In Puerto Rico, a glimpse into the future of flexible energy

After Hurricane Maria was destroyed, Puerto Rico Island became dark. Most of the island has been without electricity for months, with recent areas reconnecting to the network almost a year after the storm. Over $ 3.2 billion was spent to get the restoration, but the system is still not enough. When an earthquake of 6.4 struck, followed by several aftershocks, most of the island lost power again. But this time, in a few areas surrounded by darkness, the lights were still lit.

Donations to technology and other resources led to the creation of “microgrides” in Puerto Rico. These are local electrical networks harvesting energy through solar panels or other renewable energy sources, and storing excess energy in batteries to allow continuous power.

These delicate networks serve vital infrastructure in Puerto Rico from children’s hospital to water treatment facilities, to community centers and fire stations. After the earthquake, micro-powered systems were tested, and those in the range of its microgrid network were able to avoid power outages.

However, these mini networks are not the only solution implemented by Puerto Rican residents. The number of individual rooftop solar systems installed on the island nearly doubled in the year after Hurricane Maria, with about 10,000 new systems installed. Others have bought gas generators, which can be beneficial in the short term, but they depend on access to fuel and impose their own risks.

The bulk of the island still relies on a fragile electrical network. There is reason for optimism as legislation has been passed to build a distributed electrical system based on renewable energy.

The cost of power outages is measured in lives as well as dollars. Thousands of deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria are likely to return in part to a loss of the consecutive impact of power, including worsening health conditions and lack of access to care. In general, the costs for large companies can be millions of dollars an hour of turmoil, and the total cost of the American economy annually reaches $ 150 billion in power outages. Proactively shutting down the California electrical network to prevent California wildfires last fall, the economy may have cost more than $ 2 billion.

While billions are spent on rebuilding and maintaining networks centered on technology that has been more than half a century old, there are innovations in modular networks less prone to large-scale power outages, smart electricity orientation around these disturbances, and more powerful physical improvements that can make systems Our energy is more resilient to disaster. More costly strategies, such as burying power lines, may end up being less expensive in the long run if an additional outage is prevented.

To achieve flexibility, these strategies must take into account the critical infrastructure where they are deployed, along with any social vulnerabilities. Utilities can then make these strategies expand and provide energy for the masses. Individual renewable energy projects, such as solar energy storage and battery storage, are useful as illustrations and useful for a still relatively small number of people benefiting from them.

Incorporating these approaches into the design, modernization, and large-scale power generation systems is critical to achieving these benefits for the wider community. This is not a simple task. There are many actors and stakeholders including utilities, legislators, regulators, contractors and developers who represent a wide range of interests that must ultimately be aligned to the long-term interests of a society increasingly dependent on a flexible energy system.

While Puerto Rico provides a glimpse of what is possible, it is also a warning story. Microgrids and the best electrical infrastructure are already available for those who can afford them, or for those lucky enough to take advantage of nearby renewable energy. In order to truly fulfill the promise of technical innovations, they must be integrated into resilient smart electrical networks with the increasing number of extreme events we face. Only when the network can continue to provide these additional capabilities will there be sufficient societal resilience to meet the challenges that arise.

Jeff Schlegelmilch is deputy director of the National Disaster Preparedness Center at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and author of the upcoming book “Rethinking Preparedness: A Brief Guide to Megadisasters from the Twenty-first Century” from Columbia University Press. Follow him on Twitter @Jeffschlegel.

Shai Bahramirad, Ph.D., in Electrical Engineering, is Vice President of Engineering and Smart Grid for ComEd, the electrical tool that serves more than 4 million customers in Chicago and northern Illinois. Follow her on Twitter: SH_Bahramirad.

.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos