Cambodia has one of the lowest electrification rates in Southeast Asia, with a large difference in energy access between city and rural residents. EcoBlock Postdoctoral Scholar Dr. Miriam Aczel looks at one creative solution utilizing smart community microgrids that could be a model for bringing power to Cambodia’s under-resourced areas.
Dr. Therese Peffer and Rich Brown discuss the challenges and highlights of implementing the Oakland EcoBlock project at the 2023 Annual Institute.
We use electricity to turn on the lights, charge our phones, and participate in a wide variety of activities. But where exactly does electricity come from?
Blockchain is fundamentally redefining how we share and distribute energy. Learn how this technology can help power the future of smart microgrids.
The Inflation Reduction Act contains the most ambitious strategy for climate change and clean energy production. While the details are still being sorted out, one thing is clear—this is welcome news in the fight against climate change, and an opportunity to double down on working towards a cleaner, greener, and more equitable planet.
EcoBlock Project Manager Therese Peffer discusses the project as a pathway to scalable, equitable energy at the 2022 MIT A+B Applied Energy Symposium.
EcoBlock Principal Investigator (PI) and Energy team co-lead Dr. Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier discusses the Oakland EcoBlock project as part of the “Breakthrough Technologies Redefining Our Energy Future” panel at the 2022 Milken Institute Global Conference.
Microgrids are an intriguing way to create a cleaner, more energy secure future, but their complexity goes beyond solar panels. In fact, connecting a home to a microgrid requires several key pieces of equipment. Check out this infographic to learn more!
EcoBlock team member Eunice Chung interviews Dr. Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier, Principal Investigator and Energy team co-lead of the Oakland EcoBlock project. In her interview, Sascha discusses the technical and regulatory complexities of designing the EcoBlock microgrid and shares insights about opportunities for a more climate-resilient future.
The increasing frequency of power outages, as well as the growing rate and severity of natural disasters including wildfires and extreme weather patterns, poses significant threats to our current electric grid system. These risks, along with others such as cybersecurity threats, are a good reason to revisit the the 1880’s debate over whether DC or AC electrical currents would power the future. Read on to learn more about why this famous debate is being revisited and the potential for microgrids to provide backup generation during grid failure.