In conversations surrounding microgrids, the topic of real-time data for monitoring energy often arises, and for some, it may still seem like a relatively unfamiliar concept. However, the importance of data in microgrids cannot be understated, and it plays a crucial role in unlocking numerous benefits. Let’s explore this concept further in a positive and informative manner:

In the world of microgrids, real-time data has emerged as a transformative force, revolutionizing the way energy is monitored and managed. While it may seem like a novel concept to some, the significance of real-time data in microgrids cannot be overlooked.

Gone are the days when energy monitoring relied solely on periodic readings and estimations. With real-time data, microgrid operators and businesses gain unprecedented visibility into the intricate workings of their energy systems. This level of insight provides a wealth of opportunities for optimization, efficiency, and resilience.

Real-time data empowers stakeholders to monitor energy generation, consumption, and storage with remarkable accuracy and timeliness. It offers a window into the behavior and dynamics of the microgrid, enabling operators to make informed decisions based on up-to-the-minute information. This granular level of understanding allows for better management of energy flows, load balancing, and demand response participation.

By embracing real-time data, microgrid operators and businesses can unlock a host of benefits. They gain the ability to identify peak demand periods and strategically adjust energy consumption, a practice commonly known as peak shaving. This not only helps alleviate strain on the grid during high-demand periods but also contributes to optimizing energy costs, ultimately leading to financial savings.

Furthermore, real-time data serves as a catalyst for energy efficiency improvements. By closely analyzing energy consumption patterns and understanding the factors influencing energy costs, businesses can make informed decisions about their energy usage. Armed with this knowledge, they can implement energy-saving measures, identify areas of waste, and proactively reduce their overall energy expenses.

Beyond cost savings, real-time data facilitates active participation in demand response programs. With a comprehensive understanding of energy usage patterns and load flexibility, businesses can adjust their energy consumption during peak demand periods or stressed grid conditions. By dynamically responding to the needs of the grid, they contribute to its stability while also reaping financial incentives and revenue opportunities.

Real-time data also plays a vital role in enhancing the resilience of microgrids. By closely monitoring energy systems, businesses can assess their energy needs, identify critical loads, and plan for backup power in the event of grid disruptions or blackouts. This level of preparedness ensures continuity of operations, minimizes downtime, and safeguards against potential financial losses.

Moreover, real-time data enables the seamless integration of renewable energy sources into microgrids. By monitoring renewable energy generation and consumption in real-time, businesses can optimize their utilization of clean energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and make significant strides towards achieving their sustainability goals.

Real-time data empowers microgrid operators and businesses with a wealth of information, enabling them to make data-driven decisions, optimize energy usage, reduce costs, enhance grid reliability, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future. Embracing real-time data is a transformative step towards unlocking the full potential of microgrids and shaping a more resilient and efficient energy landscape.

Gridscape, with its real-time data capabilities, offers clients and businesses the opportunity to extract the maximum potential from their microgrids. By harnessing real-time data, Gridscape enables clients to monitor and analyze crucial aspects of their microgrid operations, leading to optimized performance and enhanced outcomes.

With real-time data, clients gain valuable insights into energy generation, consumption, and storage within their microgrids. This granular visibility empowers them to make informed decisions and take proactive actions to maximize efficiency and reliability. Clients can monitor energy flows, identify inefficiencies, and implement load balancing strategies to optimize energy usage and minimize waste.

Gridscape’s real-time data also enables clients to actively participate in demand response programs. By closely monitoring energy usage patterns and grid conditions, clients can dynamically adjust their energy consumption, contributing to grid stability and earning financial incentives. This participation not only benefits the overall grid system but also brings economic advantages to the clients.

Furthermore, real-time data provided by Gridscape facilitates effective energy planning and resiliency. Clients can assess their energy needs, identify critical loads, and plan backup power strategies in the event of grid disruptions or blackouts. By ensuring continuous operations, clients can minimize downtime and potential financial losses.

Integration of renewable energy sources is another area where Gridscape’s real-time data proves invaluable. Clients can monitor the performance of renewable energy generation systems in real-time, optimizing their utilization and reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuel-based power sources. This helps clients meet sustainability goals, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to a greener energy future

Collaboration and partnerships play a pivotal role in the successful deployment of microgrids. Firstly, the complexity of microgrid projects requires expertise from various domains such as renewable energy, energy management systems, and grid optimization. Collaborating with different stakeholders brings together diverse skill sets, knowledge, and resources, fostering innovation and ensuring comprehensive solutions. Additionally, partnerships with utilities and policymakers are crucial to navigating regulatory frameworks, securing funding, and gaining access to existing infrastructure.

