A presentation I did when I was in school. Cities and villages can consider distributed energy and microgrids as a way to move forward to more sustainable solutions to energy. With recent concerns of moving backwards in our progress towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources, now is the time to consider this. Locally we can make a difference. Be sure to check out the videos that I link to also. “Distributed energy offers solutions to many of the nation's most pressing energy and electric power problems, including blackouts and brownouts, energy security concerns, power quality issues, tighter emissions standards, transmission bottlenecks, and the desire for greater control over energy costs.” - U.S. Department of Energy

1. Distributed Energy
and Microgrids
Stevi Kosloskey
ENVR 230 – Energy Resources
December 10, 2014
“Distributed energy offers solutions to many of
the nation's most pressing energy and electric
power problems, including blackouts and
brownouts, energy security concerns, power
quality issues, tighter emissions standards,
transmission bottlenecks, and the desire for
greater control over energy costs.”
- U.S. Department of Energy

2. What is distributed energy?
 Smaller-scale, grid-connected services
designed to provide electricity and sometimes
thermal energy.
 Decentralized, modular, flexible.
 Close to consumers.

3. What is distributed energy?
 Can include fossil fuels, but typically use
renewable energy.
 solar power
 wind power
 geothermal power
 biomass

4. What is distributed energy?
 Energy storage devices such as batteries and
flywheels are also incorporated.
 Energy comes from many sources –
diversification means if one source is not
available, energy needs can come from
another source.
 May lower environmental impacts and
improve security of supply.

6. What are microgrids?
 Smaller, localized grids.
 Can disconnect from the traditional/main grid
to operate autonomously.
 Helps to mitigate grid disturbances and
strengthens grid resilience -- able to continue
operating if main grid is down.
 Can function as a grid resource to allow for
faster system recovery and response, or
send/sell energy to the main grid.

7. What are microgrids?
 Supports a flexible and efficient electric grid.
 Enables integration of renewable resources
and distributed energy resources.
 Use of local sources of energy to serve local
loads – helps to reduce energy losses in
transmission and distribution, increasing
efficiency.

10. Microgrids: Improving grid reliability with distributed energy resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OXjrh0S2uA
Full of Energy - Energy Self-Sufficient Villages Could Show Cities the Way
http://www.dw.de/full-of-energy-energy-self-sufficient-villages-could-show-cities-the-way/av-16190288

11. Sources
 “Distributed Energy.” Office of Electricity Delivery &
Energy Reliability. U.S. Department of Energy.
Energy.gov. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
 “Distributed Generation.” Wikipedia. Web. 6 Dec. 2014.
 “The Role of Microgrids in Helping to Advance the
Nation's Energy System.” Office of Electricity Delivery &
Energy Reliability. U.S. Department of Energy.
Energy.gov. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
 Shah, Jigar. “Sorry, Bill Gates, But You're Wrong on This
Issue.” LinkedIn. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.
 “German Village Produces 321% More Energy Than It
Needs!” Earth We Are One. Web. 6 Sept. 2014.
 Khan, Shahab Ahmad, et. al. "Introduction To Microgrid."
26 Aug. 2009. Presentation.

12. Thank you!