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Mike Barker 🇿🇦

@local-energy.bsky.social
110 followers 153 following 126 posts

Energy Engineer 🇿🇦 IEEE-PES.org , CIBSE, SAIEE.org.za, IBPSA.org www.linkedin.com/in/mikebarker/

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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Can South African Agriculture benefit ? Weather forecasting needed supercomputers The NVIDIA Earth-2 open models — the world’s 1st open, accelerated AI weather stack — saves time & costs, and is enabling more regions to run application-specific forecasting systems blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-...
blogs.nvidia.com
NVIDIA Launches Earth-2 Family of Open Models — the World’s First Fully Open, Accelerated Set of Models and Tools for AI Weather
NVIDIA Earth-2 makes weather AI accessible worldwide at every stage — from processing initial observation data to generating 15-day global forecasts or local storm forecasts.
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Reposted by Mike Barker 🇿🇦
Food For Mzansi @foodformzansi.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Meet Lebogang Motlhaping, the new Northern Cape agriculture MEC who’s both a leader and a farmer. He promises to strengthen departmental systems, unlock stalled projects, and work hand-in-hand with producers to secure the province’s food future.
foodformzansi.co.za
Farmer-turned-MEC vows to strengthen NC agriculture
Meet Lebogang Motlhaping, the new Northern Cape agriculture MEC who’s both a leader and a farmer. He promises to strengthen departmental systems, unlock stalled projects, and work hand-in-hand with producers to secure the province’s food future.
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Food For Mzansi @foodformzansi.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
South Africa’s agri-exports to the US reached US$536 million in 2024, signalling a robust commercial partnership. With processed goods like apple juice and ice cream leading growth, economist Buhlebemvelo Dube analyses how the Agoa extension opens opportunities for expanding value-added exports.
foodformzansi.co.za
Agoa extension a strategic win for SA’s value-added exports
South Africa’s agricultural exports to the US reached US$536 million in 2024, signalling a robust commercial partnership. With processed goods like apple juice and ice cream leading growth, economist Buhlebemvelo Dube analyses how the Agoa extension opens opportunities for expanding value-added exports.
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IEEE Xplore Digital Library @ieeexplore.ieee.org · 14/01/2026
🚀 From brain chips to moon missions, AI supercomputers, and robo-umps, IEEE Spectrum’s 2026 #TopTech issue is packed with breakthroughs worth watching in the year ahead. 🔗 loom.ly/1WB1vw4 @spectrum.ieee.org
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Tom Brown @nworbmot.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
a) we need lots of folks enabled to think about innovative ways to drive it forward faster and b) we need high levels of general involvement to enable stakeholder buy-in for all the changes it brings. Open modelling can help get more folks involved, **that** is the big selling point.
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Tom Brown @nworbmot.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Open modelling is much more about **process**, about involving existing and new stakeholders in the process of energy system planning. We don't have a perfect roadmap where we're going with the energy transition so
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Tom Brown @nworbmot.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
I want to make a few comments and highlight slide 6 in my deck. Sometimes in the discussion around open energy modelling it's suggested that if everyone just switched from PLEXOS to an open source framework, or put their model data online, then we're done. That's not how I see it.
Long-term utopic vision:
A set of open models recognised by industry, academia, government and NGOs.
- Grid operator X uses model to show network expansion is required under assumptions Y
- Academic Z shows changing regulation A would require less grid expansion
- Regulator C adapts regulation correspondingly
- NGO D shows in the model that stronger efficiency measures at reasonable cost could reduce build-out of onshore wind in an area of high bird and bat biodiversity
- Government F takes note, increases incentives for efficiency measures
- Public confidence in the Energy Transition rises
This is difficult in the current fragmented model landscape, since many models are closed black boxes and there is neither comparability nor common sets of assumptions.
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Tom Brown @nworbmot.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The recording of @agoraind.bsky.social's "empowerment through openness" webinar is online! 📺️ Keynote from me and PyPSA-SPICE intro by Samarth Kumar with discussion moderation by Rena Kuwahata. www.agora-energiewende.org/news-events/... (includes video and presentation materials) Comments below...
agora-energiewende.org
Empowerment through openness: the future of energy modelling
Discover how open-source energy models can drive change, transparency and public acceptance.
