Keeping the Lights On: Renewable Energy Solutions for Post Disaster Relief

Abstract

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy travelled up the eastern coast of the United States and devastated coastal towns throughout New Jersey, New York, and parts of Pennsylvania. Thousands were left without power for anywhere from a couple of days to weeks. While the local utilities frantically rushed to repair the devastated electric infrastructure, nodes throughout the region were able to restore power at a moment’s notice with the help of renewable energy, microgrid systems. One of these sites, Princeton University, invested in microgrid technologies. Once the lights went out, the team at Princeton’s cogeneration plant were able to run independent of the local electric grid, protecting critical documents, ice cores, and research that would have otherwise been lost. This thesis looked to magnify the success of Princeton University to the facilities throughout New Jersey deemed most critical during periods of natural disaster relief. In order to achieve this goal, I investigated the factors which allowed Princeton University to retain power in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. I provided recommendations for areas of expansion, capitalizing on the system’s successes and further disconnecting the University from the current reliance on fossil fuels. Through my calculations of the available land and generation, the university has the opportunity of increasing their solar production four times the current status. Similarly, I investigated a sample of critical facilities, specifically Moorestown High School and JFK Medical Center, and their current energy demands. The two sites occupied similar footprints, but the energy demand of the hospital was much higher due to the equipment within. By researching current methods in solar production, I found that introducing rooftop solar along with parking canopies provided enough energy to run the high school but, due to the increased demand, the hospital would require a larger portfolio of energy options. The reliability of the energy infrastructure is of critical importance any time disruptions occur. When these disruptions become a state of emergency, citizens rely on the state to provide security and aid. By gaining an accurate depiction of the tangibility of these projects, site managers and engineers can properly consider the benefit of introducing reliable, clean energy to the existing system. This thesis provides insight into the potential of solar energy as a renewable alternative to emergency energy supply.