Page 73 - North American Clean Energy May/June 2019 Issue

Using AI technology, microgrids are able to virtually analyze the data from all connected devices, interpreting trends such as weather, the device owner’s behavior, and the behavior
of all other devices on the grid. Using
a machine learning algorithm, the virtual network allows each member
to connect to each other's power devices. is results in smarter and more adaptable energy allocation, and ensures that power is spent and bought in the most e cient way.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is another perk microgrids can facilitate through virtual marketplaces. Users can buy energy when they are de cient, sell when they produce too much, or give to family or loved ones in case of a crisis. Blockchain plays a vital role in this, as it helps verify transactions in the energy market. As of February, 150 companies worldwide are developing virtual microgrids using blockchain technology.
It’s easy to see how this would bene t those in a crisis: When disaster hits, users have access to a trustworthy energy network, rather than having to rely on the state-provided power. In Puerto Rico, companies are already providing virtual microgrids to turn entire city blocks into virtual power plants, in preparation for the next Hurricane Maria.
Microgrids for smarter, more sustainable energy Amidst the wreckage, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, one house shined bright as a beacon to all. e only place with power for miles, Casa Pueblo,
an ecology center, provided power
and acted as a makeshift hospital for hundreds of people in the weeks after the hurricane. What made Casa Pueblo special was its installation of solar powered microgrids. Taking advantage of the natural sunlight that Puerto Rico enjoys, Casa Pueblo was able to bypass the power outrage by using sustainable renewable energy. While solar power isn’t yet e cient enough to be the sole source of power throughout the year, it allows for buildings to retain resiliency in the midst of a crisis.
With their high compatibility with renewable energy, microgrids may be the nal catalyst to pave the way to a 100 percent renewable energy future.
A major bene t of solar-powered microgrids is their ability to store energy for later use. is is especially important when it comes to solar power, as energy can be stored during the day and used at night. is is the kind of exibility that developing countries with unreliable energy supplies simply can’t pass up. Renewable energy will not only bene t the planet in the long run, but
it will allow countries to increase their resiliency in the face of adversity.
Tomas Demcak is Co-founder and Chief Compliance O cer at FUERGY, an AI-powered device that utilizes blockchain to help users optimize energy consumption, maximize energy e ciency, and participate in the energy market.
FUERGY /// https://fuergy.com
Smart-grid ready medium voltage switchgear
Schneider Electric’s Premset, is a compact and modular vacuum, medium voltage (MV) switchgear providing reliability, safety, and ease of use.
e Premset switchgear was designed as a response to meet the new challenges of electrical distribution networks. Built using a Shielded Solid Insulation System (2SIS),
it allows MV network operators to increase safety and e ciency while minimizing downtime and meeting the needs of the smart grid. 2SIS protects all the switchgear's live parts with earth-screened solid insulation, reducing the risk of internal arcing and facilitating top performance in practically any environment. Premset MV distribution switchgear brings 2SIS technology to the market in a compact, highly modular form. is performance is achieved through the use of 2SIS combined with a
patented universal at power connection system and
an original mechanical design. As an added bene t,
the use of solid insulation increases life expectancy and enables high e ciency through advanced monitoring
and control. It helps ensure peak network performance in several ways, including feeder automation with built-in communication and local intelligence, load management with integrated smart metering, asset management
with advanced monitoring of switchgear, and the use of standard communication protocols. Premset Smart Grid embedded features are improving the management of today's networks and can anticipate future requirements
of evolving grid-management regulations.
Schneider Electric
/// www.schneider-electric.ca
As of this writing, sustained blackouts have returned to Maracaibo, causing further misery to its inhabitants. When it comes to protection against these kinds of crises, the only defense is preparation. Microgrids not only o er the power to avoid extensive disaster zones, but they are also the best way to get smart about energy in the 21st century.
Advanced LED lighting system
Xeleum Lighting introduces its Phaeton Parking Garage xture, a high e ciency outdoor/indoor IP65 wet location rated LED luminaire featuring fully integrated wireless lighting controls, including occupancy sensing and true daylight harvesting, in a 14” square xture which provides uniform illumination and low glare photometrics. It’s designed speci cally for applications where moisture or dust is an issue and as a replacement for uorescent and high intensity discharge xtures in existing installations. It complies with DLC Parking Garage Photometric and
4.2 Premium technical requirements and is also suited for applications such as tunnels, canopies, building entrances, and food facilities. e Phaeton achieves its uniform illumination and low glare through use of proprietary hybrid di user/lens optics with up-light prisms to eliminate hot spots and spreads light evenly throughout the surrounding ceiling and oor areas. Integrated into each Phaeton Fixture is Xeleum's Xi-Fi Wireless Control System, a powerful and easy to commission network capability which can reduce energy usage by as much as 90%. It features an intuitive user interface and enables users to create groups of xtures, adjust light levels, control illumination, and manage time-out settings, without having to make any physical adjustments at the xtures. is architecturally attractive luminaire, available in 40W and 75W models, features fast pay-back with e ciency of up to 140 lumens per watt; greater safety and comfort with brighter, more uniform illumination; full compliance with IESNA requirements; optional external emergency power module, and easy one-person installation.
Xylem /// www.xeleum.com
Solar powered explosion proof LED light
Larson Electronics announced the release of a solar powered explosion proof LED indicator light for remote areas and standalone applications where power is impractical or unavailable. is 7W unit o ers 360˚ of illumination and is ATEX rated for Zone 1 and 21 with a Class I, Division 2 solar panel. e ATEX-EPSLED- 80-STB-SOL-20C-C1D2-24V explosion proof solar powered LED indicator light operates on 24VDC, a Class I, Division 2 rated solar panel, and eight 24VAC 18aH sealed lead acid batteries. When exposed to direct sunlight, the battery bank charges in ve hours. e batteries are housed in a NEMA 4X remote enclosure and charged by the solar panel with a 20ft 12/2 SOOW cord connecting the light xture to the solar panel. Made of aluminum with a temperature-resistant pressed glass lens, this 7W lamp is rated for ammable environments and work sites where combustible gas, vapor, or mist may be present. is saltwater-resistant unit’s control box features either a day/night sensor and motion sensor, or an on/o switch. is LED indicator light o ers 1,235 candela and is compatible with wall, pendant, or trunnion mount con gurations.
Larson Electronics LLC /// www.larsonelectronics.com
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