“decentralized Energy Generation: Empowering Communities With Solar And Wind” – How to boost renewable energy integration in remote communities Energy policy must catch up as innovations enable efficient integration of renewable energy into microgrids
, a series that provides insights, details and analysis on each of the specific policies we advocate among us
“decentralized Energy Generation: Empowering Communities With Solar And Wind”

The widespread adoption of renewable energy can displace the centralized system of generation and distribution of energy to customers and provide opportunities to unlock a more decentralized (distributed) way of energy management. But reducing reliance on diesel, and empowering communities to produce their own energy, requires removing existing barriers that prevent deeper levels of renewable energy penetration in remote diesel microgrids. And it depends on the support of governments, utilities, communities and consumers for the shift from centralized microgrid systems to more distributed energy generation.
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Centralized generation involves large-scale infrastructure that delivers electricity to consumers who can obtain it some distance from the generation source. Conversely, distributed generation uses smaller and more flexible power generation technologies, which are located closer to the end users. Most distributed energy resources take advantage of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power (usually coupled with battery storage systems) and are typically connected to a microgrid operated by a utility. This distributed way of providing power suits the geographic size and off-grid status of remote communities.
A core function of a power supplier is to ensure a stable and reliable power supply to customers. However, the volatility of renewable energy affects this mandate. And without a policy governing renewable energy integration, utilities are free to set whatever integration limit they deem safe and low risk to their service. To avoid disruption, they generally follow conservative approaches that are considered to improve reliability rather than setting limits that allow the integration of more renewable energy into the grid. For example, renewable energy integration limits in remote communities vary across the northern territories, but do not go higher than a 20% intermittent allowance.
Smart, integrated energy systems can help utilities increase their renewable energy integration limits. Smart, in this case, refers to various technological advances (such as battery storage systems and smart meters) as well as approaches (such as energy sector coupling and local energy market transactions) that allow more renewable energy into the local grid without compromising stability or reliability. . Examples of these smart, integrated energy system projects in Canada include:
Energy sector linkage can play an important role in increasing renewable energy integration limits in remote communities. Energy sector interconnection refers to increasing interconnections between different energy-consuming sectors—buildings (heating and cooling), transport, industry and electricity—allowing them to share energy resources, thereby increasing renewable energy penetration levels and energy security. By focusing on opportunities that exist at the intersection of energy subsectors, integrated energy networks can uncover pathways to deeper decarbonization of the energy system. Here are some examples of energy sector linkage:
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Meaningful progress in reducing diesel consumption requires shifting the technological frontier of each traditionally watered-down energy subsector to a smarter and more integrated energy system.
Another emerging approach to increase renewable energy integration is the use of microgrids in peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), P2P trade increases renewable energy integration and provides innovative solutions to make better use of energy resources distributed in the local grid. Some examples include:
Improved policy can unlock the benefits of increased renewable energy integration. But the tension between the mandate of the provincial and territorial utilities to provide reliable and safe power and the federal government’s target to eliminate diesel dependence in northern and remote communities by 2030 will not be resolved quickly. And an incomplete picture of the long-term implications of these two approaches can be expensive in light of the large investments and the long periods of time energy transitions require. Bringing policies with more ambitious renewable integration limits into the overall set of energy policies will be necessary to make meaningful progress.
Policies to promote renewable energy integration in remote communities should aim to unleash innovation in smart, integrated energy systems. Policies requiring utilities to conduct grid impact studies would be beneficial in testing the validity of observed trade-offs between grid stability, safety, and reduced diesel dependence. They would also allow higher renewable integration limits consistent with all three objectives. Without such due diligence requirements, utilities are likely to continue to take a conservative approach to integration limits for renewable energy. The results of the grid impact study should be available to every community that wants to develop its own clean energy projects. This approach encourages data transparency in addition to creating synergies that drive utilities and communities to work together to find viable solutions in a collaborative and responsible manner without compromising network safety and reliability.
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Finally, the multitude of innovations capable of increasing the share of renewable energy in microgrids should be reflected in Canada’s robust energy policy framework. Among other goals, this framework should enable a shift to a more appropriate utility business model that addresses both the risks and opportunities of increased renewable energy integration for remote communities.
Next: A closer look at the role of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) rates and contracts in promoting renewable energy projects in remote communities.
Marvin Quitoras was a senior analyst with the Institute’s Renewables in Remote Communities program until 2021.
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Assessing the successes and failures of decentralized energy solutions and implications for the water-energy-food security nexus: case studies from developing countries
By Dawit Diriba Guta Dawit Diriba Guta Scilit Preprints.org Google Scholar 1, Jose Jara Jose Jara Scilit Preprints.org Google Scholar 2, Narayan Prasad Adhikari Narayan Prasad Adhikari Scilit Preprints.org Google Scholar 3, Qiu Chen Qiu Chen Scilit.org Google Preprints . Scholar 2, Varun Gaur Varun Gaur Scilit Preprints.org Google Scholar 2 and Alisher Mirzabaev Alisher Mirzabaev Scilit Preprints.org Google Scholar 2, *
New Commitments At Un Energy Summit A Major Stride Towards Affordable And Clean Energy, But Much Work Ahead To Halve Energy Access Gap By 2025
Received: 30 March 2017 / Revised: 15 June 2017 / Accepted: 20 June 2017 / Published: 30 June 2017
Access to reliable and affordable energy is essential for sustainable development. In the off-grid areas of developing countries, decentralized energy solutions have received increasing attention due to their contributions to poverty reduction. However, most of the rural population in many developing countries still have little or no access to modern energy technology. This paper assesses the factors that determine the successes and failures of decentralized energy solutions based on regionally harmonized case studies from heterogeneous contexts of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The case studies were analyzed through the coupled lenses of energy transition and the Water–Energy–Food Security (WEF) Nexus. The findings suggest that access to modern decentralized energy solutions has not led to complete energy transitions due to several trade-offs with the other domains of the WEF Nexus. On the other hand, the case studies point to the potential for improvements in food security, income, health, women’s empowerment and resource conservation when synergies are present between decentralized energy solutions and other components of the WEF Nexus.
Access to modern, affordable energy services, including access to electricity and clean cooking technology, is one of the necessary inputs for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today, more than 1.3 billion people still do not have access to electricity, and 2.6 billion people are without clean cooking technology [1]. A lack of clean, affordable and sustainable energy is linked to household and community well-being in multifaceted ways [2]. For example, a lot
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