Ask Better Questions - Get Better Answers, Part 2

Asking better questions is a skill that can be assisted by the right tools. In the transition to a non-emitting electricity system, getting rapid answers to the tough questions of inverter-based resource integration can expedite planning and actions at a moment where time is of the essence. In the end, we just need to get to work regardless of the difficulties.

In Part 1 of this article, I shared a bit of how the five-part book trilogy, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” has provided me with a satirical push to ask better questions and not just seek simple answers to complex questions. This is made clear in the books when the big question of “Life, the Universe and Everything,” is answered with the number, “42.”

In my experience, experts can be found who have studied just about every approach to decarbonization. As those studies make their way to pilot or full-scale application, the solutions become easier to find and we start to see standards and regulations following suit. In the interim, in a world where we are between concepts and full-scale adoption of net zero grids, finding the solutions and inspiration to solve complex questions faster is a stand-alone climate effort.

The art of forming effective questions and leveraging tools to expedite the hunt for solutions can take time to develop. This is what I have found working for CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub. Through many hours of conversation, the Hub team have taken dialogue from electricity utilities and system operators, turned this into specific challenges to address, and sought out the most relevant resources we can find in response.

“In the beginning, the universe was created…This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.” The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

We have had no regrets in forming the Hub, only that we have realized a few things about the scope of where we need to go now. In the beginning of the Hub, our responses largely drew on published reports by organizations like the International Renewable Energy Agency or the Energy Systems Integration Group. Organizations like this have remained ahead of the mainstream energy transition challenges and have fueled our effectiveness. More and more, our team is searching farther along the knowledge trails we have been forming to get deeper into global learnings. Responses can now include webinars, reports, events, case studies, datasets, and more. As the program develops and grows from our big bang almost one year ago, it has become clear that the universe of energy transition knowledge is expanding rapidly, and we are going to have to continue evolving the way we ask and respond to questions.

The Electricity Transition Hub is ready to take the next step. We are going to be sharpening our tools in the months ahead as we invite more to join us in forming and asking the best questions we can. Whether utilities are wrestling with decarbonization across Canada’s coastlines, mountains, prairies, lakes, rocks, or tundra, the approach to finding solutions can improve.

We Apologize for the Inconvenience

Throughout the Hitch Hiker’s Guild to the Galaxy series, we find our heroes thrown to all corners of space and time including to the point of standing in front of God’s final message to the universe, “We apologize for the inconvenience.” This seems to bring much comfort to the last two surviving earthlings. Somehow, knowing that the journey of life has been difficult brings new inspiration to do something meaningful. The energy transition can be difficult, inconvenient and at times, feel very defeating such as the continued destruction of the planet. However, with this knowledge in hand, we can get down to the hard work of carrying on anyway. It is meaningful work that affects every earthling. If we can find ways to accelerate the process, ease the difficulty of the process and work together to ask and respond to really great questions, I think we will be that much closer to understanding what the ultimate question actually is.