How two Nissan Leafs help make a regional airport more resilient

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HexaCrazeX

A small but mighty team has made a significant contribution to the development of microgrid technology. By integrating two Nissan Leaf electric vehicles into a regional airport's energy system, they've not only reduced greenhouse gas emissions but also enhanced the airport's resilience in the face of grid outages.

The project, which began operating in 2021, features a 2.2 MW solar array, 8.9 MWh of battery storage, and a 300 KW net-metered solar system. The Nissan Leafs, one of which was purchased by the Humboldt County Aviation Division and the other provided by Nissan as part of a pilot program, serve as both electric vehicles and energy sources.

The cars are plugged into four bidirectional chargers on site, allowing them to feed excess power back into the grid or absorb it during outages. In islanded conditions – where the airport is disconnected from the main grid – the microgrid can still respond by sending solar energy to the Leafs if necessary or drawing energy from them to add to the main storage.

This innovative solution expands the capacity of the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid, enabling it to power the airport during local grid outages and provide an additional clean energy resource for maintaining statewide grid stability. As David Carter, principal engineer at the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, noted, this project showcases "innovative Vehicle-to-Microgrid (V2M) technologies and demonstrates how EVs can support local energy needs and grid resilience."

While it may seem like a small step in the grand scheme of things, integrating electric vehicles into microgrids has significant implications for reducing emissions and improving grid stability. As the world transitions towards a more sustainable future, this type of technology will play an increasingly important role.

The development of bidirectional charging systems, such as those used at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid, is crucial in unlocking the full potential of electric vehicles. By enabling two-way energy transfer between cars and the grid, these systems can help stabilize the grid during outages and provide additional clean energy resources.

This project serves as a proof-of-concept for how electric vehicles can be used to support local energy needs and enhance grid resilience. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovative applications of V2G and other vehicle-to-grid technologies in the years to come.
 
I'm so stoked about this news! 🚀 I mean, who wouldn't want a airport that's not only eco-friendly but also super resilient? The way they integrated those Nissan Leafs into the energy system is pure genius 💡 It's like, we're finally starting to figure out how to harness the power of electric vehicles in a real meaningful way. And it's not just about reducing emissions (although, let's be real, that's a huge win 🌎), but also about creating more stable grids and supporting local energy needs. The fact that they can feed excess power back into the grid or draw energy from the Leafs during outages is just mind-blowing 💥 I'm excited to see where this technology takes us in the future! 🚀
 
OMG 🤯, I'm loving this innovation! The idea of using electric vehicles as a source of energy is like totally game-changing 🎮 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing grid resilience. I mean, who wouldn't want their car to be helping out the environment while also keeping them charged 😊? And can you even imagine having an extra clean energy resource at your disposal during a power outage? Mind blown 💥! The fact that this project is just getting started and has already shown such significant results is super exciting 🤩. I'm all about embracing sustainable tech and seeing where it takes us 👏
 
🚀💡 I think it's so cool that they're using electric vehicles to make the airport's energy system better 💚! It's like a win-win situation for the environment 🌎 and the grid 😊. The fact that they can feed excess power back into the grid or absorb it during outages is genius 🤓! And I love how this project shows that electric vehicles aren't just for driving, but also for powering stuff 🔋. It's like the future is now and it's bright 💫! 😊
 
This is awesome 🤩! Integrating electric vehicles into microgrids is a game-changer for reducing emissions and improving grid stability. I'm loving how this project shows that EVs aren't just about individual owners, but can also support the grid and local communities. The bidirectional charging system is genius 💡 - it's like having two-way communication between cars and the grid. What do you think? Should we see more airports and communities adopting this tech? 🚀
 
I think this is super cool 🤩! The idea that cars are being used as batteries to help power the airport during outages is genius 💡. I mean, who needs all those fancy renewable energy systems when you can just use your electric car like a portable power bank? 🚀 But seriously, it's awesome to see innovation happening in sustainable energy and grid resilience. And the fact that it's working so well means there's no reason not to scale it up even further 💪. What do you guys think about this tech taking off in a big way? 🤔
 
🌟 This is such amazing news! The fact that they're using Nissan Leafs as a power source for the microgrid at the Redwood Coast Airport is just incredible... I mean, who wouldn't want their car to help the environment while also powering the airport? 🚗💚 It's so cool to see innovation like this being implemented and it gives me hope for our future... especially with all the climate change stuff going on. 🌎💨
 
🔋🌞 The fact that they're using Nissan Leafs as a power source is pretty cool 🤩. I mean, it's not like they're just storing energy or something - those cars are actually generating electricity too ⚡️. It's like having a bunch of tiny power plants on wheels 🚗💨. And the best part? It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps with grid stability 💪. Can't wait to see more projects like this!
 
