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364 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

The US case study mentioned and cited (Fig. 18.4) “agile energy systems”
as being similar to the “Internet.” That is, like information on the Internet,
energy does not rely on one central computer terminal or generating station for
the distribution of power. Instead, the system for energy, like that for the
Internet, needs to be flexible and dispersed. This approach also makes
economic sense and reduces vulnerability.
The Energy Internet analogy as diagramed in Fig. 18.4 comes from the
Economist (May, 2004), a publication from the United Kingdom, which
reflects the changes in energy infrastructures and systems occurring there now:
the outcome of the privatization and liberalization of the energy system in the
United Kingdom (30 years later) has been a diverse and flexible energy system
combining the central grid and distributed power generation.
As defined in the California Case study and the Glossary, the experiences
of energy crises worldwide show that local or on-site energy generation from
solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable resources are critical for providing
secure, cost-controlled, and reliable energy generation. Grid connected or
central power transmission must also include renewable energy generation
sources so as to mitigate and lessen waste and impacts on the environment, and
the atmosphere. In short, such public policies can significantly reduce global
warming.
Fig. 18.4 illustrates the idea of “agile energy systems” as they are being
created globally when compared with the old “conventional electric grid,”
which had been developed in all the case studies for the last 100 years. The old
model, analogous to the Internet and computers, has a central computer with
all the lines/transmission going to and from that central “grid.” The new model
(agile energy systems) instead uses the central grid that must exist in a minor
role, whereas energy needs to be generated at the local level. Renewable
energy is cost effective and environmentally preferable today, and local energy
sources must be developed and used to meet regional needs in ways that are
environmentally benign and sound.
From the US perspective, the lessons from the California energy crisis
(Clark and Bradshaw, 2004) represent a similar pattern of change for the
“modern energy system development” evolving into a flexible energy system
conforming with regional needs and strengths of the power supply. Like the
United Kingdom, the United States and individual states “deregulated”
(basically the same approach as “privatization”), which resulted in an energy
crisis, due in large part to market manipulation by central grid power
generators.
Isherwood et al. (2000a,b) made a similar argument in the analysis of
remote Alaskan communities regarding the need for central grid energy along
with distributed or on-site power generation. In fact, these articles also argued
or suggested that conventional energy sources like clean goal with gasification
(e.g., hybrid energy systems) could be converted into hydrogen for storage and
energy for use on demand. Similar lessons learned would be useful for IMAR.