Mike Barker - MicroGrids Matter ?
LightNews LightNews
banner
microgridmike.bsky.social
Mike Barker - MicroGrids Matter ?
@microgridmike.bsky.social
810 followers 1.4K following 310 posts
Vehicle2Building2Grid = V-to-the-B-to-the-G
-MicroGrids, Batteries, RoofTop PV
-Smart Local Energy Systems
-MicroGrid Training
http://linkedin.com/in/mikebarker/
Posts Replies Media Videos
microgridmike.bsky.social
#LocalInertia is a thing 🙂
July 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
@hannahdaly.ie @nworbmot.bsky.social
- that important slide again, now with with Alt Text added 🙂
Challenges with hydrogen A hydrogen economy comes with several challenges: • The molecule size is small, making it easy to leak and e.g. embrittle steel • The volumetric density is low, making storage and transport difficult • Salt deposits necessary easy underground storage in caverns are not widely available • Vehicular transport is costly, pipeline network is necessary • Hydrogen is an indirect greenhouse gas with GWP100 of 11.6 ± 2.8 • The widespread usage of a new gas requires a coordinated scale-up of lumpy GW-scale pipelines, storage, supply and demand
June 12, 2025 at 5:17 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Speak to @watsonn.bsky.social about the Multiple-Supplier Model (MSM)
( also, in the UK P379 was on right on the button before it was canned )
Multiple-Supplier Model (MSM) This study set out to understand whether consumers would be more likely to engage with local energy suppliers in a multiple-supplier model compared to the current single supplier model Contrary to fears that MSMs would increase consumer disengagement, these findings suggest that MSMs are likely to be a promising avenue for driving the growth of local energy and opening up opportunities for innovation in the British energy market. P379 ‘Multiple Suppliers through Meter Splitting’ Formal title: Enabling consumers to buy and sell electricity from/to multiple providers through Meter Splitting This Modification will enable consumers to be supplied by multiple Suppliers through Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) Settlement Meters at the Boundary Point. P379 will allow multiple Suppliers to compete for the supply or export of electricity through a single Meter without needing to establish an agreement between all of the Suppliers involved for every instance.
May 19, 2025 at 6:45 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
"Distributed cultivation in vertical farms would increase electricity consumption in cities while decreasing supply chain energy use by ~50%" they say
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Distributed cultivation in vertical farms would increase electricity consumption in cities while decreasing supply chain energy use by ~50%. 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
May 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Hey @volts.wtf, this is right up your street, right ?
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
( ie Greenhouses )
Read and save this NREL document for example - before the ghouls take it down !
cc @mikegrunwald.bsky.social
docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy23ost...
Controlled-environment production of some vegetable crops could reduce water use by 53%; from 5.8 billion m3 (4,200 Mgal/day) to 2.8 billion m3 (2,000 Mgal/day).
May 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Irish stew feedback. Pressure cooker at ~110°C at 300 kPa using only 200 W on #InductionHob. Cautiously upgrading performance past the 300 kPa level

After the Durban Curry decompression incident, wife demanded that project be moved outside. Considering a ballistic jacket ?
May 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
In South Africa the two #ESKOM 765 kV lines running down to the Cape are for example 13.8 km apart when they cross the N3 National Road, but are often closer together. Average F3 tornados can travel 30 km they say
(This pic however taken near Vaal Marina - Not the 765kV lines)
-Pic Jenni Baxter -taken near Vaal Marina on Monday Dec 2017. Tornado near power lines
May 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆
Just before you all start becoming experts on the Iberian blackout, you may find this useful 😉
- EPRI TECHNICAL BRIEF - GRID STABILITY IN A CHANGING
LANDSCAPE
#GFM Inverters
www.epri.com/research/pro...
2. Typical response times, potential sources, and compensation mechanisms for ancillary services supporting frequency stability during contingencies.
May 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
it is important to consider these inescapable facts :-
- Our markets were not originally designed for variable renewables—but can be adapted
- The grid can handle more renewable generation than previously thought
- Modern power electronics are creating new sources of essential reliability services
It is important to consider these inescapable facts, and note various concerns raised by the ~48 000 IEEE Power & Energy Society Members from across the world. Our electric power markets were not originally designed for variable renewables—but they could be adapted; The grid can handle more renewable generation than previously thought; Geographic and resource diversity provide additional reliability to the system; Modern power electronics are creating new sources of essential reliability services.
April 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
At short notice, this slide come to mind. SEL has some good kit that can form the basis of inverter-based microgrids.
IEEE 2030.7 and IEEE 1547 play a part
This slide show that SEL has some good kit that can form the basis of inverter-based microgrids. IEEE 2030.7 and IEEE 1547 play a part Using Protective Relays for MicroGrid COntrols
April 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
... and LOCAL Low Carbon Energy will be the better option
#PeoplesMicroGrid
Peoples MicroGrid - an investment society
April 24, 2025 at 8:40 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Of interest then is an American view of Distributed Energy Resources integration and aggregation
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 by the US Dept of Energy
www.energy.gov/sites/defaul...
To illustrate the various mechanisms for managing DER, this paper introduces a DER orchestration model. The model presents a framework to organize and classify DER orchestration techniques. Orchestration mechanisms are classified broadly into three categories – dispatch signal-based, autonomous, and behavioral.
April 14, 2025 at 7:41 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
#V2G is incredibly complex to manage using traditional centralised concepts and thinking.
- Localised Grid-edge Intelligence and the co-design of Command, Control, and Communication is the key to servicing milions of EVs
#V2B2G
https://www.cleantech.com/ev-charging-software-and-grid-services Function: Bidirectionally chargeable batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles, which can not only draw energy from the grid but also feed it into it, become a building block of an intelligent energy system. Advantages: V2G systems enable intelligent sector coupling - in this context, this is understood to mean the combination of the traditionally separate sectors of energy and mobility. In private households or on sites, V2G can be used to bridge a power outage or for intelligent control of power production and consumption.
April 14, 2025 at 5:37 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
And no, it is NOT a network / bandwith problem
SpeerTEst - Plenty of Bandwith
March 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Now that Google Workspace has AI it is very slow, and at time is just plain dead.
No point in using Google Docs if it cant perform as fast as Word running on your own machine ?
Come on Google Docs - get your act together 😐
#GoogleDocs
#GoogleWorkspace
Now that GoogleWorkspace has AI it is very slow, and at time is just plain dead. No point in using Google Docs if it cant perform as fast as Word running on your own machine ? Come on googledocs - get your act together #GoogleDocs #GoogleWorkspace
March 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
" .. smarter policies. " ?

