" By implementing solar microgrids, residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of clean and reliable energy, which can help reduce their carbon footprint and their energy bills. In addition, solar microgrids can help improve the resilience of the local power grid, as they can continue to operate even if the main power grid goes down due to severe weather or other disruptions. " But of course as you brought out design is key in areas that frequent hurricanes, tornadoes and the like. Solar systems by nature has to have access to the sun so long run cost effective resilient designs that can withstand these onslaught should be advanced. I am sure overtime these technical problems will be overcome, as more communities are willing to invest in these systems and would truly benefit in having their systems operational after such storms pass.
Solar Microgrids
Here are a few real-world examples of solar panels standing up to infamous hurricanes:
- Hurricane Sandy: In 2012, when Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, the state had 103 megawatts (MW) of PV capacity installed. After the storm, analysts found little or no damage from the hurricane. According to one solar system installer who had serviced over 200 customers, only a few metal casings were damaged by flooding, and one extremely large system had a couple of panels come loose.
- Hurricane Maria: In 2017, when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, a VA hospital in San Juan had a 645 kilowatt (kW) solar array that continued working at 100%, even after being exposed to 180 MPH winds. The flexible racking and anchoring systems used to keep the solar panels in place kept them from flying away.
- Hurricane Florence: In 2018, Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, leaving some fossil-fuel plants shut down for weeks from the flooding and damage. However, solar panels owned by Duke Energy were back to producing power the day after the storm.
- Hurricane Ian: In 2022, when Hurricane Ian swept through eastern Florida, Babcock Ranch, which calls itself “America’s first solar-powered town.” and is powered by more than 700,000 solar panels, suffered no loss of power and minimal damage, despite the storm uprooting trees and tearing shingles from roofs.
Solar Panels vs Hurricane Winds
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Timothy Mcbride
CEO/Owner
Sol-Era R & D
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2023 03:24 PM
From: Ella Nielsen
Subject: Will Puerto Rico become the first truly solar state in America?
Oh wow! Thanks so much for sharing this resource.
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Ella Nielsen
Membership & Engagement Manager
American Solar Energy Society
Boulder CO
Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2023 06:53 AM
From: Timothy Mcbride
Subject: Will Puerto Rico become the first truly solar state in America?
Here! Hear! We have a very good example of what can happen sadly after a disaster, but nevertheless eye opener to the realities of an obsolete grid system that cannot hold up during the coming weather crisis perpetrations.
Article quotes-
" The project has become a high-profile example in Puerto Rico of how residents are devising their own solutions to an electricity system that remains fragile and heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels. Should the island's main grid go down again - as it did for many months after Hurricane Maria - the shops in Adjuntas will be able to stay open without having to run costly, polluting diesel generators. Neighbors can still buy food and medicine, and they'll have a place to refrigerate insulin and charge electronics after the next disaster."
Hats off to all the good folk out there on the front lines of these energy transitions. Lets hope their launch goes well.
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/puerto-ricos-first-community-led-microgrid-is-ready-to-launch?
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Timothy Mcbride
CEO/Owner
Sol-Era R & D
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