To most of the world the electric vehicle (EV) revolution simply means using a plug rather than a fuel pump to keep a car running. But in truth it will require a significant overhaul of energy systems and infrastructure, one that’s likely to get businesses and even households considering microgrids. Andy Haun, senior vice president […]
Could COVID-19 Give Rise to the Home Microgrid?
The coronavirus (COVID-19) could alter who needs reliable energy — and when — and place new importance on residential microgrids. While it’s too soon to gauge energy trends after society emerges from isolation, short-term indicators may offer clues. For one, we’re seeing what it means when a significant portion of the US population makes home their […]
Go local: How to keep the power on when disaster hits
Bushfires, storms and floods regularly leave thousands of Australian homes and businesses without power. Sydney’s wettest weekend in three decades left more than 130,000 households without power on Sunday. South Australian storms two weeks ago blew over the transmission towers connecting the state to the national energy grid. The Royal Adelaide Hospital was among the buildings affected. Tens of thousands more households […]
Here’s how some Bay Area businesses and residents circumvented the PG&E power blackout
Even when the Bay Area’s electrical grid falters, three Fremont fire stations remain a sturdy lifeline to surrounding homes, schools and businesses. The doors open in an emergency, so the fire trucks can get out and save lives. Metal gates open and close. Fremont’s 911 system, linking tens of thousands of residents to first responders, is […]
Monetizing microgrids
The following is a contributed article from Megan Kerins and Ana Sophia Mifsud, senior associates at Rocky Mountain Institute. As the energy industry transitions toward more distributed energy resources, electric utilities face a critical choice: embrace this opportunity or perceive it as a threat. This is especially true in the Caribbean where energy resilience is driving renewable microgrid […]