Micro grids are small sections of larger grids serving individual communities. These local networks allow residents to implement grid redundancy if the larger network fails. We came across an interesting example of solar battery micro grids in Brazil serving a peaceful village.
The Serra da Saudade Solar Battery Micro Grid
Serra da Saudade is a village in central Brazil with a population approaching a thousand residents. A number of these folk are small coffee, bean, corn, or cattle farmers, or work on larger estates. Their economy relies on a steady supply of electricity for their equipment.
This makes the small community a good candidate for one of the increasingly popular solar battery micro grids. These provide an opportunity to reinforce local supply, especially in areas with fragile grids according to BnAmericas.
The solar battery micro grid in Serra da Saudade stores sufficient electricity to power the community for 48 hours after grid failure. The local system comprises 800 solar panels, able to support the community for this period.
The solar power goes to eight battery racks via four inverters that smooth the DC electricity. If grid supply fails, then the batteries deliver this electricity back to the inverters. These convert the electricity into AC power, and feed this into the local micro grid.
Greater Electricity Autonomy With Solar Batteries
Conventional solar power sends its electricity to the utility grid, as soon as the central system demands it. However, in the case of the Serra da Saudade solar battery micro grid, control is in the hands of the local community.
The local controller manages the solar powered grid on the basis that the small town is at the end of the line. For, if this were not the case, then the cost of the installation might have put it beyond what the community could afford.
More Information
Islandable Microgrids Secure Isolated Hamlets
