Distributed Energy Resources and Batteries

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In the ‘bad-old-days’ a select group of utilities generated electricity using the cheapest way they knew, which was fossil fuel. It gradually dawned on us that coal and natural gas were bad for the environment, but heck what could we do? Diesel generators were more of the same, but then came solar. Today we are entering a brave new world of distributed energy resources, and batteries for storage.

What Are Distributed Energy Resources Exactly?

Distributed energy resources are small electricity demand / supply hubs, which may operate independently. Although they may also reciprocally connect to utility grids to exchange energy. They are increasingly likely to incorporate storage battery facilities, especially if they rely on renewable energy.

Those energy resources may range from one-off home systems, through several interconnected ones, to commercial operations. They typically rely on diesel generators, solar arrays, wind farms, and battery energy storage. However, the larger ones supporting utility grids may use hydro storage, or natural gas too.

  • These standalone systems can operate off-grid for a design period.
  • But they may also, or wholly serve to strengthen utility grid resilience.

In both instances, many of them use storage batteries as back up, or for reserve power when the renewable energy resource is down, for whatever reason.

How Flexible Are These Alternative Energy Sources?

In a word, incredibly so, compared to very large electricity power stations. Distributed energy resources can be almost any size, from individual dwellings through to large wind farms and solar arrays. They are coming on line fast. In fact Energy-Gov estimates one-third of all U.S. solar installations are domestic.

A lively market has developed for bilateral energy trading on utility grids. North Americans are gradually understanding smaller, micro-grid installations could keep them going during severe storms. Renewable energy is making remarkable progress, but we are not there yet, no not yet by far.

More Information

Grid Services Inverters and Storage Batteries

Solar Energy and Critical Battery Storage

Preview Image: Primary Energy from Renewables

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About Author

I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

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