This was an interesting news article about how Duke Energy will be doing a solar, battery, smart grid trial in Charolete, North Carolina.
The company is testing what it calls a “virtual power plant” at a substation in Charlotte, N.C., that it hopes will allow it to use electricity more efficiently.
The substation–where electricity is distributed to a local neighborhood–is equipped with a 50-kilowatt solar array, enough to supply at least five homes when operating. The 213 solar panels either feed electricity directly to the grid or to a 500-kilowatt zinc bromide battery.
About 100 households in the McAlpine Creek area have been equipped with a home energy management system that lets consumers view electricity consumption in real time and participate in energy-saving programs.
They have a video in the article that explains how their idea will work. Not sure what is going on with my local energy companies in Arizona, SRP and APS. SRP has been converting everyone over to smart meters - or at least meters that send in the usage everyday. That is the first step - now to provide customers real time access.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment