124583284737?s=20
Thread #34 of 100- In April @KHayhoe wrote about #COVID19's impacts on #climatechange & how short-term unsustainable changes in human behavior aren't representative of the systemic changes needed to curb cumulative emissions. https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/status/1246474172647251974?s=20
Thread #35 of 100- in August, @pfairley wrote about Josh Novacheck's $1.6M @NREL study to determine whether uniting America’s big grids would pay & the Trump administration's attempts to end it, ultimately leading to the #freeseams movement. https://twitter.com/pfairley/status/1296486345041379329?s=20
Thread #36 of 100- in October, @GernotWagner wrote an article on Biden's #Climate Plan, citing @dcullenward's new policy book as reference. While Gernot shows how the plan addresses labor and CO₂ cuts, the plan tiptoes around the topic of #carbon pricing. https://twitter.com/GernotWagner/status/1319609182937546752?s=20
Thread #37 of 100- in November, @MichaelWWara wrote about the impacts of a split senate on climate and #energy policy. Of specific interest are appointments to FERC to replace @FERChatterjee. Mike:"A working majority of four commissioners could do a lot." https://twitter.com/MichaelWWara/status/1324125451523039232?s=20
Thread #38 of 100- in February, @mmildenberger wrote a new book called "Carbon Captured". Matto talks about "double representation"-saying that no matter whether the left or right has been in power, industrial labor or industrial capital has had the reigns https://twitter.com/mmildenberger/status/1230154339223654402?s=20
Thread #39 of 100- in October, @HirokoTabuchi and @jswatz wrote a piece on Judge Barrett and the impacts on climate change policy. By calling her views not relevant to the position, this put into question her impact on climate policy for decades to come. https://twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/status/1317126616221351940?s=20
Thread #40 of 100- in August, @drvox wrote about a new group called @rewiringamerica led by @adlaskey and Saul Griffith focusing on #electrifyeverything and decarbonization by 2035. Electrification would mean 20M jobs and allow for 70% reduction in GHGs. https://twitter.com/drvox/status/1291376805904101377?s=20
Thread #41 of 100- In September, @apgoldst and @l_diaz_anadon published a Nature paper on @ARPAE. Key finding: Startups funded by ARPA-E produce 2x patents as those without that funding, however the business outcomes were no better. #valleyofdeath https://twitter.com/apgoldst/status/1305572849323737094?s=20
Thread #42 of 100- In October, @Ed_Crooks wrote a fascinating thread on the history of #oil refinement and the techniques employed by Persian alchemist al-Razi. Clay is used as a catalyst for hydrocracking, a breakthrough! https://twitter.com/Ed_Crooks/status/1322640443516006400?s=20
Thread #43 of 100- in June, @mateosfo wrote a thread on how the physical environment underpins racism: the need for zero-carbon infrastructure, addressing housing, and modes of transport. https://twitter.com/mateosfo/status/1275164057436327939?s=20
Thread #44 of 100- in October, @emilygrubert wrote a fascinating thread on #coal demise and consequences in the Powder River Basin (PRB): environmental liability discharge, layoffs, huge remediation burdens, and less competent operators taking over assets. https://twitter.com/emilygrubert/status/1313131703347552256?s=20
Thread #45 of 100- in August, @Kanikachawla8 wrote an excellent article about how India's highly import-dependent #solar sector could be collateral damage in rising India-China tensions. Fun fact: 80% of India's solar cells/modules are imported from China. https://twitter.com/Kanikachawla8/status/1289565356843864064?s=20
Thread #46 of 100- in May, @RichardMNephew wrote about the Iran #nuclear deal and the impact of the US walking away from the JCPOA. As part of Global Zero, Richard talks about how we avoid blundering towards nuclear chaos. https://twitter.com/RichardMNephew/status/1257666342917795840?s=20
Thread #47 of 100- In April, @Sonia_Yeh published a Nature paper analyzing the GHG intensity of transport. Sonia says we must reduce travel distance and have policy interventions to increase vehicle occupancy. Energy intensity ~ (vehicle capacity)^(-1). https://twitter.com/Sonia_Yeh/status/1252293735167275008?s=20
