NATURAL DISASTERS VS THE ENERGY GRID
It was a devastating event that many remember even if they lived nowhere near the US. It was just over 11 years ago today, (October 29, 2011) when Hurricane Sandy hit land in Cuba and destroyed homes and businesses across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, from the Caribbean to Canada! It caused almost $70 billion (USD) in damage and killed 233 people! Energy loss was responsible for some of those deaths. The superstorm had also obliterated the power grid.
Critical facilities lost energy. Hospitals needed to be evacuated when even their generators lost power. 8,000,000 energy customers lost power and their households were left without electricity for weeks. Some residents within affordable housing apartment blocks were essentially trapped inside their small, dark rooms.
Was this a wake-up call to the potential of renewable energy? For all the mockery that it gets from certain politicians, who have weaponised the climate change debate to rile up their base, the force of power (pun intended,) that is renewable energy, is making its way into a position of not just being accepted, but absolutely necessary.
The Sandy event is just one of many that sticks out as a disaster that should ignite urgent consideration regarding renewable energy including solar panels and storage batteries, because as much money as a government can throw into toughening up a power grid, as Eric Silagy of FPL, Florida’s largest electric company said, “There is no such thing as a hurricane-proof power grid.” The guy should know, Florida is basically a kick-bag for extreme storms.
Extreme weather continues to devastate power grids and while there has been some movement on the part of governments to create initiatives, subsidies, and hubs the people have started to take the power into their own hands (there’s that pun again).
In Australia it’s not just storms that we have to worry about; we also face other grid-killers like bushfires and floods.
With renewable energy becoming more accessible and affordable, and energy storage systems also improving in leaps and bounds since their inception, from the top to the bottom there is a realisation that a vital element to emergency planning is reliable electricity. It’s something that governments everywhere need to be working on and doing so with immediacy. But do you want to rely on the government?
In the over 10 years since Sandy, battery storage systems have had a huge drop in costs, and it is now an accessible investment for many homes. Not that it costs cents, we won’t be dishonest here, but many households are realising the benefits, including peace of mind in a world where energy costs are increasing, aging grids are becoming unreliable and natural disasters are becoming more frequent.
Around the world solar and energy storage systems are proving their worth as saviours during and immediately after disasters. From individual homes taking care of their own family’s needs, to caring for neighbours, to whole communities finding relief and independence by creating microgrids. In California a Native American tribe has not only been able to use their community microgrid to look after their own people during and after disasters, but they’ve also been able to act as an emergency response centre for surrounding areas.
So it would seem that solar energy and the storage of that energy through batteries, is the way to go. With a crystal ball in hand the answer could be more emphatic. As it stands right now that is yes with a suggestion. What many families are finding is that the “Three Kings” of energy-loss prep are solar power, solar storage and a back-up generator. This is especially so as in a disaster, where some homes are completely obliterated and reliance on neighbours factor in, or you simply want to have your home running as efficiently as possible, the added benefit of being able to power enough appliances, lights, charging stations and more can be invaluable.
Extreme weather events are not going anywhere. The power grid will continue to come off second best too often for liking. It is a reality that can’t be avoided. There is another reality though. The ability to source and store our own energy.
This article is brought to you by enewabl, the solar energy specialists. Talk to one of their team today by either:
–filling out the form on the homepage of this site
-calling 07 3038 3047 or
-emailing enquiries@enewabl.com.au about your needs and options.
They’ll make it as easy as possible to take your home from being solely reliant on the grid, to sourcing your energy from the almighty sun.
