“Everyone is in favor of free speech… but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.” ― Winston Churchill
A columnist in India, Subir Gokarn, has observations that might apply equally well to the United States.
“I’ve often been asked for my opinion on what the country’s sunrise sectors are. My response, at first tongue-in-cheek, but becoming more and more serious over the years, is that anybody who decides to compete against the government has a great chance of succeeding. Four activities come easily to mind…
“Equipment for private supply of electricity–generators, inverters, and so on–are needed to compensate for the inadequacies of the larger system.”How does this apply to the United States? Electricity suppy *is* done by private companies almost everywhere in the US.I do think that critical infrastructure–like the drainage pumps in New Orleans and the water supply pumps in major US cities–need to be operable without the grid, probably by direct mechanical drive from a steam or gas turbine.
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Electricity in the US is supplied by a regulated monopoly. The idea of “private” generation might mean, at least, unregulated prices. It might imagine individual contribution to the grid by private individuals (a lot of speculation on this dates from the 70’s); though local hydro/wind/etc. power has not yet proved economically competitive.As you point out, some form of point-power generation is a good idea. I think that’s where generators and inverters come in, whether your customer is the local water supplier, major Internet service provider, hospital or private individual. A fuel source of high enough energy density is an interesting problem for a turbine. Pocket nulear generators? Sounds like the beginning of a much more distributed “grid”.Admittedly, the market opportunities would seem higher in Subir Gokarn’s India.
“Equipment for private supply of electricity–generators, inverters, and so on–are needed to compensate for the inadequacies of the larger system.”How does this apply to the United States? Electricity suppy *is* done by private companies almost everywhere in the US.I do think that critical infrastructure–like the drainage pumps in New Orleans and the water supply pumps in major US cities–need to be operable without the grid, probably by direct mechanical drive from a steam or gas turbine.
Electricity in the US is supplied by a regulated monopoly. The idea of “private” generation might mean, at least, unregulated prices. It might imagine individual contribution to the grid by private individuals (a lot of speculation on this dates from the 70’s); though local hydro/wind/etc. power has not yet proved economically competitive.As you point out, some form of point-power generation is a good idea. I think that’s where generators and inverters come in, whether your customer is the local water supplier, major Internet service provider, hospital or private individual. A fuel source of high enough energy density is an interesting problem for a turbine. Pocket nulear generators? Sounds like the beginning of a much more distributed “grid”.Admittedly, the market opportunities would seem higher in Subir Gokarn’s India.