Editor’s Comments: Keeping the Lights On

March 21, 2018

In 2017, the US experienced a historic year of weather and climate disasters. According to NOAA, the nation was impacted by 16 different billion-dollar disasters, including a drought, two floods, one freeze event, eight severe storms, three tropical cyclones, and one wildfire. In total, these events had widespread economic effects, with cumulative costs exceeding $300 billion. This represents a new annual record for the US, according to NOAA’s calculations, well above the previous record cost of $214.8 billion, set in 2005 by the impacts of Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

Weather is an increasingly critical issue for the power industry to address, as Teresa Hansen outlined at DistribuTech 2018 in January. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is well established. How businesses and utilities react to them, however, is evolving. It seems preparation is the key.

As Miguel de Cervantes wrote, “Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory.” And, as many businesses have learned, keeping the lights on today requires investment in solutions such as backup power, energy storage, and UPS technologies as well as a diverse mix of distributed energy resources.

In this issue of Distributed Energy magazine, we address key issues related to preparing for and responding to disasters, system intermittency, and power failure. We hope that the stories we’ve assembled inform and strengthen your business with strategies and technologies trusted by experts in the field.

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The provision of energy to keep essential equipment and infrastructure running smoothly is among the most critical basic functions during disaster. In “Backup Power 2018”, we look at critical power options through the lens of recent natural disasters. We offer a variety of recommendations for consumers to consider, such as proper sizing, fuel sources, and a diverse generation portfolio to enhance resiliency.

In “Biogas and Cogeneration”, we take a close look at cogeneration with biogas as a reliable baseload source. Through in-depth case studies, we see that cogeneration is a natural fit for wastewater treatment plants, as well as healthcare facilities, and microgrids, where biogas can provide consistent power as part of the generation mix.

UPS systems provide critical battery support when power fails. In “Standing Ready”, we look at potential causes of system instability and we explore a variety of different configurations to prevent downtime. Offline UPS, line-interactive UPS, true UPS with bi-directional converters, and a variety of other technologies such as pumped hydro, compressed air, heat sinks, and flywheels can ensure reliable power in today’s often turbulent environment.

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Clean power is critical for sensitive equipment. In “Keeping Power Quality High”, we explore three different solutions for ensuring consistent, clean power. We observe a DC onsite power source, which eliminates conversion to AC; power transfer solutions that reduce harmonic disruption and adjust a network loop to optimize output; and increased monitoring to better understand a building’s energy needs and provide enhanced performance.

We look at the remarkable resiliency of microgrids in “Micro-Utility Resiliency in Developing Markets” through the story of Sigora Haiti’s efforts to provide power for communities in remote areas, even in the face of impending disaster. When Hurricane Irma threatened to make landfall in September of 2017, the organization took preventative action by loosening the bolts on its 207-kW solar array to disassemble the microgrid. In doing so, it demonstrated a practical resiliency strategy.

Collectively, these articles underscore the importance of disaster preparedness—of a firm understanding of power profiles, of well-designed UPS and backup power options, and of resiliency procedures.

Our publishing offices were affected recently by both the Thomas Fire and the Montecito Mudslides. These events have made us pause to reconsider disaster planning, energy configurations, and emergency procedures. We have seen firsthand the value of reliable power sources and backup generation. And we now know just how crucial it is to prepare for power failure.

How equipped is your organization to handle extreme weather events and natural disasters? What plans do you have in place?
About the Author

Laura Sanchez

Laura Sanchez is the editor of Distributed Energy and Water Efficiency magazines.

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