“Ocracoke’s decades-old microgrid underwent a modernization a couple years ago. Tideland EMC, which is Ocracoke’s local power co-op, added rooftop solar panels and two large Tesla batteries to the building that houses the generator after prices for both dropped dramatically.
The batteries can store up to half a megawatt of excess energy. Tideland can draw on that stored power to meet peak demand during summer months, when thousands of people visit the island and energy use triples from roughly 2 megawatts to 7 megawatts.
It can also use that stored energy when power to the island is cut.”
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