The outdated electrical grid is on the verge of collapsing. Extreme weather-related power outages cost $2 billion to $77 billion per year. Moreover, many rural communities continue to live without electricity as powerlines do not reach them. Nonetheless, the idea of grid expansion remains a hurdle as economics is not very viable for now.
A new study provides that the situation might change as local microgrids become economically beneficial. The team mentioned that such innovation could be accomplished through a suitable configuration of power sources, resilient, hyper-local microgrids. This would greatly benefit the Smart Grid Market as now both large and small microgrids would be critical to achieving renewable and resilient power.
Solar microgrids are typically powered by solar panels and batteries, with backup power provided by fuel-powered generators. Generators are necessary when batteries aren't fully charged, like on cloudy days or when energy demand is high, and no additional can be conserved.
Consequently, the researchers could forecast everything from optimal generator sizes to how much fuel they'd need to store to energy use in different types of buildings and even solar patterns and weather in multiple states.
Further, The generators aren't powerful enough to keep the microgrid running in the face of various outages. Furthermore, if harsh weather is not considered during design, the generators will require up to 30% more fuel than previously estimated. If the extra fuel is not prepared for, the microgrid will be unable to supply the energy demand.
This is why the team came up with the present model work that can assist decision-makers in weighing trade-offs. Furthermore, it will aid in the construction of more likely microgrids to keep the lights on during an emergency or to power locations that do not have access to the primary grid. Designing resilient microgrids will likely become more critical in the future, as climate change-related extreme weather is predicted to increase. And for this reason, the study brought forth by the team is no less than a breakthrough within the grid industry.