What How Energy Works topic should we cover next? Vote now using our interactive voting tool. | Graphic by Sarah Gerrity, Energy Department.
How can I participate?
- Join us every day for our How Energy Works Twitter Office Hours at 2 p.m. ET, starting Tuesday, June 17.
- During each Twitter Office Hour, our experts will answer your questions about the the How Energy Works topic of the day, including: microgrids, particle accelerators, 3D printers and wind turbines.
- To participate in the discussion, submit your questions in advance on social media using #HowEnergyWorks or via email to newmedia@hq.doe.gov.
- VOTE NOW to help decide which How Energy Works topic we cover next!
Have you ever wondered how wind turbines generate electricity? Or what particle accelerators are designed to do? Today, we’re launching a new series that answers these questions and more.
How Energy Works -- our latest Energy.gov series -- breaks down the inner workings of technologies key to advancing the Energy Department’s mission. To celebrate the launch of How Energy Works, we’re releasing a new entry in the series every day this week. Through in-depth explanations paired with engaging multimedia, you’ll learn the building blocks of four game-changing technologies -- including microgrids, particle accelerators, 3D printers and wind turbines.
Throughout the week, you’ll have daily opportunities to engage in How Energy Works on social media. Starting tomorrow, we are hosting Twitter Office Hours every day at 2 p.m. ET. During these discussions, leading experts at the Department and our National Laboratories will answer your questions about the How Energy Works technology of the day. You can submit your questions in advance of the live discussion on social media using #HowEnergyWorks or via email to newmedia@hq.doe.gov.
Here’s the schedule of Twitter Office Hours and details on the How Energy Works experts leading each discussion:
Tuesday, June 17, at 2 p.m. ET: How Microgrids Work
Michael Stadler, head of microgrid research at Lawrence Berkeley Lab, and Chris Marnay, an affiliated scientist, will answer all your questions about microgrids -- from how they connect and disconnect from the power grid to the important role they could play in keeping our grid resilient. View the related blog on How Microgrids Work.
Wednesday, June 18, at 2 pm ET: How Particle Accelerators Work
Dr. Marty Murphy, an Accelerator Operations Specialist in the Accelerator Operations Department at Fermilab, and Dr. Mei Bai, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory who specializes in accelerator-based techniques that control and probe spin, will answer all of your questions about particle accelerators: how they work, what they do and why it matters. View the related blog on How Particle Accelerators Work.
Thursday, June 19, at 2 pm ET: How 3D Printing Works
Dr. Ryan Dehoff, a research staff member at Oak Ridge National Lab's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, will cover everything you want to know about additive manufacturing -- from how 3D printing works and its impact on manufacturing to new advancements and how it could help advance clean energy technologies. View the related blog on How 3D Printers Work.
Friday, June 20, at 2 pm ET: How Wind Turbines Work
Fort Felker, Director of the National Renewable Energy Lab’s National Wind Technology Center, will answer questions on wind energy -- from how wind turbines work to U.S. industry growth to the latest technology advancements.
As the How Energy Works series moves forward, we want your input every step of the way. Vote now to help decide which How Energy Works topic we cover next. For more opportunities to stay engaged throughout the week -- follow #HowEnergyWorks on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+. View the related blog on How Wind Turbines Work.
