Bridging the Gap as Energy Shortage Risk Grows

Electric-grid operators are sounding the alarm that existing energy sources are having a tough time keeping up with demand—as aging assets go offline and everything from homes, cars, and lawnmowers go electric.

The entire world is grappling with this issue and it is why distributed generation technologies are so important. In order to meet the world's climate goals, large-scale projects are necessary, but smaller resources that can be quickly engaged will help bridge the gap until those large projects can be brought online, and will provide a source of resource diversity into the future.

Businesses engaged in industrial or energy critical operations should consider safeguarding their power supply. Fuel cells, rooftop solar and direct interconnection to generation are all becoming increasingly popular for energy intensive uses, like data-centers, cryptocurrency miners, and manufacturing. Green hydrogen fuel cells offer constant power without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A win-win. 

While dedicated power may not have made sense in the past for other commercial uses, like warehousing due to the high capital cost required, new technologies may have changed the equation. This is especially true considering how important it is for fulfillment centers to operate 24/7, as consumers have grown accustomed to a two-day shipping world. As many such centers are co-located with other warehouses, companies may even consider partnering with other operators to create a micro-grid, further reducing the amount of capital required.