Occupational therapist Sheila Longpré has lived and worked in two hurricane zones, Florida and Texas, and in Michigan, where winter storms can also impact life and safety. With increased reliance on home technology (and that technology being dependent upon electricity), older adults and those with Contact online >>
Occupational therapist Sheila Longpré has lived and worked in two hurricane zones, Florida and Texas, and in Michigan, where winter storms can also impact life and safety. With increased reliance on home technology (and that technology being dependent upon electricity), older adults and those with medical conditions are even more vulnerable in power outages.
Citing durable medical equipment, refrigeration and smart home controls for lighting, appliances and other necessities, the new program director at Utah Tech University''s occupational therapy curriculum warned, "This is probably even more problematic now than in previous years." (There are simply more households using these features.) Longpré cited this modern facet of resilience as an emerging practice area for occupational therapy.
Adults of all ages, health status, and state locations can be impacted by power outages, as became painfully evident in Texas'' 2021 wintry outage that claimed 246 lives across 77 counties. That incident, plus the intensifying tempo of hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters, is spurring soaring demand for home microgrids.
"Our inquiries for battery back-up have skyrocketed in the last 12 to 18 months. Five years ago, one in 20 customers would ask about this; today it''s closer to one in three," declared Logan Boesch, a Tampa-based independent solar consultant. Dunnington has also seen demand increase by 25%, he reported.
Aside from a freak hurricane occurrence last year, Southern California''s mild climate does not scream out for storm resilience. Demand in his region is being driven by the desire for energy independence and higher peak energy rates, Dunnington noted. "Across the country, homeowners are increasingly interested in microgrids due to a combination of factors that include rising energy costs, concerns about grid reliability, and a growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility," he added.
The biggest drivers in Boesch''s Southeastern market are hurricanes and power outages, (which may become more common with rising temperatures straining utilities), but the Tampa consultant also cited unfavorable solar power buyback programs from local utilities. Looking across the country, he predicted, "As the grid continues to get older and fail more often, we will see utility prices continue to soar. As this happens people will be looking for other alternatives, along with the safety and security of producing your own power."
Microgrids are certainly popular among luxury builders and homeowners, but that popularity is spurring some economies of scale and competition that make them more feasible at more price points. "We have already seen massive price reductions in the cost of batteries," Boesch commented. His projects have ranged from $20,000 up to $200,000. Dunnington ranged his systems from $10,000 to $50,000 or higher, depending on whether the home already has solar panels installed.
Government incentives can reduce some costs: "Right now, the federal government has a 30% tax credit available," Boesch noted, but he and Dunnington both suggest that homeowners check with their utilities for state and local incentives.
Longpré added that there may be financial help available for clients with health issues through government and nonprofit agencies, and shared that their OT can help them find and access these programs.
Can a microgrid work on your property? If you don''t have good sun access, space for solar panels, too much tree coverage or zoning issues, you might be thwarted in adding this capability. Condo owners have additional considerations with homeowner association rules.
Price can be a factor for some households, even with incentives. "Homes with extremely high energy demands may require larger and more expensive microgrid systems to meet their needs effectively," Dunnington pointed out.
When it comes to determining your capacity needs, online sizers aren''t always reliable or up to date, Boesch noted, so it''s best to consult with a pro for your particular needs. At a minimum, he recommends 20 kilowatts minimum if you''re running an air conditioner. Dunnington suggested referring to the number of kilowatt hours you''re currently consuming, (which should be available on your electric bill or through your provider), and sizing your system accordingly.
"Common mistakes that we have seen homeowners make include underestimating their energy needs, failing to properly size the system to meet their requirements, and overlooking important regulatory or permitting requirements," the San Diego pro added.
"As technology continues to evolve and costs decrease, microgrid solutions are becoming increasingly accessible to a wider range of homeowners, offering both economic and environmental benefits," Dunnington summarized. He can easily add mental health and resiliency benefits. This is especially important for individuals aging at home, Longpré concluded.
Working with PowerSecure and the Tampa Electric (TECO), Metropolitan Ministries Foundation late last week inaugurated a microgrid designed to enable the organization to continue to serve its community, even through severe storms.
The microgrid project had its roots in 2017 when Hurricane Irma was barreling toward Tampa. As it turned out, Tampa did not experience a direct hit from Irma, but Metropolitan Ministries'' main campus and much of the region suffered from flooding and lost power for four days or more.
The morning after, families came to Metropolitan Ministries and lined up looking for help. Metropolitan Ministries was forced to operate in the dark with a mobile kitchen in the parking lot in order to feed community members and residents and keep them safe.
"It took us a little bit by surprise how much the people and city depend on us," Justine Burke, the organization''s vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "Many couldn''t just evacuate or go to a hotel for a week because they could not afford it. When we showed up to work the next day, there was a huge line of people outside of our Outreach Center, waiting for us to help them."
In the following days, Metropolitan Ministries served more than 4,000 hot meals to local families and provided thousands of ''meals, ready-to-eat'' (MREs) to area families. The non-profit organization also sheltered many displaced families, as well as the more than 100 families already residing at the facility. On average, Metropolitan Ministries provides services to 30,000 families and homeless individuals.
"We had portable generators all over the place, many loaned by volunteers," Burke says. "We charged our phones on those generators and ran the refrigerators, but it was really more of a reactionary plan."
It was at that point that the board of directors asked the staff of Metropolitan Ministries to explore options for adding permanent emergency power to better prepare for the next extended outage.
"We just didn''t have that funding for a generator," Mark Rios, Metropolitan Ministries'' vice president of real estate, said in a statement. Then a board member suggested the organization contact PowerSecure.
PowerSecure was able to propose a microgrid system for Metropolitan Ministries that was 20% less expensive than systems from other installers, Jackie Neese, the company''s manager of marketing and communications, said. "We were able to do that because of our relationship with TECO."
The microgrid itself was configured for Metropolitan Ministries with a single point of contact with the grid and advanced paralleling switchgear. The system includes a tier 4, 625 kV diesel engine with the ability to isolate from the grid automatically in the instance of an outage or when it is called upon by TECO for load management.
The Metropolitan Ministries microgrid operates as part of TECO''s demand response program. "It is TECO''s insurance policy," Michael Ammerman, director of the distributed generation program development at PowerSecure, a subsidiary of Southern Company, said. "It is a non-spinning reserve substitute for spinning reserves."
About Ngerulmud florida microgrids
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Ngerulmud florida microgrids have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Ngerulmud florida microgrids for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Ngerulmud florida microgrids featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
