After the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in 2011, cities in the north of the country had to completely redo their energy systems. But rather than rejoining with the country’s old utility model, the cities have shifted towards a decentralized, self-sustaining system of micro-grids capable of producing an average of 25 percent of its electricity without the need for the region’s local power utility. The microgrids use small-scale power generation fueled by natural gas or solar and wind power arrays. For added efficiency, smart energy systems are in place that use the internet to connect appliances and meters to better direct electric power where and when it’s needed.
This article was originally published on September 21, 2017