Furthermore, collaboration with local communities and end-users fosters engagement, trust, and support for microgrid projects. By involving key stakeholders throughout the process, from planning to implementation and beyond, microgrid deployments can benefit from shared expertise, efficient resource allocation, reduced costs, and increased scalability. Overlooking the importance of collaboration and partnerships can hinder the successful deployment of microgrids, limiting their potential to drive sustainable energy transitions.

Collaboration and partnerships play a pivotal role in driving the growth of microgrid deployment. Here are some key reasons why:

Access to Diverse Expertise: Collaboration brings together different stakeholders, including microgrid companies, utilities, technology providers, policymakers, and local communities. Each of these entities brings unique expertise, resources, and perspectives to the table. By collaborating, they can leverage their strengths and overcome challenges more effectively, leading to more efficient and successful microgrid deployments.

Resource Sharing and Cost Optimization: Developing and implementing microgrids require significant investments in infrastructure, technology, and operational resources. Collaboration allows for the sharing of resources and costs among partners, reducing financial burdens and making projects more economically viable. For example, utilities can collaborate with microgrid companies to share their existing grid infrastructure, enabling cost-effective integration of microgrids into the larger energy system.

Regulatory and Policy Support: Collaborative efforts bring together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, allowing them to advocate for supportive policies and regulations. This collaboration can help create an enabling environment for microgrid deployment by addressing regulatory barriers, streamlining permitting processes, and ensuring fair market access. By working together, stakeholders can shape policies that incentivize and accelerate microgrid adoption, leading to faster and smoother deployments.

Risk Mitigation and Resilience: Microgrids are designed to enhance the resilience and reliability of the energy system. Collaboration and partnerships enable stakeholders to pool their expertise and resources to identify and mitigate potential risks. This includes designing robust backup systems, incorporating cybersecurity measures, and developing effective disaster response plans. Collaborative efforts can also help secure funding from multiple sources, diversifying financial risks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of microgrid projects.

Scalability and Replicability: Collaboration allows for the exchange of knowledge and best practices among different microgrid projects. Lessons learned from one deployment can be shared and applied to others, accelerating the learning curve and enabling scalability. By collaborating, stakeholders can collectively work towards standardizing technical specifications, interoperability standards, and operational protocols, making it easier to replicate successful microgrid models in different regions and communities.

Gridscape leads the way in collaborative efforts, spearheading the successful deployment of microgrids in California. By actively engaging with renewable energy providers, technology companies, and government entities, Gridscape forms strategic partnerships to leverage expertise and resources. This accelerates the development of efficient and reliable microgrid solutions, tailored to meet specific energy needs and improve grid resiliency. Working closely with local communities and utilities, Gridscape ensures seamless integration with existing infrastructure. With a commitment to collaboration, Gridscape drives the widespread adoption of microgrids in California, paving the path to a sustainable energy future.

Microgrids are transforming the way we think about energy, offering communities and individuals greater control over their power supply and reducing their reliance on large utility companies. While the most obvious benefit of microgrids is their ability to provide reliable and cost-effective energy, they also have significant impacts on improving quality of life. In this essay, we will discuss how microgrids are improving quality of life by enhancing health and safety, enabling economic growth, and fostering social cohesion and community resilience.

One of the most significant ways microgrids are improving quality of life is by enhancing health and safety. With microgrids, communities can establish more reliable and resilient power systems that are less prone to blackouts, brownouts, and other power outages. This is particularly important in regions that are vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. During emergencies, reliable power can make all the difference for health and safety. For example, microgrids can power critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, police stations, and water treatment facilities, allowing these essential services to continue functioning even in the event of a larger power outage. Additionally, microgrids can power essential home medical equipment, such as ventilators and oxygen concentrators, helping to ensure that individuals with health conditions can receive the care they need even during power outages.

