Recently I did a post about how Panasonic USA is “crushing the boards on Smart Grid”. It did really well as a social post so here is where I’ll explain. To start what is a Smart Grid? I mean according to the USDOE, it’s a lot of poles and wires across our country keeping the lights on. What could be so Smart about that? Well, as technology has improved, so to the Grid.
So this smart grid is the electrical grid with a lot of “operational and energy measures”. Measures that include but not limited to smart meters (which Can regulate electrical outflows), smarter or Energy Star based appliances, renewable energy resources, and energy efficiency. Energy efficiency through better lighting, heating cooling aka the works!
So here’s some interesting information to start. First of all, the US Department of Energy reports the U.S. electric grid is “more than 9,200 electric generating units having more than 1 million megawatts of generating capacity connected to more than 600,000 miles of transmission lines.
Furthermore, the electric grid is more than just generation and transmission infrastructure. It is an ecosystem of asset owners, manufacturers, service providers, and government officials. Now these officials as well are at Federal, state, and local levels. Finally, they all are working together. Together to run one of the most reliable electrical grids in the world.
So how then does Panasonic make it work? That’s because they are a Service provider for local and State based power companies. Thereby providing Renewable Energy (Panasonic Solar), energy Efficient Appliances and products. However in addition now Energy Storage capacity. This is the Ace In the Hole, which helps stabilize Electric grids (poker expression on the Ace… nvm).
This is covering all bases and crushing the boards: Don’t you think?!
Here’s an example of such integration, the City of Denver. As the video will show below, with the combination of solar panels, energy efficiency and energy Storage you can ensure grid reliability and save a ton of money in the process. People forget all the time, once your Solar bill is paid off, that’s 20 years of free electricity. Then with Energy Storage, you can keep that Energy until you need it.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiXzXfo0-SE&w=560&h=315%5D
Therefore and with a smart grid, a power company could shut off Power to an area (like the City of Denver) and then Denver can turn on the Energy stored in battery banks. All which would provide the necessary power for relatively zero cost. Again and since the batteries Energy stored is paid for you Own the battery Bank. As a result, it’s zero energy costs while off the grid. To me, that’s NOTHING BUT SMART!
As Panasonic writes, a smarter grid for the client means a better rate of return versus just paying the utility to provide straight electricity. So when you add Panasonic LED lighting, solar panels with some of the best efficiency in the business (25.6 percent) and other controls and measures, one could profit from a smarter grid or reduce operating costs and in the case of the City of Denver: keeps the cost of government down as well.
So in essence the smart grid is win win win!
For the record all information provided was by Panasonic USA. This was a paid post by Panasonic USA!
