Microgrids can use wind turbines and/or solar panels to provide clean, green energy for your business. These renewable energy sources can save money in the long run and provide independence from California’s main power grid.
Are you looking for cleaner energy alternatives for California commercial, industrial, or agricultural sites? Do you want independence from the rising electricity costs? Keep reading to discover how creating a microgrid with renewable energy sources will get you closer to your goals.
Want a bigger picture of microgrids? Read The Benefits of Microgrids.
This Access Electric blog post will explain the cleanest energy options for powering a microgrid and storing excess energy for later on-site use. We’ll also explain who to contact to look into microgrids and answer frequently asked questions.
Solar panels and wind turbines are California's most common renewable energy sources for microgrids. Geothermal energy and solar heat are additional renewable energy sources in some areas of the world.
Microgrids can be powered by fossil fuel-dependent energy sources, too. Microgrids can be powered by diesel-powered generators, combined heat and power (CHP), which uses natural gas, or a combination of energy sources for reliable energy.
Microgrids with batteries can store generated power for use within the microgrid later, and we’ll talk about that later.
Solar panels harness sunlight to generate electricity. Solar panels can be used to power warehouses, factories, schools, and other buildings. Newer solar panel technology allows commercial solar panels to adjust their positioning for optimal sunlight throughout the day and seasons!
Commercial solar panels may be installed on the roof, the ground, or in parking lots.
Solar panels are traditionally installed on rooftops, which is perfect for most commercial buildings because the roofs are mostly flat. You can also combine the rooftop potential with other options for even more solar energy.
Solar Panels can be installed on the ground in what is called ground-mounted solar arrays. This type of installation is the best type for solar panels that can move throughout the day to capture the ideal amount of sunlight in the photovoltaic cells.
Solar panels can be installed in parking lots without sacrificing space for cars. By building carports in the lot, cars can be shaded from the sun, and solar panels can be installed on the carport roofs to generate electricity for the business.
Wind turbines are less common in microgrids, particularly microgrids in the city. Traditional wind turbines are large, and the wind shadow in the city stunts potential energy gains. Newer wind turbine technology makes wind turbines more feasible for some city rooftops.
New wind turbine technology combines solar energy and small wind turbines with aerodynamic shaping to catch the wind and then direct it through the turbine to for maximum electricity generation.
Small rooftop wind turbines are not the best option for city buildings under five stories since the wind shadow will be much harder to compensate for.
The sun isn’t always shining, and the wind doesn't always blow, but you can save wind and solar energy by using a fuel cell or battery to store energy for later. Batteries collect excess energy generated from the microgrid and put it back into the microgrid when it’s most needed.
Remember that batteries need regular servicing to maintain efficiency and extend their life.
California leads the country in microgrids. You can add your business to the growing number that are close to or have achieved energy independence with their microgrid. Work with an electrical contractor to design and build a microgrid for your needs.
Access Electric offers design-build services and microgrid technology to California commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings and sites. Contact us online or call (209)-577-1491 during business hours for more information.
Access Electric provides microgrid services in the following locations and surrounding areas:
To learn the cost savings of microgrids, read this Access Electric blog post. To learn how a microgrid compares to backup power, read here.
Microgrids can use renewable energy sources even when the main power grid does not. This makes microgrids environmentally friendly when they harness renewable energy sources. Microgrids can run on wind, solar, geothermal, or solar heat energy.
In the United States, most power grids run on a combination of solar power, generators, combined heat and power (CHP), and batteries. Some microgrids may also include wind turbines where feasible.
Onsite renewable energy is electricity generated at the location where it’s used from renewable sources such as wind or solar. In contrast, diesel and natural gas are not considered renewable because fossil fuels are a finite resource.
Microgrids can use solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal energy, and solar heat energy to generate electricity. In the United States, solar power using photovoltaic cells is the most common source of renewable energy used by microgrids.
Microgrids are the future because location-centric electricity generation solves many of the main power grid's hurdles in harnessing renewable energy sources. When renewable energy sources are combined with energy storage, like batteries in a microgrid, the energy supply is more reliable.
Microgrids are sustainable because power sources do not have to rely on fossil fuels. Renewable energy like solar or wind can be used to supply the microgrid’s electricity needs. Batteries can store excess energy to be used when new electricity generation is slow in the microgrid.
Microgrids can generate electricity using clean energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal energy, and solar heat energy. Combined heat and power (CHP) is a cleaner microgrid alternative in places where coal burning supplies the main power grid.
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