Microgrids for Long Term Recovery and Resilience in North Carolina

Translation Traducción Переклад Перевод

This form is for facilities, organizations, and sites interested in receiving microgrid support to power long term recovery and resilience efforts in disaster-affected areas of North Carolina.

THIS SURVEY WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES TO COMPLETE. WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME. PLEASE READ BEFORE TAKING THE SURVEY.

CONTEXT: A broad coalition of national, regional and local partners have been actively responding to the Hurricane Helene disaster in North Carolina since September 29, 2024. As long-term recovery and rebuild efforts evolve, we are focusing our efforts on:

1) Keeping the mobile assets that we have in the field operational.

2) Managing a "free store" for renewable recovery projects in the sub 5kW range. To submit a Free Store Request, click here.

3) Assessing and funneling larger in-kind donations (solar panels, battery storage, etc) to permanent resilience hub projects (fire stations, community centers, food banks, etc).

4) Financing new permanent and mobile solar microgrid assets in preparation for the next regional response, and training local groups to self operate.

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Land of Sky Regional Council, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, Footprint Project.

SURVEY GOAL: This survey's goal is to help us intake and assess potential facilities for medium- to long-term resilience investments.

This survey is open to a diverse range of clients, including but not limited to:

First responder facilities: Emergency operations and dispatch centers, emergency medical providers, fire stations, etc.
Second responder facilities: Community centers, schools, shelters, centers of faith, voluntary agencies, health clinics, etc.
Critical auxiliary infrastructure: Cell towers, water pumping and filtration facilities, waste management facilities, etc.
Peer-to-peer response facilities: Community gardens, tool lending libraries, small businesses, mutual aid hubs, mobile home parks, urban and rural farms, water distribution, etc.
Social safety-net businesses: Hardware stores, dialysis centers, grocery stores, restaurants etc.

If your facility or organization would like to be considered for support, you must take this survey. However, taking this survey does not guarantee your request will be fulfilled.

We know the regional need for microgrid resilience investments vastly outweighs the resources we currently have available. We will use this information to pursue additional sources of funding and in-kind microgrid equipment donations, but we know it's unlikely we'll be able to fulfill every request. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Contact Name*

First NameLast Name

Contact Title*

(e.g. Fire Chief)

Contact Number*

Contact E-mail*

example@example.com

Organization Name*

Organization Location*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Organization Website

STOP: Do you have multiple site requests in mind?

Please submit a separate request for each site. For example, a municipality with multiple fire stations should submit a separate request for each fire station.

Site/Facility Information

Site Name*

This site would be best described as*

What's your facility, site, or project address? If we're able to support your request, where would the equipment live?*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

GPS coordinates or a Google Maps link to the exact location. We will use this to assess for solar array potential. *

County that the facility is located in*

Site-Specific Person (fill this in if this person is different than you)

First NameLast Name

Site-Specific Person's Email

example@example.com

Site-Specific Person's Phone Number

Tell us a little bit about the site, facility, or project you're looking to upgrade with microgrid technologies:*

Do you own the site or facility?*

YesNo

If no, do you have written permission to install solar from the owner?*

YesNot yet

Was this site or facility activated to provide emergency services during Hurricane Helene?*

YesNo

If selected for support, can your organization commit to designating resources and personnel to insuring, maintaining, and operating the microgrid technologies for a minimum of 5 years? (your answer will not affect site selection, it just helps us understand capabilities and needs)*

DefinitelyMaybeWe'd need additional outside support to make that commitment

Rank Your Technology Choice

What kind of resilience technology would be most useful for your community resilience goals at this specific site?

Your choices include:

Option 1: Permanent Solar + Permanent Battery. This option is the most common. It involves installing a permanent solar array on the roof of the building, or on the ground near by. A permanent battery is mounted to the side of the building, or on a concrete pad near by. When the grid goes out, the microgrid "islands," and the solar panels charge the battery to power the building. Other sources of energy generation (wind or micro-hydro turbines, back-up gas, diesel, or propane generators, etc) can be added as additional layers of resilient energy generation to charge the battery. This option is most appopriate for users who own their building and provide the majority of their services out of that building.

Option 2: Permanent Solar + Mobile Battery. This option involves installing a permanent solar array on the roof of the building or on the ground near by. The battery and inverter components are installed on a trailer. When the trailer is parked next to the building, it can be plugged into building to charge from the solar array and power the building. The trailer can also be towed to other sites that need temporary power. This option is most appropriate for users who own their building, but regularly use mobile gas or diesel generators for temporary power across a range of sites (ie. parks, mobile medical clinics, outreach programs etc).

Option 3: Portable Battery Library: This option involves procuring a number of portable batteries and storing them at the site for recurring distribution for a variety of small, temporary power needs (phone charging, wifi, home health appliances, small scale refrigeration, LED string lighting, etc). The portable batteries would be used to replace 2-5kW portable gas generators. This option is most appropriate for users who do not own their building, and want to provide a basic level of energy resilience for a network of partners/individuals in their community.

Option 4: Other Mobile Resilience Hub Equipment: This option involves procuring specific equipment from this list of options. To better understand how this equipment can be utilized during a disaster, watch this video: What is a Beehive Microgrid?. If you have an equipment need that's not on the list, please write it in the space below!

1st Choice *

2nd Choice*

3rd Choice*

4th Choice*

WRITE IN: Other Mobile Resilience Hub Equipment. Please identify your preferred asset from the list above, or describe something we haven't thought of yet!

(e.g. "Electric forklift")

In a perfect world, what would be your preferred ownership structure for the technologies above?*

We would prefer to own the assets outright, and manage maintenance, insurance, and tech support ourselves.We would prefer to lease the assets for free, and lean on your coalition for maintenance, insurance, and tech support.

Would your site like to be considered for selection as a staging area for Mobile Resilience Hub Equipment? Staging area sites must have ample secure (ideally sunny) storage space, and be willing to sign an Memorandum of Understanding.*

YesNo

Describe the Need

Approximately how many people does the site serve per week?*

Are you currently running a gas generator to support your operation?*

YesNo

Do you have a gas or diesel generator as a back-up energy solution?*

YesNo

Does your site rely on a well pump to supply water?*

YesNo

If yes, is your well pump wired to accept power from a gas or diesel generator?

YesNo

Describe critical equipment at your site that requires electrical power:*

e.g. We supply food and need to power a commercial freezer.

What voltage and phase are your critical electrical loads? (120V, 240V, 408V etc)

Please Upload your Energy Bill (Electrical) - Highly recommended if seeking a permanent battery or permanent solar.

If available, please upload your annual energy usage (check your electrical utility company's website):

Upload spec sheet or technical data for your existing gas generator.

Thoughts? Questions? Anything else you'd like to share?