Microgrids can also enhance safety by reducing the risk of electrical accidents. Traditional grid systems can be dangerous, particularly in rural areas, where electrical infrastructure may be exposed and not well-maintained. Microgrids, on the other hand, can be designed with safety in mind. They can incorporate advanced technology, such as smart meters and advanced inverters, that reduce the risk of electrical fires and other hazards. Additionally, microgrids can be installed with backup power systems, such as batteries or generators, that prevent power surges and voltage fluctuations that can damage electronic equipment and create dangerous electrical conditions.

Another way microgrids are improving quality of life is by enabling economic growth. Microgrids can provide reliable and cost-effective power to businesses, allowing them to operate more efficiently and productively. For example, in rural areas, microgrids can power agriculture operations, allowing farmers to irrigate their fields and keep their produce fresh. Additionally, microgrids can power small businesses, such as shops, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities, providing these businesses with the power they need to stay open and contribute to the local economy.

Microgrids can also promote economic growth by creating jobs. The installation, operation, and maintenance of microgrids require skilled labor, providing employment opportunities for individuals in the local community. Additionally, the development of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can create additional job opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

Microgrids can also improve quality of life by fostering social cohesion and community resilience. With microgrids, communities can take greater control over their energy supply, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility. This can foster a greater sense of community, as individuals work together to create a sustainable and resilient power system. Additionally, microgrids can facilitate the sharing of power between individuals and businesses in the community, allowing for greater cooperation and mutual support.

Microgrids can also improve community resilience by providing backup power during emergencies. This can help to ensure that individuals and businesses can continue to operate even during extended power outages. Additionally, microgrids can help to reduce the impact of energy price spikes, which can cause economic hardship and social dislocation.

Microgrids can improve the quality of life by promoting sustainable living. By integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, microgrids can reduce carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable energy system. This can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the natural environment,

Sustainable energy is often referred to as a “game changer” because it has the potential to significantly transform the way we produce and consume energy. There are a few key ways in which sustainable energy can be a game changer and provide energy security in the time of energy crisis:

1. Renewable energy sources are abundant and widely available: Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and geographically concentrated, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower are widely available and can be harnessed in many parts of the world. This can help to reduce our reliance on a single energy source and improve energy security.
2. Renewable energy is more reliable and resilient: Renewable energy sources are generally more reliable and resilient than fossil fuels, as they are not subject to the same price volatility or supply disruptions. This can help to improve energy security and reduce the risk of blackouts or other disruptions.
3. Renewable energy can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: One of the major challenges we face today is climate change, which is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. By transitioning to renewable energy sources, we can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change.

Sustainable energy- The Trendsetters

One trend that has been particularly notable in recent years is the rapid growth of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. In 2022, we saw continued growth in the adoption of these technologies, with increasing numbers of homes, businesses, and governments turning to renewable energy to meet their electricity needs. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 and beyond, as the cost of renewable energy continues to decline and technology improves.

Another trend we have seen in recent years is the increasing use of energy storage systems, such as batteries, to store excess renewable energy for use when it is needed. This can help to improve the reliability and resilience of renewable energy systems, particularly in areas with intermittent sources of power like solar and wind. This trend is also expected to continue in 2023 and beyond, as energy storage technology improves and becomes more cost-effective.

There has been a trend towards the use of microgrids, which are small-scale power systems that can operate independently of the larger power grid. Microgrids can be powered by a variety of sources, including renewable energy, and can provide a reliable and resilient source of power for communities and businesses. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 and beyond, as microgrids become more cost-effective and widely adopted.

Sustainable energy in 2023-

Sustainable energy in 2023 will depend on a variety of factors such as market trends, policies and so on. However, it is likely that we will continue to see growth in the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, as well as increased use of energy storage systems and microgrids this year.

One trend to watch is the continued decline in the cost of renewable energy, which has been steadily falling in recent years. As the cost of renewable energy continues to decline, it is likely that we will see more homes, businesses, and governments turning to these technologies to meet their electricity needs.

Another trend to watch is the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). As the cost of EVs continues to decline and charging infrastructure improves, it is likely that we will see more people choosing EVs as their primary mode of transportation. This trend could have a significant impact on the demand for electricity, as EVs are typically charged at home or at work, which could increase the need for electricity during off-peak hours.

Factors that can further aid sustainable energy adoption in 2023

There are a few factors that could give sustainable energy a push in 2023 and beyond:

1. Technological advancements: As technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see improvements in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. This could make renewable energy more attractive to a wider range of customers, including homeowners, businesses, and governments.
2. Policy decisions: Government policies and incentives can also play a role in driving the adoption of sustainable energy. For example, if governments adopt policies that support the development and use of renewable energy, such as subsidies, tax credits, or renewable energy standards, this could give a boost to the industry.
3. Market trends: Market trends, such as the cost of electricity and consumer preferences, can also influence the adoption of sustainable energy. For example, if the cost of electricity from traditional sources such as coal or natural gas increases, this could make renewable energy more attractive to consumers. Similarly, if consumers become more aware of the environmental and health benefits of sustainable energy, they may be more likely to choose renewable energy sources.

Overall, it is likely that a combination of technological advancements, policy decisions, and market trends will contribute to the growth of sustainable energy in 2023 and beyond.

The need for energy security is pretty evident now. The world is going through a major energy crisis. The war has exposed our vulnerabilities and shown us our unpreparedness.
Back here at home in the United States, things are not looking promising either. Did you know the US suffers more power outages than any other developed nation?
According to PowerOutage.US, power outages jumped to 73% in 2020 due to extreme weather events.
This power crisis is costing American businesses as much as $150 billion each year, which is roughly $500 for every person. The main reason for the frequent blackout is the aging grid infrastructure and poor planning.
Right now the world is experiencing a lot, on one hand environmental, political, economic & other pressures are prompting efforts to minimize fossil fuel consumption. And on the other, energy needs are skyrocketing.
Grids are under a lot of stress and they are failing every day; this is leaving a gap in the electricity supply that is being filled by sustainable energy.
Renewable energy is no longer an implausible idea but it is in fact the future of the electric grid. Local sustainable energy can provide a source of reliable backup power should the main grid go down.

Understanding the local sustainable power plant

A local renewable power plant, also known as a microgrid, is a self-contained, localized power system that can disconnect from the main grid to function autonomously. A microgrid supplies electricity to a specific geographic area, such as a college campus, factory, shopping mall, or even a community. Since microgrids can operate independently, they help with faster response and recovery.

One or more types of distributed energy (solar panels, wind turbines, cogeneration, generators) are used to generate electricity within microgrids.

Although the name has the word ‘micro’ in it, it doesn’t really mean this system is small and insignificant. A microgrid has no limit, the size of a microgrid is decided on the basis of project requirements, space, and budget. A microgrid has the ability to power an entire campus or a major factory for several hours in the event of power disruptions. Typically, microgrid components are local power generation, energy storage, inverters, MG controller, software, and other power electronics that will allow a site to be islanded from the grid in case of a power shutdown. 

Microgrids are a great answer for continuity in times of blackout or power disruptions as they can island off from the larger power grid during times of incidents, and maintain supply with self-sufficiency.

Microgrids are essential for maintaining grid resilience, reducing and mitigating grid disturbances, and even being a key to faster response and recovery for grid disruptions. The growing integration of distributed energy resource deployments, in terms of renewables like solar, adds flexibility and efficiency to microgrids. Additionally, using local energy resources for meeting local loads can be cost-efficient and reduce energy losses in transmission and distribution, in turn improving the overall efficiency of the electric delivery system.

We must not underestimate the power of a local sustainable power plant, Gridscape has worked on many projects with cities and campuses and has made them energy-independent.

”BloombergNEF’s latest projection shows electric vehicles as a $46 trillion market opportunity between now and 2050”.

Electric vehicle sales are growing ever minute, however, deploying charging infrastructure that can keep up with this ever soaring demand from electric fleets remains a significant challenge to be overcome. 

Some say the grids are more than capable, some say the grids can’t take the current load then how can one expect the grids to take the additional load? Well, the question isn’t an easy one to answer,

EV makers, cities, utilities, infrastructure providers, everyone is busy making a landscape for mass EV adoption.

In California alone, the sales of electric vehicles have jumped substantially. As a result of their success, California has continued to push for aggressive adoption goals.

EVs of all types are already displacing 1.5 million barrels per day of oil usage, equivalent to about 3% of total road fuel demand.

(Source: Bloomberg)

There is no doubt that the sale of EVs will only soar in the coming years. EVs have already broken into the mainstream market and it is estimated that by 2040, 54% of all vehicles sold in the United States and 40% globally will be electric. It’s been estimated that an electric global vehicle fleet would need around 233 million charging connectors and an additional $1 trillion of investment by 2050 ( Source: Bloomberg NEF. https://about.bnef.com/blog/the-road-to-electric-car-supremacy-in-five-charts/).

