distributed energy? There are many
right answers to that question, ranging from the need for reliable emergency
back up power to the opportunity for increased efficiency via the incorporation
of renewable energy. And when it
comes to reliability, distributed energy can bring together the grid and
is the case put forth in an opinion piece by PATRICK
D. NOLAN of the Star-Telegram.
As Nolan points out, because large
buildings (airports, hospitals, hotels) pull the largest draw from the grid,
distributed energy is “solution
that has been largely overlooked that could have a large positive impact on
demand, the economy and the reserve margin.”
a future where big energy users rely on their onsite power sources for primary
power, and use the grid as back up.
A school district with it’s own wind turbine perhaps, or a water utility
that can draw enough power from it’s solar system to run all it’s pumps and
in-house software systems during the day and using the grid only for less
intensive, overnight demands. In
fact, in many parts of the country that future is already here.
Erie Community Unit School District No. 1 in Illinois became one of the first
school districts in the state move beyond the one turbine–one building ratio.
With the help of Johnson Controls Inc., Erie Community Unit School District No.
1 was able to use one large turbine to power all of the buildings within its
one turbine, the district’s wind power project supplies power to all six of the
district’s buildings. The project consists of a single 1-MW turbine able to
generate twice as much energy as the one installed at Bureau Valley. The district anticipates substantial
savings by reducing its dependence on power supplied by electrical utilities.
Once the turbine is up and running, it will supply the district with 100%
capacity at least 39% of the time. At 100% of its capabilities, the turbine can
generate up to 1.2 MW of energy. Over the project’s 30-year life span, Ryan
expects the district to save approximately $9 million. Once the cost of the
project is subtracted from that amount, the district should end up with a net
savings of approximately $4 million.
2005, the Idyllwild Water district became the first water utility in the United
States able to run its entire facility with solar power. Relying on a 44.1-kW
solar array provided by WorldWater & Power Corp., the district runs a
57-horsepower pumping system, including a water filtration plant and six primary
wells. The solar power system installed at Idyllwild addresses many of the
challenges that have thwarted widespread use of solar energy in the past. Cost
and space are not the only obstacles to be overcome. Until the Idyllwild
project, solar power played only a supporting role at most large-scale
facilities because of its relatively low output potential. By switching to solar power, the
district anticipates operating a system able to reliably and efficiently deliver
water to its customers, despite outside forces like disruptions in service or
prohibitive costs. With the WorldWater solar power system, the district can run
while disconnected from Edison’s power grid.
all know the grid isn’t going anywhere.
But in the face of increasing infrastructure improvements (and their
associated costs) and rising oil prices, doesn’t it make sense to overhaul
traditional notions of energy supply to include onsite, renewable energy