At the risk of being trolled by pretty much everyone on the planet, rising energy costs are, in this Quiz Master's opinion, the best thing. Before you start piling on, think about this...
The vast majority of the energy we use still comes from fossil fuels. We know we must reduce our use of fossil fuel derived habits and products and we need to do it quickly. The best way to do that is to either legislate or make it really really expensive. Given the extraordinary subsidy of fossil fuels around the world, legislation ain't going to happen. But the price of power is on a very steep trajectory, with no end in sight. Suddenly solar rooftop is looking attractive - and economically viable, if you can afford the up front hit.
If you even cared what a microgrid was - and likely you didn't because it wasn't something we particularly thought of - microgrid is still defined by Oxford Dictionary as being: “a small network of electricity users with a local source of supply that is usually attached to a centralized national grid but is able to function independently. This microgrid delivers power to homes, a school, a church, a health centre, three general stores, and street lights.” You're probably snoozing already.
The reality is that microgrids might utilise existing grid infrastructure, but they increasingly exist to separate energy supply from the national poles and wires grid. There are are several types of microgrids, but the idea is the same – energy created locally with solar or other renewables, stored in batteries and distributed locally. Local control usually means community or local ownership, cheaper energy - at least bargained directly - and more control in it's resiliance.
It looks something like this, although it may not be connected to the big energy network.
The need for resilience and reliability with bushfire, flood and cyclone events becoming more frequent and severe is now well known. Local energy solutions like microgrids, supported by advances in technology have demonstrated how microgrids provide reliable power, even during extreme weather events - or at able to get energy supply up and running again quickly after an event.
In the past, remote areas around the world have struggled to get ready access to energy and to have reliable supply. Hyper local picogrids, neighbourhood nanogrids minigrids or remote grids are literally changing this landscape.
Battery powered home solar systems are arguably a teeny microgrid 😊. If you own your home, solar is the best way to go hyper local, save money and create a heap of other good green vibes by not using fossil fuel energy.
Support businesses who provide local solutions or who use local energy to make or provide goods and services.
Infographic of Microgrid: Berkeley Labs