{"id":16960,"date":"2020-06-02T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/?p=16960"},"modified":"2020-06-02T10:40:45","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T09:40:45","slug":"how-can-low-carbon-microgrids-help-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/how-can-low-carbon-microgrids-help-manufacturers\/","title":{"rendered":"How can low-carbon microgrids help manufacturers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>To reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and minimise their carbon footprint, an increasing number of companies are implementing low-carbon microgrids. Just like traditional microgrids, low-carbon ones can help firms meet their energy demands without depending solely on the national grid. Unlike traditional solutions, however, these eco-friendly microgrids are almost zero-emission. Neil Ballinger report<\/strong>s<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A microgrid is a localised group of energy resources and loads that can operate both connected to the wide area grid and independently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ability to work in island mode is what differentiates a microgrid from other forms of on-site energy generation. This also makes microgrids a popular option among manufacturers who wish to secure a steady supply of electricity without having to rely solely on their national grids.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A microgrid is formed by a point of common coupling (PCC), a source of energy supply, and a charge\/discharge storage system, for example, batteries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditional microgrids rely on fossil fuels as a source of energy supply.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, low-carbon microgrids use renewable sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to generate a significant part or even all of their energy supply.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Improved reliability<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three scenarios where microgrids have traditionally been implemented and where low-carbon solutions are now on the rise \u2013 off-grid areas, areas with unsatisfactory or intermittent grids, and areas with reliable grids but hight security needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Off-grid areas are still common in some regions of Africa, some small islands, and sparsely populated territories such as central Australia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the lower levels of industrialisations, these areas are important in sectors such as the extractive industry, as they are rich in mineral resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this scenario, low-carbon microgrids offer new opportunities to satisfy the sector\u2019s energy needs while reducing the considerable environmental impact of mineral extraction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Areas with insufficient or intermittent grids are still prevalent in many developing regions, such as Latin America and the Indian subcontinent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Normally, manufacturers in these regions use diesel generators as a back-up power solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the price of diesel is subject the fluctuations of the oil\u2019s market, so low-carbon microgrids represent a cheaper as well as more sustainable option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In industrialised countries, low-carbon microgrids are implemented in areas where the electricity supply is steady and reliable, but where security is paramount, such as hospitals, airports, data centres and military bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>More savings, less carbon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, an increasing number of plants with reliable electricity supply have turned to low-carbon microgrids to cut energy bills and reduce their environmental impact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main benefit of implementing a solar or wind-based microgrid is economical, since the price of both renewable energies and modern storage solutions is dropping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.wbcsd.org\/2017\/11\/WBCSD_microgrid_INTERACTIVE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>recent report<\/strong><\/a> by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the global cost of solar panels fell by more than 60 per cent between 2009 and 2015, while lithium-ion battery costs decreased by more than 50 per cent from 2013 to 2016.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of solar is expected to fall further, while diesel prices are unlikely to drop. Moreover, firms can sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an external provider of renewable energy solutions, giving them access to a low energy price over a long- term period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By contrast, the cost of diesel will always depend on fluctuating oil prices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Low-carbon microgrids are also an efficient way of reducing a firm\u2019s carbon footprint and therefore its environmental taxes. In areas with carbon pricing, such as the EU Emissions Trading System or the UK Carbon Price Floor, switching to a low-carbon microgrid can drastically cut a plant\u2019s compliance costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, reducing emissions can improve a firm\u2019s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rating and enhance its brand image.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Low-carbon microgrids represent a smart solution to achieve energy independence, cut energy bills and reduce the impact of the manufacturing sector on fragile ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neil Ballinger is head of EMEA sales at automation equipment supplier <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.euautomation.com\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EU Automation<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and minimise their carbon footprint, an increasing number of companies are implementing low-carbon microgrids. Just like traditional microgrids, low-carbon ones can help firms meet their energy demands without depending solely on the national grid. Unlike traditional solutions, however, these eco-friendly microgrids are almost zero-emission. Neil Ballinger reports A &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[8392,50,8391,466],"class_list":["post-16960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-power","tag-energy-independence","tag-eu-automation","tag-low-carbon-microgrids","tag-renewables"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How can low-carbon microgrids help manufacturers? - Engineer News Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and minimise their carbon footprint, an increasing number of companies are implementing low-carbon microgrids. 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