Emergency Power Sources

Sustainable technologies — primarily renewable energy systems — can play an important role during the critical days following a disaster. Photovoltaic (PV) systems that tap solar energy to generate electricity provided emergency power during the aftermath of a number of disasters including Hurricanes Marilyn, Andrew, Hugo, and Katrina; the Northridge Earthquake; and the 2004 tsunami in Asia.

Solar power is ideal for some emergency applications because the systems are portable and self-sufficient. They eliminate worry about the availability of fuel supplies, and they operate silently and without fumes. Homes and businesses can also install PV systems to supply a portion of their electricity needs during normal times and provide back-up power during emergencies.

The U.S. Department of Energy report, Nature's Power on Demand: Renewable Energy Systems as Emergency Power Sources provides further information on the potential of renewable energy as a disaster response tool. It discusses specific emergency uses for PV power and elaborates on how permanent systems can enhance the reliability of the electricity grid.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) offers a range of photovoltaic (PV) support strategies for disaster relief, recovery and mitigation. For more than a decade, FSEC has been involved in projects such as loaning PV equipment for use after disasters, studying the energy needs of disaster relief organizations, designing demonstration projects, conducting workshops, and providing technical support to various disaster relief and emergency management organizations. FSEC reports of interest include Photovoltaic Applications for Disaster Relief and Applying Photovoltaics to Disaster Relief.

"Disaster!," a publication produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, explains how passive solar design and PV systems can serve as naturally disaster-resistant technologies.

Besides supplying electricity for lighting and emergency refrigeration needs, PV power can also be used to purify water. The need for clean water is often acute following a natural disaster because conventional water treatment and delivery systems are commonly disrupted. UV Waterworks, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is a highly efficient water purification system that requires only a 40-watt fluorescent bulb to deliver up to four gallons of potable water per minute. It relies on ultraviolet radiation to kill viruses and bacteria in the water.

Residential photovoltaic systems are available from a number of distributors. Two of the largest distributors of residential photovoltaic systems in the United States are Sunelco and Real Goods.

Electric and gas utilities also face major challenges when recovering from a disaster. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has formed a Disaster Planning and Mitigation Project to help utilities plan for and recover from disasters. The Disaster Recovery Business Alliance, also supported by EPRI, assists businesses in designing disaster mitigation and business recovery plans.