Search

Microgrids - the energy tapestry of the future.

Further Green
Oct 24, 2016
2 min read

Here at de-CO we see the future of this country's power based around microgrids and renewable energy generation not in shale gas, as our narrow -minded politicians think. Neither is the national grid going to help propel us forwards in terms of efficiency. In our view the future is a combination of off-grid energy and microgrids that provide the power needed to a smaller, more localised area. Tim Green, Professor of Power Engineering at Imperial College London states that “efficiency losses in power generation are the biggest issue facing the power industry today.” He estimates that energy losses in the power grid during generation of electricity are between 45% and 55%, depending on the technology used. The transmission system run by National Grid, which does the bulk shipping of electricity in the UK, loses a further 2% or 3%. In other words almost 60% of power generated is lost in the system due to the inefficiencies of getting electricity from the power station to the end user. One solution for the future is microgrids. These would provide power to the areas that need them so that they can make use of as much of the energy possible.

A microgrid is a group of inter-connected energy resources that act as a single controllable entity within clearly defined electrical boundaries such as a county or a city. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the National grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode. It allows for a more efficient use of the power that is produced and it allows the area to plan for their own power needs. Consequently it means that they will have to produce less and be able to distribute it much more easily and efficiently. It also means that they can also start to install renewable energy sources when they break away from the national grid; to start to create their own energy and make the move towards self reliance as a localised region.

The combination of microgrids powering towns alongside off-grid homes really is the future. It would mean we could provide the energy that we need at far higher levels of efficiency and therefore have to produce less, which paired with renewable energy production on a large scale makes the dream of 100% renewable target far more achievable.