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‘In the first of a two part series examining the possibilities for sustainable energy sources on the island, Jonathan Dyer examines BELCO.

Energy is a matter of strategic national interest in our modern, information-driven, economy and a cornerstone of sustainable development but BELCO has been left to essentially regulate itself in the provision of this vital asset. While the economics of a small community strongly support the argument for a single commercial provider, it is at the cost of a monopoly provider with an apparent unwillingness to invest in the distribution network, little interest in stimulating conservation (other than through high prices) and a dread of third party energy providers.

Bermuda pays for this protectionist model through the loss of foreign exchange to escalating fuel prices, the negative impact on the environment in the acquisition and combustion of fossil fuels, in the direct cost to consumers when there is no alternative to push back on price and in the loss of material and productivity in the event of an outage.

BELCO has promised a forward-looking report outlining its view of the future of power generation on the island. While they are clearly experts on the topic, they are perhaps too close to the issue to be completely objective on the solutions. I am no expert but I am a fairly well informed dilettante and I would hope that any plan for our energy future would consider the issue on three distinct lines; Distribution, Generation and Conservation and then apply some proven solutions to the problem.

It is important to separate the generation of power from the distribution of power when considering our options. We have a single source of power generation and a single point for the injection of electricity into the distribution network, two single points of failure located on a common site. Duplication of the distribution network is not practical but feeding the network from multiple locations is entirely possible and a good hedge against a repeat of the blackout of 2005.

Feeding the system

In other countries, when multiple energy providers feed a common network it’s called a national grid, yielding not only a diversity of sources in the event of a single point of failure but also choice of providers and competitive pricing. The grid doesn’t care what the source of power is; diesel engines, wind turbines, solar, water turbines, and so on — as long as it produces compatible electrical current, the grid can distribute it to users.

Many locations, including California and Georgia, actually require utility power companies to purchase excess compatible electricity generated by connected customers for distribution to other users, usually at an agreed discount rate. The arrangement is an incentive to companies and individuals to invest in alternative energy sources and so reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the purchase of expensive out-of-state electricity.

Even home-owners can feed the grid with excess power generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems during the day when their houses are empty and unable to use it. In return they get a credit for energy they extract from the grid in the evening and at night. This win-win co-operation makes the economics of PV systems work by treating the grid as an ‘infinite battery’ while supporting the grid with additional power during the business day when it is needed most.

Treating the grid as an infinite battery means that instead of using batteries to store electricity you can’t directly use during the day when you’re not home, you feed it into the grid when the city needs it in return for credits. The credits are usually delivered by running your meter backwards in proportion to the amount of power you feed into the grid. Later, when you do draw electricity from the grid, you redeem the credits accrued during the day. You become part of the solution.

Bermuda roofs are pitched at an almost ideal angle for solar panels and Government already waives the duty on solar energy systems. The only major barrier to widespread use of PV is the cost of buying, housing and maintaining battery storage systems in the absence of an infinite battery facility. To date, BELCO has strongly resisted allowing anyone to feed its network for technical and safety reasons that have long been resolved in other locations. While PV systems usually do not provide sufficient capacity to run your whole house, during an outage they are more than capable of running a few lights and a water pump to maintain that thin veneer of civilization that is flushable toilets.

In Part 2 Mr. Dyer will discuss some other generation alternatives and some practical conservation measures which could be incorporated into the national building code.

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