Energy Independence (Part 2): Building a Sound Strategy
Part 1 of this series discusses the benefits and pitfalls of energy independence. This post delves into the nuances of building a sound energy independence strategy and the critical role of advanced energy storage solutions.
Building a robust energy independence strategy
Achieving energy independence is a multi-stage journey that involves constant experimentation and fine-tuning. Organizations must evolve their strategies to support their business objectives and adapt to the fast-shifting energy landscape. Here are the essentials to set a solid foundation.
Understand your consumption patterns
Analyze your energy consumption pattern and see how it varies throughout the day and the year. Identify peak usage times and power surges that require additional accommodation. Address sources of energy inefficiency (e.g., outdated equipment, poor insulation, or inefficient lighting), so that you don’t spend money on capacity to support them.
The insights will help you dimension your system appropriately to minimize reliance on grid power while ensuring every component works as hard as possible to shorten payback time and maximize your ROI.
Integrate energy storage solutions
Batteries store excess energy generated during low-demand periods so that you can deploy it during peak hours and periods of low/no production. Dimensioning the appropriate battery capacity is essential for controlling system cost without causing unplanned downtime and outages.
Also, consider other energy storage options. Thermal storage is useful for industries with high HVAC needs or heating and cooling processes. You may also store electrical energy by converting it into hydrogen gas and burning it later to generate electricity in energy-intensive industrial settings.
Implement a microgrid system
While often connected to the main grid, a microgrid can operate independently. In addition to renewable energy sources and battery solutions, some organizations incorporate backup generators into their microgrids to add resiliency. They may also share their micro-grids with local partners to foster community energy resilience.
Diversify energy sources
While solar is a cost-effective renewable energy source in most situations, thanks to its wide availability and decreasing costs, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Build resiliency by incorporating wind power, geothermal energy, biomass or biogas systems, and other sources based on application and operational requirements.
For example, geothermal systems are suitable for organizations with substantial heating and cooling needs. Biomass or biogas systems convert waste into energy to create a closed-loop system for industries that produce organic waste.
Adopt smart energy management technology
Analytics using real-time data (e.g., from IoT sensors) provides insights to optimize power consumption. Energy management software automates energy allocation (e.g., adjusting equipment settings based on demand forecasts). Meanwhile, AI and machine learning optimize energy flows, predict peak times, and dynamically adjust usage to maximize efficiency.
Leverage advanced battery technologies to support energy independence
Energy independence hinges upon the ability to store and allocate power cost-effectively. Yet, energy storage is also a costly challenge that requires us to overcome many technological hurdles and constraints of traditional battery technology.
As the pioneer in software-defined battery (SDB) technology, Tanktwo’s advanced solutions enhance battery safety, security, and performance to support the journey to energy independence.
System resiliency
Resiliency is critical for maintaining operational continuity and self-sufficiency. SDBs built on the Tanktwo Battery Operating System (TBOS) can automatically rewire cells to bypass faulty ones to ensure continuous operation. Our solution also allows operators to mix cells of different chemistries and ages to mitigate supply chain challenges while reducing wastage.
Battery safety
TBOS analyzes real-time battery data and behaviors to pinpoint cells at risk of a thermal runaway event. It automatically rewires the battery pack to bypass those cells while allowing it to continue functioning — enhancing the safety of on-site energy storage systems without compromising reliability and resilience.
AI and predictive analytics
Battery AI creates a dynamic system fueled by a continuous learning loop. It constantly improves battery performance based on real-world operational data to increase cost-efficiency and reliability. Meanwhile, predictive analytics forecast battery behaviors and enable just-in-time maintenance to minimize unplanned downtime and outages.
Battery security
Our battery security technology minimizes the vulnerability of battery systems connected to your IT infrastructure. It covers various data protection and security disciplines, such as ownership, access controls, safety, permitted usage, raw material traceability, supported business models, data integrity, and more. These measures ensure user safety, critical infrastructure resiliency, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.
Pave the way to energy independence
Achieving energy independence involves many disciplines and deep expertise. Energy storage plays a critical role and requires an approach combining a strategic understanding of business requirements and advanced battery technology to ensure success.
Our Battery Advisory Services combines practical strategic and technical advice with out-of-the-box thinking to help organizations solve their trickiest energy storage and distribution challenges. Learn more and get in touch to create a roadmap that meets your business objectives and gives you a competitive advantage.