With all these extra load coming from EV, will put unmanaged peak load and stress the current grid systems creating a huge challenge for energy management. The strategy for power generation and distribution therefore becomes very critical to address.

The electric grid will have to balance supply and demand. Since the power grids are already so old and stressed , they would need help of a local sustainable power plant (microgrid). The good news is, the sudden surge in electric vehicles is coinciding with increased utilization of renewable power generation and this can really help not just customers but also utility providers.

Role of a microgrid for EV charging infrastructure

A microgrid can generate electricity on demand without stressing the grid. This can act as both a generation source and a load source, adding flexibility to the grid. Furthermore; it also allows EV users to reduce their peak demand on the grid, and shift their energy consumption to hours when the energy costs are lower. A microgrid can simplify the task of providing adequate charging facilities and that in turn will help in reducing the cost, thereby making EV charging more affordable. 

The fact that microgrids can produce energy on demand- makes them truly unique and extremely reliable.

A microgrid can provide dynamic energy management and on-site energy storage which means much better energy management and distribution system, and it can enable grids to control load in a way that puts lesser pressure on the grid.

A local sustainable power grid will allow solar energy to be stored in on-site batteries and used later to charge EVs when electricity prices are high during peak times. This simply means it allows you to charge at any time without destabilizing the grid. A microgrid also brings down costs, and the system is highly agile and software-driven which means easy upgrades and more control.

A microgrid is democratic in nature, it provides an opportunity for building EV charging stations in underserved or remote locations where power is an issue.

Our grid is an ecosystem, it is so beautifully interconnected and so complex. It touches every aspect of our lives and we all could achieve so much in our lives because electricity played a huge role. No matter what we say and how much we complain, we cannot deny the fact that these power grids have shaped our lives.

Our grids have performed very well for many many years, even today a majority of the population depends on them and that is why when the grids go down our lives become so difficult.

Since 1982 the demand for electricity grew tremendously which was mostly driven by population growth. There were more people, the purchasing power was better, people started buying televisions, machines, air conditioning, computers, and so on and the need for electricity grew exponentially. But the investment in research and innovation in this particular industry didn’t increase as much and this is where things started to go wrong.

Demand grew, but investment and upgrades didn’t.

” While hundreds of thousands of high-voltage transmission lines course throughout the United States, only 668 additional miles of interstate transmission have been built since 2000, as a result, system constraints worsen at a time when outages and power quality issues are estimated to cost American business more than $100 billion on average each year”- energy.gov

It may seem rather odd that our grids are still so ancient- in a country that is all about efficiency and technology. We are in the 21st century using a grid designed in the 20th century. Now, do you see the problem? How can you expect a grid like that to perform 100% best today? We can’t be an efficient country if our grids are not efficient.

We should have migrated to the decentralized energy production and distribution system. Our centralized grids have limitations and we should have upgraded them on time.

Did you know the United States accounts for only 4% of the world’s population but produces 25% of greenhouse gases?

We have been talking a lot about sustainability for decades now, yet most of the grids run on fossil fuels.

According to energy.gov, ” If the grid were just 5% more efficient, the energy savings would equate to permanently eliminating the fuel and greenhouse gas emissions from 53 million cars”.

The number of blackouts have increased in the past decade, these power cuts are showing the weakness of our aging grids. The grids that served us for so many years are aging and they need our attention.

According to the U.S Department of Energy, power outages have doubled in the past two decades.

Yes, the grids are going through a tough time because of many reasons like climate change, shabby infrastructures, increased energy demands, and pressure from EVs but these issues have been there for some years now and these have not suddenly cropped up, if we had done something about our aging grids on time then we may have been in a much better state. There is still hope, we can still turn everything around and make the grids resilient again. We just need to make the centralized grids work in tandem with the decentralized local sustainable power plants, these power plants will offset the load that the main grid experiences, especially during peak hours and make the electric generation and distribution system more robust.

Many grids are already working with decentralized local sustainable power plants, which are definitely the next generation of energy generation systems. This new-age energy system will be more resilient, cleaner, and reliable.

We can’t blame our grids for every outage, for the longest time these grids were our lifeline. Now the time has come to listen to our aging grids and upgrade them with a cleaner, better system.

