At Energy Central, we believe the heart of our platform is you—the energy professionals who share insights, start conversations, and build connections across the industry. That’s why we’re thrilled to kick off a new tradition: Monthly Top Contributors!
Each month, we’ll recognize three standout community members who helped spark conversation, contributed actively, or jumped in as new members with a bang. These top contributors will be in three categories: Grid Builder of the Month, Power User of the Month, and Rising Star of the Month.
Here are your June 2025 Top Contributors:
Grid Builder of the Month: John Benson
For starting the conversation that generated the most engagement across the Energy Central platform.
Post: Gas Turbine Generators: Clean Now, Cleaner Tomorrow (11 total comments)
Notable Comments:
Rich Dzikowski: The greatest desire of hydrogen enthusiasts is to obtain this miracle substance through electrolysis from surplus renewable energy sources. However, it is often overlooked that intermittent sources are only available in limited quantities and that large amounts of specially filtered water are required for electrolysis. Unlike natural gas, hydrogen must first be produced and then stored, which leads to enormous energy losses. Natural gas, on the other hand, is an energy source that can be compressed with little energy and can therefore be used as an energy storage medium for months. In addition, hydrogen can be produced from CH₄ without water by means of pyrolysis.
Michael Keller: Burning hydrogen in a gas turbine is relatively straight forward (and has been done at a few refineries) but the amount of hydrogen required involves immense amounts of energy to produce. Not all all financially viable. The amount of hydrogen required to run a large machine would involve vast numbers of renewable facilities.
The machines can comfortably and quickly operate between about 60 and 100 percent load. The plants are relatively inexpensive to build, with about 70 percent of costs related to fuel.
At full load, a combined-cycle (gas and steam turbines in tandem) power plant is around 55 percent efficient. The air-cooled condenser approach mentioned would drop the efficiency down a few percent.
Power User of the Month: Michael Keller
For driving community discussion with the most thoughtful and active commenting this month.
Total Comments: 15
Notable Comments:
On 'New California Residential Battery Storage Code': "Size is not the only NFPA consideration. In general, better to put the battery modules in spread out sheds out in the open rather than inside a building. If the module goes south, will not take the building (including what is in the building) with it. Suggest you use a vacant lot in an industrial area."
On 'Q&A: Co-location for nuclear generators is necessary, we don't need to have reactor sites producing only electricity when nuclear reactors also produce neutrons and heat. We need to look at overall energy system efficiency. Do you agree?': "The risk to a co-located facility is vanishingly small, with hundreds of unoccupied acres typically surrounding nuclear power plants. Physically, easy to co-locate.
Are their other financial consideration in play? Fundamentally, I suspect the advantage of co-location lies with a Power Purchase Agreement made directly with the nuclear facility. However, regulatory environment is purposely complicated, with the utility generally hell-bent on maintaining their lucrative financial monopoly."
Rising Star of the Month: David Snow
For jumping into the Energy Central community as a new member and making an immediate impact through valuable contributions.
Member since: March 31, 2025
Highlights: David dove in quickly to the community and shared high value insights in the form of video shorts, readily helping his content to stand out:
Starting now, the winners will enjoy a special badge on their Energy Central profile for the next month recognizing their selection.
Maybe next month, you’ll be a top contributor! Need more motivation? We’re raffling off a special prize at the end of the year, and only top contributors will be entered to win.
So keep posting, commenting, and connecting!
Next recognition: August 1