CMG project rq'mts

There are several requirements for a CMG (Community MicroGrid) project:

1. Leadership
2. Interested and committed community members
3. Demand reduction to appropriate energy footprint
4. 100% renewables, fossil fuel based energy phase-out
5. Energy permaculture process
6. Islanding, no (minimal) connection to main grid

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1. Leadership
 The community as a whole must be in a position of leadership and be stalwart about it.  This is also the #1 reason why CMGs fail - lack of leadership.   The community needs to have a senior council or several co-leaders to guide itself through the maze of issues and changing challenges during a CMG project.

2. Interested and committed community members + external market

 All community members need to be on board with a CMG project.  All interested parties need to be sitting at the CMG planning + design table. On going communication of all discussions, challenges and decisions to all community members is critical. 




3. Demand reduction to appropriate energy footprint

 Before looking at energy supplies, a community needs to look at its energy demand and usage.  A hierarchy of critical, needed, wanted, and luxury types of energy demand is useful in establishing base and peak load patterns.  By reducing demand during certain periods, energy system development and operating costs can be dramatically reduced.  For instance, using LED lighting can reduce a communities lighting budget by up to 80% - thus avoiding a large amount of needed energy supplies.

4. 100% renewables, fossil fuel based energy phase-out
CMGs can get all the energy they need from within a 5km circle around their property.  All fossil fuels are unsustainable - they are finite and eventually will run out.  They are also costly to extract, refine and inefficient to use.  There are dozens of renewable energy resources and technologies available.  The renewable energy matrix (see blog entitled: RE Matrix)  Most communities have enough local, natural resources within their own area.  Each community must be careful to establish a long-term sustainable and continuous supply of these natural resources. 

5. Energy permaculture process
 Please refer to the blog entitled 'energy permaculture' for details on this process.   These are the steps that a community needs to take to establish, design, install and operate a long-term, successful CMG.

6. Islanding, no (minimal) connection to main grid
 While it will be initially difficult to wean a community off the 'habit of convenience' of being connected to the main grid, a CMG's ultimate goal is to be self-reliant.  While many areas have financial incentives to sell excess renewable energy back to the main grid (necessitating a net-metering hook-up), the long term implications are not good.

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If there are any communities that would like to pursue a CMG project, our team stands ready to provide assistance.