When the cable from the mainland that supplies power to Isle au Haut, Maine, was laid down on the seafloor to replace aging diesel generators, the community was told it had a 15- to 20-year lifespan. That was in 1983.
For the last decade, confronted by the creeping urgency of replacing a power line that could fail any day despite careful maintenance, the community debated how to best keep the lights on in the future. On the menu were a new cable, diesel generators, fuel cells, wave-energy generators, wind, solar, and batteries.
Cost was the primary concern. With a full-time resident population of only 70 people or so and a summertime crowd of 200 to 300, Isle au Haut faced a steeper-than-usual capital infrastructure upgrade.
“When we went through the costs for almost any option, the economics were just really nasty,” said Jim Wilson, president of the private, for-profit cooperative Isle au Haut Electric Power Company. But as the cost of renewable technologies plummeted, certain options began to make more sense.
A solar-and-battery system would run the community around $1.8 million. A new cable: double that. A diesel system would triple the cost. So four years ago, the co-op members voted unanimously to pursue building a 300-kilowatt system made up of 900 solar panels, with a 1-megawatt graphene supercapacitor battery to store and supply excess power. Residents can also add on their own solar panels along with battery systems (and/or water tanks to store excess energy as heat).
In most places, that might be the end of the story. But there’s a hidden aspect to this solar project that tweaks it into next-wave territory: Behind each of the 140 or so electric meters on the island will be units loaded with machine-learning software developed by Kay Aiken at Maine-based Introspective Systems.
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av PC Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av PC Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
AUDIO
AUDIO
SMART HOME
SMART HOME
T Mobile
Mobile
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 (2022): Nearly an Editors' Choice
A solid gaming laptop for under 2,000
Apple TV 4K 3rd Generation): Best for the Apple-Centric
A powerful, feature-rich media streamer that’s pricier than most
20 Tips for Leveling Up Your Work-at-Home Game
Whether you're new to working remotely or just looking fo do if beffer, fhese fips can help you stay productive and maintain balance.
12 Google Calendar Tricks You're Probably Not Using
Wondering how to share your Google Calendar? Want to add a new calendar? Here are the tips you need.
SimpliSafe Home Security System: Affordable Ease of Use
Affordable security with a focus on flexibility
Honda Unveils First All-Electric SUV, Built on GM's Battery Platform
The Honda Prologue battery-electric SUV arrives in 2024 and will use the Ultium battery technology developed by General Motors.
We Must Save Streaming Video Before It’s Too Late
A generation of art risks extinction if the companies that own streaming services don’t believe their vast libraries are worth preserving. We have to act now to save it.