New Energy Sources eBook copywriting, IFS

Enterprise software eBook copy sample, energy sector, IFS (US English)

[Excerpt]:

THE MOVE TO SELF-SUFFICIENT MICROGENERATION

Increasingly, both industry and private households are turning to energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal systems to supplement, or even replace, their primary energy supply, bypassing traditional energy companies.

This “Behind–the–Meter” self-generation is creating a growing network of prosumers: customers producing and storing energy and selling excess power back to the grid, whilst only occasionally consuming energy from the grid. To deal with such microgrids, utilities must consider adopting connection and operation fees to generate revenue to cover the cost of maintaining supply to those left behind in the race to renewables and occasional user customers. To optimize green energy consumption and reduce ‘dirty’ generation in peak periods, consumers can expect to be part of new demand response agreement models or pay varying rates to secure their energy from a preferred source.

The emergence of prosumer players and even entire communities focused on renewable operations is on the rise. New, purpose-designed residential communities are being built with self-sufficient sustainability at their core. They include water capture, storage and grey water recycling systems, solar arrays, solar walls, windows and roofs, and even battery walls and floors.

[Excerpt]:

Balancing reliability and sustainability

While electrification from renewables provides a sustainable energy solution, it also poses challenges around resilience. Currently, around 70% of infrastructure in the US is over 50 years old. While renewables provide an opportunity to update and build the grid back better, the short-term reality will see the lifetime of existing ageing assets needing to extend further, demanding robust maintenance and monitoring to remain reliable and safe.

The unpredictability of wind and solar generation also requires careful planning. When a consumer flicks a switch, they expect the lights to come on. Provisioning a spinning reserve – unused capacity which can compensate for power shortages or frequency drops— becomes far more challenging with renewables. In addition to battery storage, certain liquid fuels, such as propane, can provide a low or even zero carbon complementary energy source. Solar and wind powered microgrids can be supported by renewable propane to ensure on demand power and heating with minimal energy transfer loss.

Natural gas is also a practical solution to support a sustainable transition to renewable energy. Whilst a fossil fuel, it is significantly less environmentally damaging than coal to generate reserve energy capacity. By using biogas methods, natural gas can also be collected in a renewable way from landfill, animal manure and wastewater. Natural gas comprises mainly methane, which emits the least amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful substances compared to oil and coal. Liquefied Natural Gas produces 40% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal and 30% less than oil. Combustion does not create soot, dust or particulates, and the production of compounds harmful to the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide and mercury is insignificant.