Previous articles from this series
Grid, Microgrid and Macrogrid
The Sun Exchange
Let’s get a bit theoretical
In previous articles we have learned what is Micro and Macrogrid. We have also been provided info about The Sun Exchange – the first Blockchain Microgrid effort (that I have come across). The Sun Exchange truly is an awesome project, but it merely is just one of the first steps in humanity’s decentralized electrification. In this article I’ll contemplate about possible decentralized setup of Microgrids in communities or even civilizations.
Off-grid Microgrid
I’ll start by explaining why is The Sun Exchange and similar projects the first step in decentralized electrification. Off-grid Microgrids are standing on their own (they are not cooperating with other Microgrids). Those are exactly the Microgrids created by The Sun Exchange. Because of our support they are able to build and electrify a small rural territory (like a village) more reliably and faster than if efforts of expanding the existing Macrogrids were launched. It looks like this.
Cooperation is always better though and electrification is no exception. When the Microgrid is on its own, any malfunction can lead to the same blackout as if a Macrogrid goes offline. And as I said in previous article, decentralization comes to the rescue!
Grid-connected Microgrid
Now imagine situation were nearby Microgrids were connected through a Blockchain. This of course would take much longer for the separated off-grid Microgrids. If there was one village with Microgrid and another one few miles away, more territories would need to be electrified in order to make the grid-connection in-between them possible. But in cities, where literally every building can have its own Microgrid and is highly likely to be in near proximity to other Microgrids, its completely different story. Basically The Sun Exchange is like an ICO for a separated Microgrids. There could though also be ICOS for grid-connected communities.
As you can see, the “grid-connection” means that there is some kind of communication between the Microgrids. Since all the Microgrids are self-sufficient, they already process the huge amount of data on their own and the grid then has easier time working with the processed information. The possibilities it has are endless! Or a situation where some Microgrids would not produce sufficient amount of energy to power up the near proximity. Those Microgrids could be supported by others to live through the rough times.
Is there a Microgrid that has generated too much power and has full batteries? Let’s move the energy to places in the ecosystem that currently use stored energy (the energy consumption is bigger than its creation), or simply into mutual storages. The grid could also run a smart contract, or a bot, that would be buying energy if the ecosystems supplies were running dangerously low, or simply if the energy would be trading cheaply. It could also sell if the supplies were high, or the price of the energy was high.
That is though still not it! You might think right now that this is only possible for individuals or small ecosystems. What if I told you that there could be a supreme Blockchain that would manage up to thousands of those grids? Such a Blockchain could not only match, but exceed the influence of Macrogrids! Blockchain can help us all to make this not only a dream, but a reality…
