As you’ve probably heard, micro-grids and the energy storage they incorporate are hot topics in the solar industry. The applications being explored range from bringing power to faraway villages where connecting to the local utility is too expensive; to alleviating utility loads by providing on-demand power through central battery banks; to delivering power to regions during grid-outages. Because the micro-grid market is growing fast and changing rapidly, standards are still being established, and proper training is increasingly important.
Micro-grid systems can include multiple forms of energy generation, which necessitate a higher level of training. Training is not only important to design and install properly functioning systems, but also to ensure the safety of workers. The solar industry often combines two of the most dangerous lines of work: roofing and electrical. When you add batteries, wind, hydro or generators into the mix, safety concerns diversify and multiply.
Training and safety can also save money and resources. Trial and error on the job can be costly, especially as system complexity increases. Proper training not only helps throughout a project’s design and specification stages, but leads to cost-effective installation decisions. The upfront cost of education can, and does, save money over time.
Micro-grid best practices are hard to generalize because they depend on system size and application. For example, micro-grids require implementation of special measures to protect maintenance personnel because they have multiple independent power sources. This varies from a grid-direct PV system that is engineered to shut down if the utility experiences a problem. Similarly, one of the biggest issues commonly voiced with micro-grids is the lack of customer education. The complexities of transitioning from having no electricity or being utility connected is often hard to grasp for the customer and maintenance personnel. If they do not understand the limitations of the system, the project can be doomed from the start.
The best places to start with training are at SEI and other industry leading renewable energy training organizations, the same you would look to for PV, wind or micro-hydro training. Equipment manufacturer trainings, such as those offered by Homer Energy, offer an in-depth look at how everything fits together.
The solar industry is still learning how to get positive press and educate the public, as is evident by how potential shortcomings of solar are seemingly universally known by all. Sharing of best practices and lessons learned are great ways to ensure quality installations of micro-grids and promote the benefits of this technology.
To learn more about SEI’s energy storage training sessions, visit www.solarenergy.org/workshop-schedule.
By Laura Walters, an IREC-certified PV instructor with a decade of experience working in the solar industry and who is currently a curriculum developer and instructor for Solar Energy International. She has been doing international work with We Care Solar, which helps power health clinics in the developing world.