Microgrids Here and Yonder
A microgrid is a regional network of energy generation assets, especially renewables, combined with local distribution, energy storage, demand response and electric vehicles to provide better resilience to reduce dependence on fossil fuel plants, eliminate expensive power transmission lines, and improve resilience in times of outages.
Given the spate of wildfires that have caused such mass destruction here in California over the past few years, microgrids are a big topic of discussion; after all, if you’re going to start a fresh, why not build it the way you want it?
Whether or not morphing electricity infrastructure into microgrids from the traditional centralized model in the developed world is generally a feasible idea is above my pay-grade. One thing I’m quite sure of, however, is that this definitely makes sense in the third world. Places that never made a commitment to dirty energy of the 20th Century are ripe targets to leapfrog that whole mess into the clean energy technology of the 21st Century.
The coal industry is working desperately to sink its teeth into the developing areas of Africa and Asia. Most of Myanmar, for example, has no electric power, and the coal people are bound and determined to claim it for themselves.
Craig,
My goodness, just when I think you can’t get weirder, you surpass yourself!
Micro-grids in third world developing nations! Solar panels on the roof of a house, when the solar panel cost more than the house!
Third world nations need industrial power, and the mass power distribution to build a prosperous consumer society. In most nations, that means Coal.
Only Coal fired power can quickly, and efficiently fulfill the energy needs for developing nations economically.
Only Coal fired power can bring prosperity, clean water, lower infant mortality, deliver schools and all the thinks the developed world takes for granted.
Pretending little hobbyist solutions with inadequate technology, is both arrogant and cruel.
Clean(er) Coal is a reality. It hold the key to lowering climate change emissions, while modernizing old industrial processes and eliminating poverty.