Going Mobile with Solar... Why It's Important
Mobile solar power generation, that is! Shout "mobile" around here and everyone pulls out their phone!
Mobile vs. Fixed Solar Installations
People want to compare these two configurations, but it's an "apple and orange" comparison. Fixed installations are less expensive, but you can't (easily) move them. Those who evangelize solar on rooftops, solar farms, parking lots and other fixed installations are legion. Those who are promoting the value of mobile solar are... well... here, and a few places here and there around the world. They're not at solar trade events, they're not in the solar or renewables publications; they're certainly not ubiquitous in even the relatively small world of solar energy.
Hurricane Katrina
This iconic event in America is familiar to most people who get news in the world. Yet the back story is still unfolding. Movies, films and books are still being released to tell the stories of both responders and victims of this and other disasters. We, in this context, have a focus on generators, and when we hear stories involving loss and lack of power, and the myriad of problems with diesel generators that didn't work, we start to jump up and down and wave our arms... "Hey, over here... yoohoo... There's a solution!"
Diesel is Fuel
Duh, you say. But here's the point: If you can't get more fuel to the diesel generator that just ran out after two days... duh, no power! If you can't get to a solar generator after two days... oh, it's still running!
Mobile vs. Fixed Solar Installations
People want to compare these two configurations, but it's an "apple and orange" comparison. Fixed installations are less expensive, but you can't (easily) move them. Those who evangelize solar on rooftops, solar farms, parking lots and other fixed installations are legion. Those who are promoting the value of mobile solar are... well... here, and a few places here and there around the world. They're not at solar trade events, they're not in the solar or renewables publications; they're certainly not ubiquitous in even the relatively small world of solar energy.
Hurricane Katrina
This iconic event in America is familiar to most people who get news in the world. Yet the back story is still unfolding. Movies, films and books are still being released to tell the stories of both responders and victims of this and other disasters. We, in this context, have a focus on generators, and when we hear stories involving loss and lack of power, and the myriad of problems with diesel generators that didn't work, we start to jump up and down and wave our arms... "Hey, over here... yoohoo... There's a solution!"
Diesel is Fuel
Duh, you say. But here's the point: If you can't get more fuel to the diesel generator that just ran out after two days... duh, no power! If you can't get to a solar generator after two days... oh, it's still running!
Mobile Emergency Operation Center (MEOC)
The Million-Dollar Solution
This is a "MEOC" = Mobile Emergency Operations Center. These effective, rapidly-deployable units are costly, and require a diesel
The Quarter-Million-Dollar Solution
This is a mobile emergency operations center in disguise.
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