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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
PODCAST: South Africa’s agricultural outlook for 2026 remains positive www.businessday.co.za/opinion/2026...
businessday.co.za
PODCAST: South Africa’s agricultural outlook for 2026 remains positive
The sector was boosted by a year of La Niña rains, but much depends on the successful control of foot-and-mouth disease in the cattle industry
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Africa’s largest agribusiness & technology platform comes to South Africa in 2026 11–13 March 2026 - Gallagher, JHB Agritec Africa 2026 – 11th Edition (International Agriculture Technology Expo) Graintech Africa 2026 – 6th Edition (Grain & Milling Technology Expo)
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
South African Agriculture is the almost invisible backbone holding our country together. Please consider signing up with us - 2026 only has only 365 days this year, and we have so much to do ! 😉 - Email - info@energyflexibility.org
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IEEE Xplore Digital Library @ieeexplore.ieee.org · 16/09/2025
A recent study in IEEE Access introduces an enhanced Vision Transformer architecture redefining #FacialExpressionRecognition — advancing tech for mental health, #HCI, and more. @ieeeaccess.bsky.social 🔗 loom.ly/hR42ckg #IEEE #IEEEXplore #IEEEAccess
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Peter du Toit @peterdutoit.com · 19/08/2025
Now that the #IPCCAR7 authors have been announced I have been updating my lists. Working Group III will have 15 Chapters & 222 authors. Those who have Bluesky accounts are now all on this list, which you can follow to keep up with their work and current research. Working Group II list to follow.
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Food For Mzansi @foodformzansi.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
In the male-dominated world of farming, Amoré Viljoen stands out. She’s the skilled producer guiding a community-owned farm toward financial success. Under her leadership, Lakeview Farm has gone from overgrown orchards to top-ranked yields.
foodformzansi.co.za
Force of nature: Amoré Viljoen revives black-owned fruit farm
In the male-dominated world of farming, Amoré Viljoen stands out. She’s the skilled producer guiding a community-owned farm toward financial success. Under her leadership, Lakeview Farm has gone from overgrown orchards to top-ranked yields. Her philosophy is simple: with the right management and a little heart, anything is possible.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
It's time our young go-getters help their communities run their own #StokvelMicroGrids !
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
... and it's only the beginning for lekker local homemade #GreenElectroncs😀 www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
dailymaverick.co.za
SA has barely scratched surface of its rooftop solar potential
Johannesburg alone has enough rooftop space to power the entire country through midwinter without coal. So why have installations slowed?
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
War, huh yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing ( say it again ) - Edwin Starr, from 1969 youtu.be/01-2pNCZiNk?...
youtu.be
Edwin Starr - War (Original Video - 1969)
YouTube video by Stream Crops
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TheSouthAfrican.com @thesouthafrican.com · 19/06/2025
Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma cultivates the blooms north of Johannesburg, 1 500km from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa.
thesouthafrican.com
South Africa's iconic King Protea heads north as climate warms
Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma cultivates the blooms north of Johannesburg, 1 500km from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
"projected maize losses in Sub-Saharan Africa are largest in the most productive and climatically moderate countries" 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
nature.com
Impacts of climate change on global agriculture accounting for adaptation - Nature
Analysis of data on six stable crops, capturing two-thirds of global crop calories, allows estimation of agricultural impacts and the potential of global producer adaptations to reduce outpu...
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
" The vast majority of rate increases comes from the dramatic overbuilding of Distribution grids. Most are built to old norms to meet peak demand for 50 hours a year. Using Virtual Power Plants, batteries, grid enhancing technologies are 90% cheaper " they say for the USA. And for RSA ?
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Mnemosyne @mnemosy.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Precisely. #SouthAfrica
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
What is #ESKOM playing at ? It's our Grid and we will decide on how it is used. ESKOM are there to manage it according to the will of us, the 60million South Africans www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/unce...
engineeringnews.co.za
Uncertainty arises about electricity traders’ access to virtual wheeling over Eskom’s network
The indication by State-owned utility Eskom that virtual wheeling is not yet available to licensed electricity traders is “surprising and disappointing”, EE Business Intelligence MD Chris Yelland tell...
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
A lesson for the South African Government and #ESKOM ? bsky.app/profile/hann...
