From pv magazine USA
Recent studies have proposed using solar-plus-storage microgrids to minimise public safety concerns from power shutoffs (PSPS) during the wildfire season for communities located in wildland-urban interfaces, such as California and much of the US west coast.
A comprehensive assessment of microgrids had not been performed to evaluate the potential to enhance resilience for up to 46 million Americans living next to forests, or a wildland-urban interface, where wildfire risk is acute.
To address this research gap, a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory looked at a novel modelling framework and assessed the potential of solar and batteries for districts where power can be turned off based on wildfire warnings.
LBNL’s modelling framework consists of:
- Clustering algorithms that identify communities based on building footprint data, fire hazard severity, and renewable energy potential;
- A building simulation model to quantify the energy demand;
- An energy system optimisation model to assist the microgrid.
LBNL defines a microgrid as a controllable and localized energy grid that could be disconnected from the regional grid and operate independently.
An optimization tool was introduced to model microgrids in forest-bordering regions, and subsequently, an assessment was performed focusing on seven localities in California with different climate conditions.
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I thought the point of a micro grid was that you wouldn’t need a public safety power shut off!