Off-grid renewable energy and security: a match made in heaven?

29 Feb 12

Colin Sworder explains how reductions in power demands for security systems due to lower power electronics are opening the door to off-grid supplies from renewable sources.

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ByColin Sworder

The renewable energy sector worldwide is in its infancy in terms of market size but offers immense commercial potential, most notably at the local level.

Here in the UK, the market sprang into life when taxpayer subsidies for grid-tied installations were implemented in April 2010. However, the grid-tied sector relied on subsidies which have created market distortions and an unstable, artificial market.

That aside, some of the technology initially developed for grid-tied renewable energy markets, and some developed specifically for off-grid applications, has now reached a level of maturity that can offer reliable, fuel-free power systems which do not need subsidies to remain effective for the user and represent an international market.