Winter sunset over the Kohi Point Kiwi sanctuary.
The challenge of depending on sunshine as an energy source is managing its intermittency.
Welcome to the “Ohope Community – Solar Powered” forum!
A sustainable planet depends on mankind electrifying everything using renewable energy sources.
Wind and Solar are currently the cheapest methods of generating electricity.
Join us in exploring how a small New Zealand community blessed with sunshine (but not wind) can benefit from electrification.
Our goal is to demonstrate how a seaside community of 2000 residents (consumers) can use smart technology to reduce electricity costs, be sustainable, and be energy resilient. Using a community solar farm, rooftop solar to generate electricity and smart technology to manage consumption to avoid expensive peak rates.
Consider forming a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Participate in Demand Response (DR) initiatives to remove peaks and balance the grid. As a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) be available to stabilise the wider grid.
TLA – Three-Letter Acronyms
Electricity industry documentation is littered with them. Designed to confuse consumers?
DER – Distributed Energy Resource
The old centralised electrical generation system is transitioning to a nationwide network of smaller distributed sources of generation and load. Similar to the Internet, designed to self-heal in disruptive events. Smart loads (hot water cylinders) can turn off and batteries can instantaneously inject electricity to prevent the lights going out when a hydro turbine gets blocked with weed.
HEMS – Home Energy Management System
An Edge Computer inside the meter, autonomously controlling household electrical devices. If the grid has too much solar energy it can turn the smart hot water thermostat on to sponge up excess, at a low price.
VPP – Virtual Power Plant
Residents with HEMS aggregated together autonomously responding to price signals to buy (low) or sell (high) to balance local supply with demand.
DR – Demand Response
Electrical devices (hot water cylinder, EV, airconditioner…) autonomously responding to HEMS signals to turn on/off or up/down.
TPM – Transmission Pricing Methodology
The explanations offered by the monopoly poles and wires companies to justify their pricing structures. Originators of TLA linguistics?
CAC – Consumer Advisory Council
Presently led by Deborah Hart who is not afraid to deliver serves on behalf of consumers to recalcitrant industry players.