A mobile solar microgrid has been aiding in recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, a powerful hurricane that rocked the Southeast in late September.
The Mobile Solar Power Station — an array of solar panels transported via a small trailer that can be unloaded anywhere — debuted at the annual sustainability celebration Ray Day last year; nearly a year later, the Georgia-built microgrid was deployed to help Georgians for just this kind of scenario.
North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, facilitators and stewards of the mobile microgrid, deployed its services to Camp Tygart outside of Valdosta, Ga. The microgrid reportedly powered lights, freezers and refrigerators at the church camp until the power was restored.
The United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) released a fact sheet detailing the potential for the solar microgrid; it has a total solar capacity of 16 kW, and a total battery storage capacity of 38.4 kWh.
At that capacity, the trailer’s batteries could power a 325 W fridge for over 118 hours, a 1350 W heater for over 38 hours or a 1400 W microwave for over 27 hours, according to the fact sheet.
“This was the first time we deployed our entire solar array! We had just one panel left in the trailer as a spare. The quiet, clean, renewable energy fueled the heart of the camp. It powered lighting, refrigeration, air conditioning and more,” said Tom Staigle, UMCOR Early Response Team (ERT) member and a member of Peachtree City United Methodist Church.
Rev. Jenny Phillips, director of environmental sustainability for Global Ministries, the humanitarian organization of the United Methodist Church which includes UMCOR, said that while disaster is never good news, she feels great that her church is able to support those in need with renewable energy.
“It adds an extra tool in the toolbelt of disaster response coordinators,” Phillips said, acknowledging that even if they don’t completely replace traditional generators, they can complement them. “Adding solar to the toolkit also frees up other energy-generating resources.”
Staigle echoed this sentiment with a real-world example from the microgrid deployment.
“It allowed for the reallocation of extremely limited fossil fuels to power a well enabling the first showers and flushing [of] toilets in five days,” Staigle said. “The solar microgrid trailer supported the volunteers putting their skills to work in a community that needed them.”
The project was funded through a grant from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation to Footprint Project, a nonprofit on providing clean energy deployment for disaster response; other project partners include Cherry Street Energy and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.
The idea had been in discussions since late spring in 2023, Phillips said. The Ray C. Anderson Foundation was thinking of ways to reduce onsite emissions at their annual Ray Day event in the Fall, which sparked the idea for a mobile solar microgrid that could be deployed at will but otherwise wouldn’t take up land space.
Eventually, the potential for the mobile solar trailer gained traction as a disaster response tool, because project partners wanted to ensure they weren’t adding to the root cause of disaster when engaging in disaster response — referencing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional generators used in disaster response.
“We [were] looking for ways to reduce or eliminate emissions so that we aren’t sowing the seeds for more supercharged storms in the future and causing more suffering down the road as we seek to alleviate suffering in the present,” Phillips said.
It was then decided the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church would be the stewards of the project after its use at Ray Day 2023, with the Footprint Project still owning it.
Since then, it has been used as an educational opportunity for the church to demonstrate its stewardship of the planet and allow people to get up close and personal with solar panels. It’s also been deployed for similar outdoor events to Ray Day.
“When people encounter it, oftentimes it’s the first time they’re getting up close and personal with a solar panel, and have the opportunity to see how relatively simple the technology is and how relatively easy it is to use,” Phillips said.
The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church used this experiment as a pilot program of sorts. Other United Methodist Church conferences like North Carolina and Florida also have similar mobile trailers. So far, the feedback and usefulness of the trailers have demonstrated it being a worthwhile investment, said Phillips — one that they hope to build upon.
UMCOR just funded a new grant program: the Sustainable Response Technology Library. The grant was awarded to the Footprint Project, who will work with United Methodist conferences that want to try the solar microgrid for themselves by giving them online training and sending the solar array to them.
Phillips also added that United Methodist Church conferences around the country would be able to send out these panels whenever someone is in need, furthering their mission to be good stewards of both the planet and helping their fellow person.
As part of the Sustainable Response Technology Library, these solar panels to be carried in a truck or SUV that will will be smaller than the current solar panels. The larger panels in the current mobile solar project are too big for most common vehicles on the road; the idea is that by downsizing, more volume of solar panels could be deployed in everyday vehicles.
“[We will] be able to provide them with some smaller scale solar devices that are easy to transport, easy to manage and set up… so that they can get a taste of what it’s like,” Phillips said. “It gives folks a chance to get their hands and different pieces of equipment to see what they’re like in action so they can better plan for their needs.”
Phillips added the upcoming project will also add atmospheric water generators to their portfolio — essentially big dehumidifiers with a water filter, also to be used in crisis situations.
With climate change continuing to bring more severe and frequent storms to regions across the world, these small changes in our disaster response can make the world of a difference, said Phillips — and she hopes that one day, they’ll be second nature in the response toolkit.
“I think that’s what is so exciting about some of the technology: it’s just going to become normal,” Phillips said. “It’s a story now, it’s different now — but the dream is that we don’t put out a press release. People just say, ‘Of course they’re using solar to respond; of course they’re using atmospheric generators.'”
The deployment of mobile solar microgrids during Hurricane Helene recovery efforts highlights a growing trend in renewable energy solutions for disaster-stricken areas. These microgrids provide essential power when traditional infrastructure is compromised, demonstrating their potential to enhance resilience in vulnerable communities. As more regions face the impact of extreme weather, initiatives such as this present an opportunity to explore sustainable energy options. If you’re interested in staying informed about similar advancements, you can sim dito register for updates.
A mobile solar microgrid has been deployed as part of recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. This renewable energy solution provides essential power to affected communities, ensuring continuous support. The mobile solar microgrid plays a crucial role in stabilizing energy access during disaster recovery.