How about Smart Local Enegy Systems. Prosumers to self-generate for self-consumption, and then free to buy & sell green electrons locally on local feeders ( behind-the- substation )
- Time for the #PeoplesMicroGrid 🙂
#PeoplesMicroGrid an investment society to which members regularly contribute in order to benefit from a community microgrid a local green energy collective for homes, electric vehicles, community services, and business a good grid citizen, seeking beneficial coexistence with the national grid ( demand-side flexibility ) a form of energy sovereignty that strengthens the circular economy of a community a method to increase the resiliency and self-determination of a community
March 18, 2025 at 8:14 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
When i pointed this out to Gemini Flash, it gave me a lengthy explanation, proving that a picture is certainly worth a thousand words 😀
You are absolutely right! My apologies for the limitations in generating actual visual graphics within this format. While I can describe them conceptually, they aren't the same as seeing them. Let me try to provide a clearer textual description that might help you visualize the concepts better, and I can also suggest what kind of diagrams you could easily find with an online search.
March 16, 2025 at 5:14 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Just how bright is AI really ? 🙂
Well, if it can generarate complex diagrams then there is little it cant do ?

Here is part of Gemini Advanced 2.0 Flash Thinking's attempt at explaining Parks Transformation. Still some way to go, but i doubt it will take more than a year for full multi-modal ?
Diagram 1: Three-Phase Voltages in the Stationary Frame (abc) Imagine three sinusoidal voltage waveforms, V<sub>a</sub>(t), V<sub>b</sub>(t), and V<sub>c</sub>(t), plotted against time. They have the same frequency but are phase-shifted by 120 degrees.
March 16, 2025 at 5:08 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Grid-forming = Grid-firming
Why do we need grid firming?
Grid firming ( capacity firming / renewable firming ) is the addition of another energy resource to a renewable power plant to balance the intermittent variation of renewable resources
#GridFormingInverters
#GridFirmingInverters
#IBRs
What is grid firming? GRID FIRMING 101 Why do we need grid firming? Grid firming (also known as capacity firming or renewable firming) is the addition of another energy resource to a renewable power plant to balance the intermittent variation of renewable resources - www.gevernova.com
March 15, 2025 at 7:44 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
You may not have heard about Lesotho, but Lesotho knows all about you 😃
... and about the good things that the #IEEE and #ASHRAE are doing !
Please support the kind folk of Lesotho, they need access to engineering education
- contact ivan.yaholnitsky@gmail.com - he will help facilitate your efforts
You may not have heard about Lesotho, but Lesotho knows all about you 😃 ... and about the good things that the #IEEE and #ASHRAE are doing ! Please support the kind folk of Lesotho, they need access to engineering education - contact ivan.yaholnitsky@gmail.com - he will help facilitate your efforts
March 5, 2025 at 4:27 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Look what i got 2 years ago - a card game for youngsters that helps them understand the energy issues in their local community
" Who produces, and who consumes "
( Sadly they seem to have discontinued their efforts ? )
#Decide4Energy @DECIDE4energy
#ThePowerOfCommunity
@DECIDE4energy aims to gain a better understanding of how energy communities and energy efficiency services are established and managed. 🏙️ With a .eu they highlight the European scope of the initiative!
March 3, 2025 at 8:37 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Cheap and cheerful. Shown are units right out of the box and still uncalculated. Probably not accurate but good for introducing the concept of indoor air quality to Architects
February 24, 2025 at 1:38 AM
microgridmike.bsky.social
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - 𝗘𝗩𝘀 - 𝗨𝗞
Please consider joining this fledgling Group:-
www.linkedin.com/groups/12713...
- a carefully curated spam-free resource
Thanks, Mike
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - 𝗘𝗩𝘀 - 𝗨𝗞 Please consider joining this fledgling Group:- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12713744/ - a carefully curated spam-free resource Thanks, Mike
February 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
Indoor Air Quality Sensors ( cheap & cheerful, and a foretaste of things to come )
- soon commonplace, with wireless sensors in every room - then we can expect the public to pay more attention to the value of ventilation ?
- these as shown are uncalibrated, right out the box 🙂
Indoor Air Quality Sensors ( cheap & cheerful, and a foretaste of things to come ) - soon commonplace, with wireless sensors in every room - then we can expect the public to pay more attention to the value of ventilation ? - these are uncalibrated, right out the box ( from Temu - R200 - R300 per unit )
February 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
microgridmike.bsky.social
@isoutar.bsky.social , @adamhearn.bsky.social
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - 𝗘𝗩𝘀 - 𝗨𝗞
Please consider joining this fledgling Group:-
www.linkedin.com/groups/12713...
- a carefully curated spam-free resource
Thanks, Mike
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - 𝗘𝗩𝘀 - 𝗨𝗞 Please consider joining this fledgling Group:- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12713744/ - a carefully curated spam-free resource
February 23, 2025 at 1:40 PM