February, 2019

Optimizing Energy Savings for Grid-Connected Hybrid Systems with HOMER Grid Webinar Recording

Join HOMER Energy COO, Marilyn Walker, and Product Manager, Steffi Klawiter, for an educational webinar to show you the power of HOMER Grid. Walk through the new and improved HOMER Grid to learn how you can calculate savings through energy arbitrage and demand charge reduction. With vastly expanded customization options and thousands of new tariffs to model with, HOMER Grid gives you the power to design your grid-connected distributed energy system with confidence.

Santa Cruz Solar Company Moves Off the Grid, Using HOMER Pro to Design New Microgrid

Sandbar Solar, a Northern California solar developer and contractor, has unveiled a new microgrid that will power its newly constructed corporate headquarters in the middle of the city of Santa Cruz, one of the few projects of its kind in the US. The islanded off-grid electricity system, which was modeled using HOMER Pro, is designed to serve the solar installer’s complete electricity needs:

Navigant Report: Blockchain Establishes Secure Foundation for Distributed Energy

A new Navigant report concludes that blockchain technology will play an important role in the management and improved security of distributed energy. Characterized by decentralization, a growing number of diverse, interconnected resources, and the increasing use of digital technologies, distributed energy needs a framework for improved cyber security at both the network and device level, says Navigant Research.

Improving Energy Access in Rural Africa Depends on Renewable Energy Microgrids

African countries are making rapid progress in adopting renewable energy and in fact, it is developing countries that are now leading the global transition to clean energy. However, energy access in Africa is still a huge problem for two thirds of the population, mostly for people who live in rural areas. The good news is that renewable energy microgrids are the fastest, most cost-effective path to electrification. That’s why several African countries have ambitious plans to expand microgrid investment

Solar and Nuclear: What’s Wrong with Putting All Options on the Table?

In general, putting all options on the table seems like good policy advice and normally it is. With respect to energy and climate policy it is a way to avoid antagonizing proponents of conventional energy sources. In the context of phasing out fossil fuels, it really boils down to the two carbon-free sources with the greatest potential: solar and nuclear. We explore the choices: