solar experiment lets neighbors trade energy among themselves - residential energy storage systems

Brooklyn is famous for its small things-
Lots and local like designer wood clo, craft bourbon and handmade sauerkraut.
Now it is trying to add power to the list.
In a promising experiment, dozens of solar energy
The panel array distributed on the roof of the houseboat is connected to a growing network.
The project, called Brooklyn micro-grid, registers residents and businesses on a virtual trading platform that will allow solar power generation
Excess sales of energy producers-
Their system provides electricity credit to buyers of the group who may live as close as the next door.
The project is still in its early stages.
So far it has only 50 participants
But its impact may be profound.
The idea is to create a virtual, peer-to-peerto-
The peer-to-peer energy trading system based on block chain is the basic database technology of cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.
Being able to complete a secure transaction and create an energy-sharing-based business will allow participants to bypass the energy supply of power companies and ultimately build a micro-grid own with power generation and storage components, even in a wide range of power failures.
"Community members can work individually and collectively to help meet needs in an effective way," said Audrey Zimmerman, who recently resigned as chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission, overseeing the state's utilities.
"A central prosecutor is needed.
In this case, historically, utilities
She continued: "from the mix, they really set up a market where they did not buy or sell to utility companies, but determined each other's needs and willingness to buy and sell.
"This project is just an example of a rapidly spreading technology like roof solar and blockchain that is subverting the traditional relationship between power companies and consumers, giving customers more control.
Globally, emerging companies like LO3 Energy are working with industrial giant Siemens to design the Brooklyn experiment, which is building a digital network that promises users
Driven, decentralized energy systems can be used with traditional large-scale-
Or, especially in emerging economies, there is no need for power grids at all.
In Australia.
Zibelman will soon manage the nation's energy market, and a company called Power Ledger announced last year that a real estate development company in Perth would launch a residential electricity trading market in the blockchain.
In Bangladesh, with an estimated 65 million people out of access to the central grid, ME SOLshare has been developing peer-to-peer networksto-
Peer-to-peer trading networks for rural households with or without rooftop solar systems. Producer-
Consumers there
Called prosumers-
Excess power can be sold to the network, where neighboring families and businesses can buy in small increments with their mobile phones.
In Germany, Sonnen, a leading provider of home battery and smart energy products and services, has created a network of about 8,000 customers, whether there is solar energy on the roof or not, they exchange energy for each other. “Peer-to-
"Peers are slowly but surely becoming a reality," said Olaf Lohr, head of business development at Sonnen USA . ".
"This is a very disruptive technology.
The customer is also the owner-
They are producers of energy.
No centralized feed-
Come in from a big power plant
"In New York, the Brooklyn micro-grid is considered to be working with the traditional grid, which is being restarted under Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo's directive, while reducing greenhouse gases, makes it more flexible, flexible and cost-effectivegas emissions.
Such efforts, known as "energy vision Reform", include encouraging the development of microgrids and more active community engagement.
The ideal power system, says Richard L.
As Governor's chairman of energy and finance, Kaufman is leading the work by combining large power plants and transmission lines with small clustersscale producer-
Consumers, "electronics can flow in multiple directions, and power supply and demand is dynamic --
This is different from today's grid. ”Peer-to-
Peer power sharing is aligned with this vision, he said, although it needs some regulatory reforms.
Some of these have been taken by the National Public Service Commission, including last week's approval of a new approach to determine electricity prices for renewable energy projects, these methods reflect the value of the grid more accurately based on geographical location, time and other factors that have not yet been determined.
But Lawrence Orsini, lo3's chief executive, said that the state still needs to determine how to define his company and its network of participants before the company starts and operates the market, he expects action by June.
"What we are doing is technically not feasible," he said . ".
"In order for traded energy to take off as a whole, regulators have to feel comfortable because the market can actually function like this and, more importantly, people want such a market.
"Over the past year, LO3 has been trying to find these people, using Google Earth to identify houses with rooftop solar installations, and then knocking on the door to recruit participants, with some success on the park slopes and Gowanus.
Last year, in a block on President Street, the company sold two homeowner solar system-generated green electricity credits to neighbors across the street --
Small transactions, but it is important to prove the feasibility of this concept.
These sales involve a beta version of renewable energy. Energy credit
Number certificate used to track electricity exported from renewable systems to the grid.
Utilities, companies, and other customers can buy credit that requires the use of green energy.
In the Brooklyn case, LO3 tested its approach using credit sales through PayPal;
It cannot legally buy and sell electricity until the regulator determines its market position.
Once that happens, sir.
Orsini said the company will be able to facilitate energy transactions between participants --
Although they will still pay for the infrastructure and service costs of utility company Con Edison, just as customers now choose to use green energy suppliers through utility companies. Mr.
Orsini's team is busy collecting data from meters installed by prosumer home, measuring the production, use and export of solar power to help simulate the market.
They also tested a smartphone app that customers can use to manage their power purchases, set parameters to control the power supply
Choose from a range of traditional, renewable, local and batch options-
And how much they are willing to spend. Mr.
Orsini says he expects most users to want to make their own choices and then let the system take over.
"No one ever thought
"Trade energy," he said.
"You give something to people they 've never had before, and it's really a way to personalize energy consumption.
"This is an aspect that attracts many participants, including Gary King of Windsor Terrace, a futurist who advises a variety of businesses, including power utilities and infrastructure companies. Mr.
As part of the group purchase, Golden installed solar energy, which was so popular among his neighbors that almost a dozen systems could see his roof, which formed a micro-grid experiment
"We need to make energy a product and a service that people can buy on their own without relying on a large centralized entity," he said. Golden said.
He added that it is very important to build infrastructure that can better withstand natural and human disastersmade.
Other participants agreed. “The long-
The term goal is to be at least partially independent of the grid in an emergency, which is a reasonable reason to join, "said Patrick Schnell, whose Gowanus basement was submerged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, although he has not lost power
"Hopefully it will scale up and bring in more people, which will be more valuable.
The project includes planning to create about fivesquare-block area —
Whether it's around the collection of public housing projects or near hospitals --
This may disconnect from the grid and operate independently in the event of a power outage.
"This is recognition of energy demand, beyond your own scope . "Golden said.
"We have a micro-grid in our community, which is great, but hospitals, clinics, schools, large residential areas --
You can provide energy where it needs to go.