Off-gridders take energy needs into their own hands

Image source, This Off Grid Life

In a world where energy supplies can seem increasingly at risk, a couple in the mountains of British Columbia have taken matters into their own hands.

Two people are building a home that is off- grid.

They have installed solar panels, batteries and a back-up generator in order to be self-sufficient.

There is no shortage of natural disasters in the area. We're always fine when there's a power outage nearby.

They say that a 2,100 watt solar energy system is large enough to keep a small freezer, fridge, washing machine and laptops running.

When there is too much cloud, the pair use a small gas generator. They document their lives on a channel on the internet.

Image source, This Off Grid Life

You might think that this approach only works for a few people who want to live alone in the forest.

The security of supply is being reconsidered due to climate change.

With the cost of energy soaring in many parts of the world, it is possible that more people will consider installing solar panels and battery systems to lower their costs.

Miniature power grids are being installed in order to keep going in the event of a power failure.

It's called islanding orisland mode. The University of Texas at Austin relied on its own energy sources to avoid losing power during a winter storm in February.

What if your school did the same thing? Are you talking about your own house?

The director of special projects at Green Business Certification Inc. believes that every neighbourhood could have a microgrid. People are looking at alternate solutions due to climate change.

In the US, it is becoming more and more common. It's possible to take the town of Fairfield in Connecticut. In the event of a similar disaster, officials began looking for ways to keep some essential services running.

The police and fire headquarters, a homeless shelter, an emergency communications centre, and a mobile phone mast can all be powered by a gas generator and solar panels if the main grid goes down.

Image source, BoxPower

Miniature microgrid systems can be deployed during a crisis.

BoxPower gave a solar panel and microgrid solution that was packed in a shipping container when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. Two schools and a community centre had their electricity restored using the technology.

Whenever there is a problem with the main power grid, the kit is activated. BoxPower CEO and founder Angelo Campus says that those schools never lose power.

BoxPower has worked with utility companies to set up grid systems for remote areas. The community of Briceburg used to get electricity from long overhead power cables that traveled through the forest and up the hillsides. The cabling was prone to damage from fires.

He says that they replace the cables with an off- grid solar, battery and generator system which provides 100% of the power to that customer.

Image source, BoxPower

The community is no longer connected to the grid. Its power supply should be more stable in the future. 80%- 90% of the electricity comes from renewable sources.

The Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales is an example of an island-style microgrid.

She says that it's not allowed by the network operators because it means that the network is live at a time when they're doing repairs.

Image source, Newcastle University

Prof Hongjian Sun, an engineer who specializes in energy grids and power supply, said that installing microgrids that can operate independently of the main grid requires additional hardware and policies over when and how to detach from the main grid.

The electricity grid in the UK is more resistant to islanding than in the US, but it does happen occasionally.

In built-up urban areas it may be easier and cheaper to rely on a network of large batteries that could send power back to the main grid during a shortfall, according to BoxPower'sAngelo Campus.

With climate change and geopolitics threatening the reliability of energy supplies we have for so long taken for granted, the lure of back-up infrastructure is getting stronger.

The off- gridders are aware of where they are.

Everyone should have a back-up plan to stay safe.

The world is changing and we need to change with it.