The majority of small islands and remote communities still rely on diesel generators for electricity supply, which is risky business with volatile fossil fuel costs as well as dependence on outside transportation and storage. These two factors make powering a remote community excessively costly. In the past renewable energy sources have been overlooked due to high implementation costs as well as aesthetic reasons, however it is becoming a much more viable option with initiatives such as Kitepower, which is both inexpensive and virtually invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By using an additional Kitepower system in combination with batteries, diesel generators can be switched off completely while remaining available as backup in case of low wind. Traditionally, a number of diesel generators would run idle to be able to ramp up quickly in case of fast increase in energy demand. Kitepower can instead provide energy directly into the microgrid allowing batteries to charge up with the energy surplus so being able to respond instantly to demand shifts hence avoiding idle generators. This hybrid system results in less diesel consumption for more power, culminating in considerable financial savings even for areas that don\u2019t experience consistent high wind speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n