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Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Power Grid/Wildfire Nexus: Using Gis And Satellite Remote Sensing To Identify Vulnerabilities, Alyssa Farnes, Keith Weber, Cassie Koerner, Kathy Araújo, Christopher Forsgren
The Power Grid/Wildfire Nexus: Using Gis And Satellite Remote Sensing To Identify Vulnerabilities, Alyssa Farnes, Keith Weber, Cassie Koerner, Kathy Araújo, Christopher Forsgren
CAES Energy Policy Institute Faculty Publications and Presentations
The effects of wildfire on the power grid are a recurring concern for utility companies who need reliable information about where to prioritize infrastructure hardening. Though there are existing data layers that provide measures of burn probability, these models predominately consider long-term climate variables, which are not helpful when analyzing current season trends. Utility companies need data that are temporally and locally relevant. To determine the primary drivers of burn probability relative to power grid vulnerability, this study assessed potential wildfire drivers that are both readily accessible and regularly updated. Two study areas in Idaho, USA with contrasting burn probabilities …
Participatory Democracy In Dynamic Contexts: A Review Of Regional Transmission Organization Governance In The United States, Stephanie Lenhart, Dalten Fox
Participatory Democracy In Dynamic Contexts: A Review Of Regional Transmission Organization Governance In The United States, Stephanie Lenhart, Dalten Fox
CAES Energy Policy Institute Faculty Publications and Presentations
In the United States, electricity law delineates authority across federal and state jurisdictions, yet many essential electricity system functions are organized at a regional-scale. Seven regional transmission organizations (RTOs) ensure open access to transmission, manage wholesale electricity markets, and maintain transmission system reliability. Each RTO has distinct decision-making processes that emerged from political negotiations and regional contexts. Drawing on participatory governance and institutional design literature, the paper compares RTOs across governance structures and participatory and power dimensions. This research increases the visibility of the existing balance of power in RTO governance, assesses the public interest accountability of current designs, and …
Structural Power In Sustainability Transitions: Case Studies Of Energy Storage Integration Into Regional Transmission Organization Decision Processes, Stephanie Lenhart, Dalten Fox
Structural Power In Sustainability Transitions: Case Studies Of Energy Storage Integration Into Regional Transmission Organization Decision Processes, Stephanie Lenhart, Dalten Fox
CAES Energy Policy Institute Faculty Publications and Presentations
Highly technical rules for regional electricity markets shape opportunities for new technologies and the pace of transition to a cleaner and more distributed power system. We compare three case studies of regional transmission organizations and identify common mechanisms that describe the relationship between institutional design and administrative policy decisions. We compare industry actors, old and new, across these case studies to better understand structural power and institutional stability through four mechanisms drawn from the literature: (1) self-reinforcing interests, (2) participation in and position of groups, (3) influence over communication and information, and (4) control over problem framing and pace of …
Cyber Security For Microreactors In Advanced Energy Systems, Piyush Sabharwall, James Gibb, Christopher Ritter, Kathleen Araújo, Abhinav Gupta, Ian Ferguson, Bri Rolston, Ron Fisher, Jess Gehin, Youssef Ballout
Cyber Security For Microreactors In Advanced Energy Systems, Piyush Sabharwall, James Gibb, Christopher Ritter, Kathleen Araújo, Abhinav Gupta, Ian Ferguson, Bri Rolston, Ron Fisher, Jess Gehin, Youssef Ballout
CAES Energy Policy Institute Faculty Publications and Presentations
Demand for clean and resilient energy has led to new and advancing frontiers of energy development in nuclear technology, specifically in the development of microreactors. These miniaturised modular reactors are generally < 20 megawatts thermal (MWt) or 10 megawatts electric (MWe) and offer new opportunities to meet energy needs in remote locations and mobile operations. As with the slightly larger small modular reactors (< 300 MWe), microreactor development must demonstrate security and safety, as well as economic competitiveness, to be seen as potential opportunities for new applications. Current research focuses on passive safety features, capital costs, reliability, semi-autonomous or autonomous control, cyber informed design, digital twins and non-proliferation. This paper focuses specifically on microreactor cyber informed design and cyber risk. An overview of microreactor technology provides a basis for examining the cyber nuclear playing field, with an emphasis on the USA. Frameworks for evaluating cyber security threats, and thereby designing for them, are reviewed. Recommendations follow with ideas for future research.