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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
To an extent, the piece aligns with an income poverty matter we raised here: wandilesihlobo.com/2025/05/09/f...
wandilesihlobo.com
Food insecurity in South Africa
South Africa has some contradictions. We are a leading agricultural exporter in Africa, yet many households are food insecure. Without proper policy engagement on this challenge, the sector risks more...
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TechCentral @techcentral.co.za · 09/06/2025
The price war engulfing China’s EV industry has sent share prices tumbling. The shakeout may just be getting started.
techcentral.co.za
EV bloodbath in China - TechCentral
The price war engulfing China’s EV industry has sent share prices tumbling. The shakeout may just be getting started.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Why should the 60million South Africans be competition ? The Electrical Grid belongs to us, and we trust #ESKOM to run it fairly and properly on our behalf. - @ESKOM, please correct this asap🙂 ( We are all good grid citizens & we all seek beneficial coexistence with our grid )
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Please consider joining this LinkedIN Group for Horticulturalists, Agronomists, Engineers, Building Scientists & Agriculturalists www.linkedin.com/groups/12090... >1400 members - Greenhouse Design is the apex multi-disciplinary endeavour !
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Food For Mzansi @foodformzansi.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Once jobless and pregnant, Akhona Gxuluwe found her calling in agriculture. She didn’t just find a job — she found purpose in the soil, and today she’s the powerhouse behind one of the biggest rooftop farms in the Western Cape and an organic consultancy.
foodformzansi.co.za
Urban roots: Akhona’s rise from jobless to thriving rooftop farmer
Once jobless and pregnant, Akhona Gxuluwe found her calling in agriculture. She didn’t just find a job — she found purpose in the soil, and today she’s the powerhouse behind one of the biggest rooftop farms in the Western Cape and an organic consultancy.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
How can we avoid parts of the Western Cape becoming another Spanish Almeria ? Wall-to-wall shade net and tunnels ( but we sure do need controlled environment agriculture ) #WCGovAgri @foodformzansi.bsky.social @groundedandrooted.bsky.social
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
This weekends reading - more on #EnergyEquality, and more on Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings. Grid-interactive loads ( ie smart buildings and infrastructure ) is the foundation of the modern smart grid - smartgrid.ieee.org
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
High Value South African Medicinal Plants / Herbs "The AsiaPacific Nutraceutical product market is an emerging market in dietary supplements and functional food segment. Japan is the largest consumer of nutraceuticals in Asia, while China is the second largest consumer" - Medicinal plants of RSA
Medicinal plants of South Africa
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟰/𝟳 𝗖𝗙𝗘 - Join #ClimateGroup's new webinar featuring speakers from AstraZeneca, Princeton University and Climate Group’s energy initiatives on June 10 #247CFE www.theclimategroup.org/why-choose-2...
theclimategroup.org
Powering the Future: Why Business Leaders Are Choosing 24/7 CFE | Climate Group
Electricity procurement is evolving and leaders are taking steps towards 24/7 carbon-free electricity (CFE) to future-proof their business.
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Nick Hedley @nickhedley.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
In numbers: Africa’s off-grid solar revolution is boosting electricity access theprogressplaybook.com/2025/04/03/i...
theprogressplaybook.com
In numbers: Africa's off-grid solar revolution is boosting electricity access
Mini-grids and household solar solutions now account for more than half of all new electricity connections in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
South Africa wants Grid-Forming Inverters - probably hoping they will provide grid-firming 🙂 Good show - at last ! - so we now need #IEEE1547
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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Please come join us tomorrow at the Franschhoek Literature Festival at 4 pm. I will be in conversation with economist David McWilliams Details are here: www.flf.co.za/2025-program...
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 - 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗰𝘀 - Southern Africa Please consider joining this fledgling LinkedIN Group for Professionals/ - a carefully curated spam-free resource www.linkedin.com/groups/20787...
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TheSouthAfrican.com @thesouthafrican.com · 12/05/2025
Eskom’s cost per employee has increased exponentially over the last three decades. The cost jumped from R38,000 in 1990 to R913,000 in 2024
thesouthafrican.com
Eskom’s employee costs jump from R38,000 to R913,000
Eskom's cost per employee has increased exponentially over the last three decades. The cost jumped from R38,000 in 1990 to R913,000 in 2024
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
cc @harvestofhay.bsky.social Feedback from Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) & Indoor Farming 4.0 - where do Southern Africa stand ?
