![]() Microgrid solutions from Schneider Electric There is a secure control panel within the solar microgrid for technicians and community members to monitor, manage, and repair as needed.1. – Finally, the electricity reaches the household, business, or farm on-demand. These meters allow the community to track usage by consumer. – After power has exited the AC/DC inverter, the electricity passes through meters. The batteries ensure that communities have power at night and during stretches of cloudy weather. – Depending on the amount of sunlight available and the amount of power being used by the community, some of the electricity generated is stored in large batteries for future use. This inverter ensures that users are getting the right type of electric current for their needs. – Next, some of the electricity is sent directly out to users through the AC/DC inverter. ![]() It also allows for a single, consolidated connection to the inverter before being sent out to the community. The combiner box provides further protection for the system, minimises power loss, and allows for performance monitoring of the system. – All of the electricity from the PV array is then consolidated in the combiner box. It also extends the life of the batteries. This protects the batteries and the solar panels from damage caused by overcharging. The controller acts as a voltage/current regulator. – The electricity passes through a solar charge controller. – A solar photovoltaic (PV) array – or group of solar panels – captures and generates electricity from the sun’s light. Should a community grow, the solar microgrid can be expanded to connect more families and businesses. Other microgrids are expected to have a capacity closer to 15kw, enough energy to power hundreds of households and small businesses. Some of our solar microgrid systems have a capacity as small as 1.5kw, providing reliable energy to 25 homes and 5 businesses. Solar microgrids are an exciting renewable energy solution due to their application at any scale and their ability to be expanded later. To deal with cloudy weather, most systems also have storage capabilities that allow them to operate through stretches of sparse sunlight. Due to its reliance on the sun, solar microgrids perform at their best in regions that experience lots of sunshine. For this reason, they are well-suited for communities on small islands, within mountainous regions, and in remote rural areas. These systems are most appropriate in remote communities that are unable to connect to existing infrastructure provided by the government or private companies. ![]() The solar microgrid is broadly seen as a viable and robust solution to rural electrification around the world. Where is the Solar Microgrid appropriate? Thus far, Solar Microgrids have been used to power homes, hospitals, schools, businesses, irrigation pumps for agriculture, street lights, and more. These fees are collected and managed by an elected committee of community members (rather than a private or public utility company) and go towards future repairs or expansion of the network. Each month, families either pay a flat usage fee or a metred bill for energy that they personally used from the larger, shared network. With a solar microgrid, when a family turns on their lights or runs their refrigerator, they draw power from the central ‘hub’ on-demand. So, instead of households managing and repairing their own personal generators, they are connected to a community-wide energy provider. Sound familiar to how you get power? That’s because it likely is! The only difference is the size of the system and the use of solar panels. Once the technology has been installed, the solar microgrid is completed by connecting electrical wiring from the central power location to nearby houses, businesses, and farms. Sometimes called a ‘hub’, this central location is where all the technology is stored in a secure room, often underneath the solar panels themselves. This is done by installing large, high quality solar panels and batteries in a central location. Using energy generated from the sun, the system captures, stores, and distributes clean electricity to an entire community. Think of it in the same way that you and your neighbours receive your electricity – through a shared network. Solar Microgrids are integrated networks or ‘grids’ of power.
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