Utility Maximization, Community Input, and Solarpunk Stories with Prof. Dr. Destenie Nock

Prof. Dr. Destenie Nock joins Dr. Ahlmahz Negash and Paul Dockery for a conversation about what the grid of the future *should* look like. The discussion dives deep into (1) the energy equity gap, (2) a methodology for finding the optimal expansion of a power system under the objective of maximizing social benefit, (3) the Gini coefficient, and (4) how to use the Strategic Objective Hierarchy combined with the expertise of social scientists to translate community input into rigorously measurable inputs into an optimization model!

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09:24 - A benefit maximization approach to utility planning

Destenie Nock, Todd Levin, Erin Baker, Changing the policy paradigm: A benefit maximization approach to electricity planning in developing countries, Applied Energy, Volume 264, 2020, 114583, ISSN 0306-2619, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114583.

28:13 - Amplifying community leader perspectives

Erin Baker, Destenie Nock, Todd Levin, Samuel A. Atarah, Anthony Afful-Dadzie, David Dodoo-Arhin, Léonce Ndikumana, Ekundayo Shittu, Edwin Muchapondwa, Charles Van-Hein Sackey, Who is marginalized in energy justice? Amplifying community leader perspectives of energy transitions in Ghana, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 73, 2021, 101933, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.101933.

Prof. Dr. Destenie Nock explainer videos: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.destenienock4164/videos

48:53 - Unveiling hidden energy poverty using the energy equity gap

Cong, S., Nock, D., Qiu, Y.L. et al. Unveiling hidden energy poverty using the energy equity gap. Nat Commun 13, 2456 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30146-5

• Video link to “The Energy Equity Gap: Unveiling Hidden Energy Poverty” presentation for Energy Seminar Series at UC Davis
• Video link to Destenie Nock: Identifying Hidden Forms of Energy Poverty
• Video link to Energy Nerd Show
• NOAA’s Meteorological Development Lab’s work on Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures
• NOAA’s experimental tools for calculating Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures and how it compares to heat index
• Evaluating the 35°C wet-bulb temperature adaptability threshold for young healthy subjects

1:07:38 - What should the grid of the future look like?

1:12:42 - Ahlmahz’s insightful question of the week: What’s the overlap between energy justice and energy assistance?

“Jenkins et al. [49] review three core tenets of energy justice: 1) distributional justice, relating to equal distribution of both the costs and benefits of the energy system; 2), recognition justice, relating to the fair representation of individuals; and 3) procedural justice, providing equal access to decision making processes.”From Who is marginalized in energy justice? Amplifying community leader perspectives of energy transitions in Ghana, Section 1:

1:18:27 - from Human Batteries to Solarpunk - a new Public Power Underground game!

• Ezra Klein podcast: What the heck is going on with UFO stories?
• Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers
• Futurama
• The Fifth Element
• The Matrix
• Avatar
• Men in Black
• WALL-E
• Strange World
• Mad Max
• Iron Man

Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts! Public Power Underground, it’s work to watch!

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