While long being considered ideal for research beds to test high penetration of renewables, commercial viability has been a key issue for the wide-spread use beyond research and pilot projects.
However, since we started microgrid research at CSL almost a decade ago, prices of solar panels and prices have dropped dramatically by 85%, making them viable solutions in many different environments. In fact, microgrids have become one of the key building stones toward long-term sustainable energy networks all over the world, slowly bridging gaps between energy networks between developed and emerging markets.
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One of our researchers, Dr. Annette Werth, has taken the COVID time to reflect on her experience on microgrids in different environments, both in professional and volunteering settings – at CSL and beyond. The result is a series of in-depth articles discussing where and when microgrids are viable and what the key drivers are for each case. On-grid microgrids both using the existing infrastructure as well as islanding microgrids are features as well as microgrids in off-grid settings where they serve to provide energy access for the 674 Million people still living in darkness.
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Enjoy reading this very applied approach to microgrids all over the world!
- Episode 1:A Quick Overview of Microgrids (and How to Monetize Them) —Introduction the world of microgrids
- Episode 2: How to Monetize Microgrids Running on the National Grid?— on-grid microgrids on existing infrastructure
- Episode 3: Why Pay for Private Infrastructure with an On-Grid Microgrid?— on-grid microgrids with private infrastructure
- Episode 4a: A Little Primer for Off-Grid Microgrids— building a grid from the bottom-up
- Episode 4b: Designing an Off-Grid Microgrid 101— building a grid from the bottom up