We all know the advantages of sustainable energy, clean air, a better environment, and a better world. Sustainability has become the most talked about topic in the world and why not – The environmental advantages of renewable energy, have been widely known for decades. Its numerous socio-economic benefits, however, have only become known in recent times as the deployment of renewable energy technologies has become more common.

Decarbonization of the world economy by 2030 is essential. Adapting sustainable energy is the only way forward if we want to achieve the objective set by the Paris Agreement to limit the temperature of the planet to 1.5°C that is, above pre-industrial levels.

It has been predicted that Earth will warm between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius in the next century. When global warming has happened at various times in the past two million years, it has taken the planet about 5,000 years to warm 5 degrees. The predicted rate of warming for the next century is at least 20 times faster. This rate of change is extremely unusual. – NASA Earth observatory

But still, there are many skeptics who don’t buy into the idea of sustainability, many still think sustainability is unnecessary and a marketing gimmick. This article aims to dispel myths and perceptions prevalent around renewable energy so that you can make your opinion based on facts.

Myth 1: Sustainable energy transition is unaffordable

Did you know that renewable energy is being used in developing and underdeveloped countries for electricity generation? It’s not only cheaper; it’s also more efficient. In many regions and countries, it’s actually the most economical solution for power.

Coal power generation is 35% efficient, meaning 65% of energy is wasted in production and transport. In comparison, electricity generated using alternative sources is much more efficient it can be produced and managed locally. Gridscape has successfully helped many clients transition to clean energy and has helped them cut electricity costs considerably over time.

Myth 2: Renewable can’t replace fossil fuel

In 2019 worldwide, 15 extreme weather events, caused/triggered mainly by climate change, caused more than $1 billion in damage each. Four of these events each caused more than $10 billion in damage. Undoubtedly, fossil fuels top the list of factors contributing to climate change. Therefore, it is essential that we replace fossil fuels with renewable and this can be done easily. Fossil fuel is finite, whereas wind, and solar are infinite resources and if used in the right way can completely replace fossil fuel.

Myth 3: Renewable energy is unreliable

They say, the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow, so how can renewable energy assure reliability. Conventional thinking has long held the opinion that renewable energy unpredictability makes them unreliable. Thankfully, rapid technological innovation in recent years has helped dubunk this myth. Now grids are more and more stable and they come for the rescue during extreme power outages, when nothing else works. It’s true that solar energy is only produced when the sun is shining but now there is technology and ways in which the energy generated can be stored for longer.

Now AI and technology are being used increasingly and in many ways to ensure grid stability and reliability.

Climate change is real and we must not waste time on such debates. We all know this for sure that the only way to save our planet is by transitioning to renewable energy sources. For us and the decision makers, now is the time to invest in renewable energy. Policymakers can accelerate the transition, both to fight climate change and provide economic advantage in the growing sector, while ensuring an equitable transition for all.

Net-zero essentially means cutting down on greenhouse emissions to a level of zero. This means contributing nothing to global warming.

According to WRI, ” Net-zero emissions will be achieved when all GHG emissions released by human activities are counterbalanced by removing GHGs from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon removal”. (Source: wri.org)

This means that the total greenhouse gas emissions in the air should not increase. This further means that we need to reduce emissions while also taking carbon out of the atmosphere.

Many governments and businesses have set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The U.S. currently produces 6 Gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions is measured in terms of CO2-equivalent, which is the amount of CO2 that would have an equivalent global warming impact as a different greenhouse gas (for example, methane or nitrous oxide). To achieve net-zero emissions across the entire United States would require reducing net emissions by an average of 0.2 Gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year over the next 30 years. If the United States were to achieve this goal, it would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by about 10%.

( Source: globalcitizen.org)

How can you help to reduce emissions?

Well, there are many ways in which each one of us can do our bit to reduce the emissions or to achieve the Net Zero target.

1. Use clean energy: microgrids are getting very popular, explore microgrids for your community, organization, campus, etc. They will not only you help achieve the net-zero target but they will also help in overall savings.
2. Use electric vehicles – EVs not only help reduce the negative effects on climate but are also very economical in the long run.
3. Use energy responsibly- Being more energy-efficient can reduce your costs as well as total carbon emissions.

Did you know you could save a lot of money and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide considerably just by turning your thermostat down by 1°C? 

This article explores key questions about microgrids and is written for those beginning the microgrid journey. It is part of Microgrid Knowledge’s About Microgrids series.