Grid Weakness in Irvine, California Points to Energy Storage
Homeowners in Irvine recognize the vulnerable power grid... and how to protect their own power.
The Californian power grid is vulnerable, and it shows.
After the fall we had in California, the heat is on. Everyone is well aware that that the power grid, as it stands... well... isn't standing very well.
California's current electrical grid system is not well-protected from a variety of elements, from forest fires to cyber attacks. Though some have proposed new ways to protect the electrical grid, like by putting it underground, we think the grid needs to be completely re-imagined. The clear, most elegant solution? The widespread use of solar power, and energy storage.
Though our country’s utilities are an invaluable resource, the systems still rely on 1970s era technology.
Updating utility systems means interrupting service, so it’s rarely done. Our current power infrastructure simply wasn’t designed to stand up to modern threats.
The electrical grid is particularly weak because its network is spread out over many installations that are miles apart. An infrastructure like that is difficult to protect. Damage to the power grid is also particularly grievous because of the domino effect that a disabled grid has on a widespread area. In basic terms, electricity keeps all our other systems running. Take down this single system, and the rest will follow. We’ve backed ourselves into a situation where the technology we possess to detect and monitor damage to our power grid depends on the grid itself. Not ideal, right?
The Growing Threat of Forest Fires
Across the country in California, forest fires pose a huge threat to the power grid… which includes a widespread web of wooden posts. Think about it.
Wooden power lines are not the only reason why forest fire can shut down the power grid. Hydroelectric plants, like the ones that power much of San Francisco, are also susceptible to fire. In the case of the San Francisco fire, the plants had to be shut down because of their close proximity, rendering huge pockets of San Francisco powerless.
Australian bushfires have a had a similar impact on the Aussie grid, and the latest fire season has resulted in a huge push for a new kind of energy system, one that includes solar panels and energy storage for residential homes.
The Australian Solar Solution
After a rough bushfire season in Australia, authorities immediately started talking about putting power lines underground. The wooden poles and poorly-insulated lines were much too vulnerable to the bushfires, with the current infrastructure making Australians extremely vulnerable to a crisis caused by prolonged power outages. But as underground grid talks were underway, a new study suggested a much cheaper, and simpler option: solar power and battery storage.
The installation of solar power and home batteries, studies say, can completely eliminate the risk of electrical outages by fire at just a tenth of the price as other forms of grid restructuring, like underground lines. At the very least, Australian scientists say, residents could off-grid power during the days and weeks when there was a high fire risk, though there are obvious benefits for using solar and battery storage systems much more often. Solar panels, when coupled with home battery storage systems, can provide not only blackout protection and back-up power, but reliable, renewable power from the sun all year round.
The scientist behind this idea is University of Loughborough’s Michael Williamson, who has spent years crunching the numbers, and considering various solutions to the vulnerable grid. After taking an in-depth look at all options, Williamson is confident in the solar-plus-storage approach, and says that this idea is easily transferable to other fire=prone regions such as New South Wales, and you guessed it, California.
California’s Bright Solar Future
Southern California would also be an excellent place to implement widespread solar and energy storage usage to protect residential customers from widespread power outages. Bushfires and forest fires pose the same threat to an elongated, open-air power grid, and the current infrastructure is currently putting millions of grid-connected customers at risk.
California has a long history of power outages due to wildfire, not to mention earthquakes and other natural disasters. But California also has a long history of leading the country in green energy initiatives, and now is no exception. Recent major decisions have made it easier than ever for Californians to take advantage of incentives and install solar panels and energy storage systems of their own. Now is the perfect time for California to set up a new power infrastructure, especially in the residential sector, to protect households from the threats of prolonged power outages.
At this point, California has set residents up well to build up this protection themselves. The extension of retail-rate net metering and the Self-Generation Incentive Program are giving residents looking into solar power and energy storage a huge financial boost. Here’s a review of the benefits of these two programs:
With California’s unique cocktail of grid vulnerabilities, it’s more important than ever to set yourself up with the clean, reliable power that solar panels and home batteries provide. And with the current financial incentives available through SGIP, there’s never been a better time to invest in a brighter energy future. If you’re ready to jump in, let Swell guide you to all of the resources you need.