Thread #48 of 100- In September, @chrisnelder 's @TransitionShow podcast (a great energy pod for those interested) celebrated their 5 year anniversary. Of particular interest is at 16:30 when @jgkoomey talks about spreading & reducing load via EV charging. https://twitter.com/chrisnelder/status/1306287527326896128?s=20
Thread #49 of 100- In March, @SimonLLewis wrote a Nature paper where he took 1 million tree diameter measurements and showed that ability of intact tropical forests (no logging, fire, etc) to remove carbon from the atmosphere is in decline. https://twitter.com/SimonLLewis/status/1235945787764457473?s=20
Thread #50 of 100- In September, @vsiv and @ColumbiaUEnergy launched "Energizing America": an instruction manual to triple federal funding for #cleanenergy innovation ($25B) governed by six strategic principles. Finally, doubling the DOE's funding! https://twitter.com/vsiv/status/1305832189519704065?s=20
Thread #51 of 100- In January, @joshdr83 @MichaelEWebber @samc_johnson wrote a paper on how adding more #renewables to the grid can lower system rotational inertia. This will lower frequency (<60Hz US) & force generators to disconnect. So trouble? Read on! https://twitter.com/joshdr83/status/1220888097597952002?s=20
Thread #52 of 100- In September, @Lijing_Cheng @MichaelEMann and @jfasullo examined salinity change to estimate water cycle change.With this IAP salinity product, Lijing shows how salinity contrast-‘fresh gets fresher, salty gets saltier’-is human induced. https://twitter.com/Lijing_Cheng/status/1303651384282161153?s=20
Thread #53 of 100- in August, @WPSchill wrote a commentary piece to illustrate how the use of #EnergyStorage shifts from (a) storing excess renewable energy to (b) providing residual positive load as we increase renewable penetration. Check out his RLDC's! https://twitter.com/WPSchill/status/1298362914970247174?s=20
Thread #54 of 100- in August, @burgersb and @FormEnergyInc released Formware. Scott examines whether aqueous-air long duration energy storage (LODES) could economically match/replace NY peaker plants 1:1, hour-by-hour ops. The analysis is impressive! https://twitter.com/burgersb/status/1292894355053850624?s=20
Thread #55 of 100- in September, @fneum_ looked at how the capacities of each technology ( #solar & #wind) can deviate if the costs are epsilon % away from the optimum in a Euro power system model: minor cost deviations ~ many near-optimal alternatives! https://twitter.com/fneum_/status/1308728435787866113?s=20
Thread #56 of 100- In May, @JavierBlas wrote an interesting piece on how US & Canada combined shut-ins were higher than EIA had forecasted. Why? Bakke & Alaska reduction (600k b/d). Impact? Shift to a just-in-time market for North America. #OOTT https://twitter.com/JavierBlas/status/1262708736654704641?s=20
Thread #57 of 100- After #batteryday in September, @skorusARK of @ARKInvest wrote a thread on $TSLA competitive advantage in the battery space & Wright's Law. Tesla had a historic year & joined the S&P 500, no signs of stopping ($/kWh reduction & output)! https://twitter.com/skorusARK/status/1309225390494420996?s=20
Thread #58 of 100- In October, @VibrantCE @DrChrisClack @achoukulkar released a study on how #wind power capacity factors increase with taller hub heights. This was just one part of several studies ranging from solar trackers to #HVDC transmission lines! https://twitter.com/VibrantCE/status/1321224396967682049?s=20
Thread #59 of 100- in April, @RogerDiwan explored a unique phenomenon: negative oil prices. How? Roger explains how future traders holding this contract could not resell the contract & had no place to store the crude they purchased. A dire market for $WTI! https://twitter.com/RogerDiwan/status/1252324705291374592?s=20
Thread #60 of 100- in May, @ElephantEating asked which is faster- tech progress or revenue degradation for wind/solar? Eric walks us through his assumptions for economic capacity & learning rates (%) for both #wind & #solar to analyze abatement costs. https://twitter.com/ElephantEating/status/1256231129830621185?s=20
Thread #61 of 100- in September, @dog4climate wrote a great thread on #sb100 modeling. Maya evaluates the 100% zero-carbon electricity policy both for retail and for all agencies for this joint agency report between CEC, CPUC, and CARB. https://twitter.com/dog4climate/status/1301188191030882305?s=20
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