Airports are microgrid and powerhouse candidates

The consequences of outages have airports examining the potential of a catastrophic power failure and what plans and strategies might prevent that risk. Faced with more frequent extreme weather, cybersecurity and terrorism concerns, and an aging electric grid, other infrastructure and mission critical facilities are implementing energy resilience solutions like microgrids. Microgrids are local energy networks that separate from larger electrical grid during power outages from weather events or grid emergencies. They give power to critical public services and infrastructure, incorporate  smart technologies, diverse power generation and storage systems. This provides power continuity that enhances power quality. It adds the ability to interact with the macro-grid that harvests energy savings and develop revenue streams. Airports can have resilience with a payback and yield environmental benefits.
 

Airports are power weapons 

Airports are regional economic engines, high-energy users, and are examples of mission-critical facilities that can reap the rewards from microgrids. Burns, a specialized engineering firm helped Denver International assess a microgrid and a look into potential zero net carbon strategies. Pittsburgh is procuring on-site generation with the potential to be sized and configured as a resilient microgrid. Some airports have assessed strategies to mitigate single point of failure (SPOF) risk. The challenge of ensuring adequate electric supply is increasing. With air travel expected to double over the next 20 years, airports foresee power supply constraints as they build new terminals and increase electric load. Due to its location, San Francisco International Airport has restrictions to bring in additional electric feeders and is evaluating how on-site generation help meet the expected need. Los Angeles International Airport, endures outages and power quality problems anticipates load growth to almost double in the next 10 to 15 years, from 60 MW to more than 100 MW. The airport is considering on-site generation and energy storage to improve power quality and resilience.
 

Microgrids for airports 

Electrical service and infrastructure at airports can be very site-specific, as can the power reliability, resilience and supply issues they face. Over time microgrids that combine on-site generation, energy storage and smart, responsive energy loads will prove to be an increasingly viable means to address the growing challenges at any airport. If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.