-
-
- Access on: 2024-11-09 11:25:58 (New York)
Connect with us:
Connect with us:
August 12, 2024
Contributed by Sid Sung, Chief Innovation Officer, Bitech Technologies
The recent hurricane Beryl devastated the Texas coast, leaving over 860,000 CenterPoint Energy customers without power for days in the sweltering summer heat. This is just one example of the increasing extreme weather events that have become the "new normal" worldwide. In 2024 alone, California experienced 325,179 emergency responses and 3,873 wildfires, according to CAL FIRE reports.
During such extreme weather events, power outages are often the most immediate and severe impact felt by individuals, communities, and cities. With no electricity, communication systems fail, water supplies are disrupted, and life grinds to a halt. While current renewable energy solutions mainly focus on large-scale generation and transmission, there is a significant gap in effective solutions for single- family homes and multi-dwelling buildings to withstand these events.
However, there is hope. The potential of renewable energy and innovative technologies can address the challenges posed by extreme weather. It is essential for companies to retrofit current power infrastructure and provide unique solutions to effectively prepare for and recover from these "new normal" situations, which can result in loss of life and significant damage. These innovations can cater to various settings, from individual homes to apartments, buildings, and campuses, ensuring that when extreme weather occurs, life can return to normal as quickly as possible.
New Technologies for a Resilient Energy Future
Bitech Technologies is leading the way with a novel approach that shifts from traditional centralized power infrastructure to a hybrid system catering to the energy needs of homes, communities, and cities. This new approach integrates Distributed Energy Resources (DER) with Virtual Power Plant (VPP) concepts, allowing people to maintain normalcy even when centralized power systems fail.
This approach also supports global goals of grid stabilization, resilience, and independence. Bitech Technologies pioneers Nanogrid solutions that enable people to continue their daily lives with minimal disruption during the "new abnormal." Intelligent DER and VPP implementations, not only at the micro level but also at the nano level, ensure seamless operation of residential homes, commercial buildings, traffic lights, and public infrastructure, guaranteeing uninterrupted comfort amidst disturbances to the centralized power grid.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Innovation
Despite its potential, this transition faces obstacles like total cost ownership, regulatory compliance, data security, and financial modeling. However, the comprehensive approach includes battery energy storage systems (BESS), power conversion devices, networking, and communication infrastructure, all controlled by an advanced Energy Management System (EMS).
While energy storage systems for homes and apartments are available, manual processes hinder their widespread adoption. Automation powered by predictive analytics and real-time actions can solve these issues, enabling homes, apartments, and campuses to operate independently of the traditional power grid during crises. It's time for energy-conscious individuals and organizations to embrace these solutions to reduce the impact of unpredictable circumstances.
To implement this innovative approach and generate sustainable revenue, longer-duration or distributed BESS equipment with AI-powered EMS control is required. These systems can store excess energy during off-peak hours and dispatch it during peak times, reducing carbon emissions and generating sustainable revenue. Other Smart Energy Solutions offer comprehensive integrations for renewable energy applications, including EMS for efficient energy management, ESS for storing surplus energy, and SPS for controlling energy flow in households and commercial buildings.
The Path Forward
Power utilities (PU) and independent system operators (ISO) have specific priorities and regulations that define the boundary between them and end customers, usually set at the meter level. Implementing changes at the existing power grid level poses challenges, but it is crucial to explore microgrid and nanogrid levels for effective implementation. As public acceptance of these measures increases, we can also consider picogrid approaches.
Companies that successfully address and implement these challenges will undoubtedly capture the world's attention in today's global society.
To learn more, please visit bitech.tech.