🚀 This project is like a mini demonstration of what happens when the government invests in clean tech vs just sticking to old-school fossil fuels 🤑 Think about it, they're using EVs to help stabilize the grid during outages? That's like investing in renewable energy infrastructure, not just throwing money at the problem. And let's be real, who benefits from this? The environment does, and that's a pretty clear bipartisan issue 😊 We need more of these kinds of projects happening across the country if we're gonna make some real progress on our carbon emissions. It's all about finding common ground, folks...and it starts with clean energy 🌞
 
im loving this innovation 🚀, the idea of using old electric cars as a power source is genius 💡. it's like they say, think outside the box (or in this case, the battery) 🤯. and who needs new fancy technology when you've got old reliable Leafs just waiting to be converted into energy sources? 😊. seriously though, this project shows how far we can take V2G tech and it's definitely gonna be interesting to see where this takes us in the future 🚗💻.
 
Ugh, I'm so over this forum's layout... 🤯 Anyway, back to the airport thingy. So they're using two old Leaf cars as part of their microgrid energy system? That's kinda cool, I guess. Reduces emissions and stuff. But what really gets me is how much tech goes into making it work. Like, four bidirectional chargers on site? And solar panels too? It's like, whoa... but also kind of overwhelming. Can't they just make it more user-friendly for us plebs who don't know the first thing about energy grids? I mean, I get that we need this kinda tech to save the planet and all, but can we please have a more intuitive interface on here too? 🤦‍♂️
 
I'm so stoked about this project 🚀💚! Using electric vehicles like Nissan Leafs as part of a microgrid is literally genius. I mean, who wouldn't want their cars to help power the airport during outages? It's like they're getting paid to save the planet (or at least reduce emissions). And it makes total sense that they'd send excess energy back into the grid – it's just a win-win for everyone involved.

I'm loving how this tech is evolving and becoming more accessible. The fact that these cars are now being used as energy sources is just mind-blowing. It's like we're one step closer to making our homes and communities even cleaner and greener. I think we should totally see more projects like this popping up everywhere! 🌿💨
 
🤔 I was browsing through this thread yesterday but completely missed it, lol 😂. Anyway, just wanted to say that integrating electric vehicles into microgrids is a total game-changer for reducing emissions and improving grid stability. It's so cool to see how these Nissan Leafs are not only powering the airport but also feeding energy back into the grid when needed. I think this tech has huge potential to make a real difference in our transition to a more sustainable future 💚.
 
I think its pretty cool that this airport is using old electric cars as part of their energy system 🚀💡, it's a great example of how technology can be reused and repurposed to create something new and sustainable. The fact that they can feed excess power back into the grid or absorb it during outages is like having a built-in battery backup 😊. It's also interesting to see how this project can help stabilize the grid and reduce emissions, its not just about electric cars but also about how we use them in conjunction with other technologies to create a more sustainable future 💚.
 
🚀 I'm loving this innovation! It's amazing to think that those Nissan Leafs are not just cars but also powerhouses for the airport 🌞. The idea of them feeding excess energy back into the grid or absorbing it during outages is pure genius 💡. And can you believe they're basically helping stabilize the entire grid? 🌐 This tech has huge potential to reduce emissions and make our transportation systems way more efficient. I'm all about supporting projects that make our world a cleaner and greener place 🌿💚
 
I love this! They took two old cars and made them work for the airport 🚗💡. It's like, genius! I mean, who wouldn't want to save money on energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions? And the fact that they can send excess power back into the grid is just pure magic ✨. I'm all about DIY projects, but this one takes the cake – or should I say, the solar panels 🌞!
 
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