AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 17, 2021: A sign states that a Fiesta Mart is closed because of a power outage ... [+] in Austin, Texas on February 17, 2021. Millions of Texans are still without water and electric as winter storms continue. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)
Earlier this year, the state of Texas faced freezing temperatures without any power. Over 70 residents froze to death, farms were destroyed and on February 16th, at least 4.5 million Texans were without power.
As I scrolled through Twitter that week, I saw a lot of finger-pointing. Many blamed the federal administration for not providing aid, some shamed Ted Cruz, as he jetted off to Cancun and many blamed renewable energy and clean technology infrastructure, spreading claims that the windmills and solar panels simply froze and stopped working. Reliable news publications, both national and local, such as APNews, NBC, and Texas Monthly tried to refute the claims that renewable energy was to blame for such a major power outage and yet when reading the comments, it’s clear that many Americans still don’t trust renewable and off-grid technology.
The truth is, new technology, including new sources of power, can be scary. In the early 1800s when trains first were invented, many people were terrified. We laugh now, but to many, horses were that much more reliable than a big box of steel. The way many perceive off-grid solutions to power infrastructure is no different.
The Weather Really is Changing – and Resilience is Key Going Forward
Although Texas is the latest example, changing weather patterns have wreaked havoc across the globe. New York and California are two more examples of states that have highlighted the inadequacy of current power infrastructure. The fact is, the current grid infrastructure is unable to meet the current power demands and unable to withstand the inclement weather extremes we are now facing. Because it is a single model – one integrated grid, it is a single point of failure without the resiliency we need moving forward.
Changing weather and changing user needs demand a change to the design criteria of our power services. Central energy generation with massive distribution networks were great tools in the 1950s but they are not the best solution today and don’t meet the need of the population. With smarter systems and multiple distribution models - grid, micro-grid, nano-grid and other off-grid solutions, states can avoid having the very old technology of yesteryear. And, the great thing is these newer technologies and energy models are more cost-effective and have higher performance and resiliency. In order to have adequate power in today’s day and age, power systems need to be adaptable and to be able to anticipate changing weather patterns, while continuing to provide power to citizens.
Implementing Off-Grid to complement the Grid is the Solution
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, are one of the key drivers that makes it possible to move away from one central grid. Instead of large energy sources – oil, hydro, nuclear, gas, etc. – solar is small and modular. It’s a 2-inch square module. Putting that small module in a huge central location and then adding significant distribution costs is in fact more expensive than putting the solar at the end of the line – basically, energy generation happens where energy consumption occurs and off-grid really equals zero grid.
Imagine the cost of power if the grid cost was zero. That’s what off-grid does, it makes the grid transmission and distribution a cost of zero. No more transmission wires that can come down. No more transmission costs. In this way, power reliability goes up, and costs are lower with renewable off-grid solutions.
Becoming a part of the cleantech initiative isn’t just about saving the planet – although that is obviously a crucial component. Off-grid solutions can deliver outstanding and reliable power and lighting, creating real solutions with a real impact.
Now Let’s Add AI & Big Data
Of course, once you disconnect from the grid, centralized management is no longer there. Matching energy generated with energy consumed in an off-grid system, and managing that system becomes a critical component to the future success of off-grid.
One example can be found in utilizing predictive technology. Having advanced notice of weather and energy generation forecasts, mapped to energy consumption patterns, allows for reliable high-quality energy delivery from an off-grid system. Predictive data analytics can also assist in anticipating future problems for maintenance and management of the system.
Energy systems are like driving a car, before the car ends up in a ditch it hits the shoulder and the use of smart power electronics paired with those renewables can ensure optimum performance and uptime and minimal cost.
We’re Well on Our Way
In my last Forbes blog, I spoke about renewable and clean technology trends that we should expect to see come 2021. President Biden’s Plan for Climate Change and Environmental Justice has blown open the doorway for new renewable technologies and in the coming years we will continue to see renewable and clean technologies powering major infrastructures such as commercial real estate, transportation and day-to-day technologies.
We are already seeing this in areas such as street lighting, IoT and Smart City applications, telecom towers, and in rural areas both in North America and Europe as well as parts of Africa and South America.
So, what does this mean? It means that renewable energy is the solution to - and not the cause of - Texas’ blackouts.