DC grids

How, what and why?

Created by Mathijs de Bruin / @mathijsfietst

This presentation

https://tinyurl.com/dc-grids

What is Direct Current?

Alternating Current (AC)

Alternating Current (AC)

High voltage transport

Alternating Current (AC)

Induction motor

Alternating Current (AC)

Slander: Topsy's execution

AC (Alternating Current)

Historic advantages:

• Traditional (turbine) generation
• Better for motors (anything rotating)
• Efficient power conversion/transport

Direct Current (DC)

Direct Current (DC)

Photovoltaics

Direct Current (DC)

Wind (requires AC-DC conversion)

Direct Current (DC)

Batteries

Direct Current (DC)

Lighting

Direct Current (DC)

ICT

Direct Current (DC)

Audio

DC (Direct Current)

Modern advantages:

• Sustainable storage and production
• Motor drivers convert AC/DC/AC anyways
• DC/DC power conversion more efficient

DC (Direct Current)

Increased efficiency

Typical loads: 5-15% Stage loads: 30-40%

DC (Direct Current)

Less copper (up to 50%)conversion hardware (about 20x volume)

DC (Direct Current)

Flexibility & simplicity

DC Grid

In practise

DC Microgrids

Decentralized

• Generation
• Storage
• Management

DC Micrgrids

Techincal advantages

• Plug 'n play storage, generation and cabling
• Microgeneration with increased grid stability*
• Increased efficiency, reduced transport needs
• Simplified redundancy and reliability

* With AC, high percentages of microgeneration decrease grid stability.

DC Micrgrids

Social advantages

• Local self-reliance
• Bottom-up control
• Community self-determination

Challenges

Technical challenges

• Truckloads of legacy (AC)
• Limited availability of devices
• Battle-testing system stability

Business challenges

• Unthreaded territory
• No economies of scale
• Legal incompatibilities

Approaches

AC grid cost parity

Design for scaling

Find business cases with early legacy system cost parity, attempt to reach parity scale early in development by scaling quickly.

Distribute investment load

Establish solid partnerships (academic, public, private), distribute R&D and production investment load.

Roles for specialized partners:

• Power conversion
• Installation and maintenance
• End-device distribution (USB PD)
• Political/legal reform

Agile development approach

Many small iterations towards well-defined vision/goal. Adjust development based on test feedback and opportunities.

Many (small) pilots

Multiple use cases; different loads, hybrid generation and storage. Attempt cost neutrality to sustain development.

Hack away

Hack away

Start using DC power now for:

• Stage lighting
• Stage audio
• LED strips

The more experience the better.

Thanks!

Any questions?

https://tinyurl.com/dc-gridshttp://tinyurl.com/dc-grids-source