SC future success lies in our grids
Distributed power generation, particularly from renewable sources, offers several advantages for South Carolina’s power generation future:
With the US having experienced longer and more frequent disruptions in power supply in recent years, the domestic attacks on power infrastructure and the global events unfolding, there is more discussion about energy resilience, and rightly so. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), resilience is the capacity to anticipate, adapt to, and rapidly recover from disruptive incidents. The US Department of Energy (DOE) states that resilient communities with energy-efficient facilities and other distributed energy resources can reduce danger to public safety, security, and health.
The USDOE sees distributed power generation on a national level as a way forward, how does the local utility in South Carolina see things? Local circumstances, like network status; are the transmission and distribution network sensitive to things like hurricanes, current generation, where is it located, what type of generation do we have in South Carolina? Reading on Santee Cooper’s website, we can find the following.
Santee Cooper has a Grid Resilience Grant Program.
“South Carolina is vulnerable to a multitude of natural hazards, ranging from hurricanes to ice storms. These hazards create significant risks to life, loss or damage to property, and damage to the electric grid. The duration of power disruptions that stem from these hazards can range from hours to weeks. “
Santee Cooper has established the South Carolina Grid Resilience Grant Program (GRG) to distribute these funds to projects that improve the resilience of the electric grid and help prevent or mitigate such natural hazard disruptions.
Santee Cooper has established the South Carolina Grid Resilience Grant Program (GRG) to distribute these funds to projects that improve the resilience of the electric grid and help prevent or mitigate such natural hazard disruptions.
Distributed power generation, particularly from renewable sources, offers several advantages for South Carolina’s power generation future:
Why should we care about grid upgrades?
Distributed power generation (DG), alongside grid upgrades, is an important concept for South Carolina’s future considering weather and global warming for a few reasons:
Resilience against extreme weather:
South Carolina is prone to hurricanes and severe storms that can damage traditional power grids. DG sources like rooftop solar can provide backup power during outages, keeping critical infrastructure and homes functioning.
Addressing summer peak demand:
Heat waves in summer cause peak electricity demand. DG sources like solar power generation peak during these same hot periods, alleviating stress on the grid and potentially reducing reliance on expensive peaker plants.
Grid upgrades for effective DG integration:
A modernized grid with smart technologies can better integrate DG sources, allowing for efficient two-way power flow and optimizing power distribution based on real-time needs.
Reducing reliance on fossil fuels:
Global warming concerns necessitate a shift towards cleaner energy sources. DG like solar and wind power can help South Carolina reduce dependence on fossil fuel plants and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, this combined approach can lead to a more reliable, sustainable, and weather-resistant power grid for South Carolina. It’s good to see that Santee Cooper sees this as a part of their infrastructure development and it is going to be interesting to see how it evolves.
Is solar, wind, and gas a long-term solution that addresses resilience, affordable supply, and supporting SC economic development?
At The Oaktree we are firm believers in circular economic development on a local basis. Thus, we believe that manufacturing the equipment here in the state, as well as sourcing the feedstock locally – biomass – generates both immediate and long-term growth.
The fact that our generating facilities are carbon-negative and have multiple product outputs, apart from electricity, is just an additional benefit!
Signing long-term fixed-price agreements for biomass allows for R&D and reliable forecasts. The same applies to electricity supply.
