How Microgrids and Battery Storage are Redefining Energy Resilience

Nov 03, 2024

Microgrids and battery storage technology are revolutionizing how communities generate, store, and manage their energy, and they are coming to a town near you. These innovative systems–offering a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient approach–are changing the global landscape of power generation and distribution.

Microgrids are localized power grids operating independently or in conjunction with the main grid. They use renewable energy like solar and wind, with battery storage systems for excess energy.

Microgrids ensure uninterrupted power during primary grid outages, enhancing energy resilience. A microgrid represents a shift from centralized power plants to decentralized energy distribution.

This allows for a much smaller footprint and affordable and reliable power in geographic locations where it would have been cost-prohibitive to provide such a service. Given this, the microgrid market is projected to reach $87.8 billion by 2029.

At the heart of every microgrid is a battery energy storage system (BESS). BESS technology allows microgrid operators to store excess energy generated during sunny or windy days with high renewable production. They can then use this stored energy during low production or high demand periods, such as nighttime.

Microgrid architecture enhances primary grid resilience during high usage, reducing reliance on load shedding and Demand/Response events. Battery storage allows for supplementary power–due to events and low loads–to stabilize the grid.

Battery storage prevents blackouts and brownouts by responding in real-time to changes in demand and supply.

Reliable battery arrays and a purpose-built monitoring solution are essential for maintaining battery integrity. Advancements in battery technology make monitoring essential for microgrid operators. These systems offer real-time insights to optimize energy use and prevent failures.

Beyond this, the technology helps validate life expectancy and helps with warranty and insurance-related claims. Hence, monitoring has become not an option but a legal requirement in many cases.

Additional critical benefits behind battery storage monitoring include:

Given that monitoring is a secondary layer, operators should ensure that the technology in the software platform used to monitor this infrastructure is up to the task, and includes:

As our world transitions to a more sustainable energy future, the importance of microgrids and battery storage will only continue to grow. Battery monitoring does not come by default and needs to be thought through by owners/operators.

Fortunately, the availability of market-leading technologies and tools fully support advanced monitoring and data analytics. Innovative monitoring technologies ensure systems operate optimally, delivering clean, reliable, and resilient energy to communities worldwide.