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Food For Mzansi @foodformzansi.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Despite South Africa's success in doubling agricultural output in 30 years, food insecurity remains a critical issue. Experts at a recent Deloitte Africa forum highlighted the need for collaboration, innovation, climate-smart solutions, and support for smallholder farmers.
foodformzansi.co.za
Sustainable agriculture: Empower small farms for lasting change
Despite South Africa's success in doubling agricultural output in 30 years, food insecurity remains a critical issue. Experts at a recent Deloitte Africa forum highlighted the need for collaboration, innovation, climate-smart solutions, and support for smallholder farmers.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
We now ask - Which buildings don't have PV on the roof ( next, every C&I Building will have batteries, and very soon thereafter MicroGrids ) Zoom into this pic of Melrose Arch , Johannesburg
pic of Melrose Arch , Johannesburg  showing the extent of PV on almost every roof
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Who knew ? #eMicroMobility and #ActiveMobility is good for you 😀 The relationship between car shedding and subjective well-being www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Highlights
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Non-affordability-driven car shedding as a case for sufficiency.
•
Adds empirical evidence on the relationship between car shedding and SWB.
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Non-affordability-driven car shedding is not associated with reducing SWB.
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Francis Jackson @francisbjackson.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
International Partners Group | Backing SA's green future with over R2bn for just transition projects www.news24.com/business/cli...
news24.com
International Partners Group | Backing SA's green future with over R2bn for just transition projects | News24
The challenging global context has not deterred our commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership, writes the International Partners group.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Nersa chairperson Thembani Bukula says Wheeling Framework will "remake the energy and electricity landscape". Also “ensuring that we achieve energy security in the country and we are able to diversify generation sources so that we don’t only rely on Eskom” - what about #EnergyPoverty then ?
Imagine going through the immense effort of completely rebuilding our South African energy systems,  but not taking care of #EnergyPoverty

What a massive societal failure that would be

Please guys, let's #LeaveNoOneBehind
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) & Indoor Farming 4.0 - i am lucky enough to be attending this event ( and no, it's not all a bed of roses 😀 - some serious stuff with, i think, the cost of energy at the core ) cc @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social @briankamanzi.bsky.social www.tech40.net/cea40
tech40.net
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) & Indoor Farming 4.0 Online Event | Tech 4.0
The event details for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) & Indoor Farming 4.0.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 Just before you all start becoming experts on the #IberianBlackout, you may find this useful 😉 - EPRI : GRID STABILITY IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE - with #GFM Inverters too ! www.epri.com/research/pro...
Typical response times, potential sources, and compensation mechanisms for ancillary services supporting frequency stability
during contingencies.
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Whats with all this braid stuff ? Back in the 60's real Woman looked incredible ... and so was the music from Motown - Diana Ross ( in the pics ) - Barbara Atkin
Whats with all this braid stuff ?
Back in the 60's real Woman looked incredible ...
- Diana Ross
- Barbara Atkin
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Weekend reading 🙂 1) The Uncomfortable Truth About South Africa’s Agriculture @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social, Johan Kirsten 2) Power Systems - Energy Equity & Energy Justice #IEEE Power&Energy Who says Heavy Current Engineers cant dabble in the soft sciences ? - and by that i mean politics too ...
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Wandile Sihlobo @wandilesihlobo.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Last night in Johannesburg
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Mike Barker 🇿🇦 @local-energy.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
South Africa needs #HourlyMatching too. Allows least-cost optimisation of local generation & battery with load. "The California Energy Commission unanimously approved the proposed rules updating the Power Source Disclosure (PSD) program from requiring annual disclosure to hourly disclosure" #247CFE
energytag.org
Californian Regulators Approve Hourly Power Source Disclosure • EnergyTag
Rulemaking Adopting Amended Power Source Disclosure Regulations (Docket No. 21-OIR-01) The California Energy Commission unanimously approved the proposed rules updating the Power Source Disclosure (PS...
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Carl Lenox @alphaconstant.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Great article on this topic in @canarymedia.com today. www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol... #EnergySky
canarymedia.com
Balcony solar is all the rage in Germany. Why not in the US?
A new Utah law promoting balcony solar reveals the challenges of making the clean-energy tech mesh with the U.S. grid.
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