Time for a Revolution: Smart Energy and Microgrid Use in Disaster Response. (11th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Callaway, David Wayne; Noste, Erin; McCahill, Peter Woods; Rossman, A.J.; Lempereur, Dominique; Kaney, Kathleen; Swanson, Doug
• Is Part Of: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 8:Number 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2014-06-11
• Subjects: disaster medicine, -- emergency preparedness, -- field hospitals, -- natural disasters, -- delivery of health care; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency management -- Planning -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2014.39
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-7893

Abstract

Abstract: Modern health care and disaster response are inextricably linked to high volume, reliable, quality power. Disasters place major strain on energy infrastructure in affected communities. Advances in renewable energy and microgrid technology offer the potential to improve mobile disaster medical response capabilities. However, very little is known about the energy requirements of and alternative power sources in disaster response. A gap analysis of the energy components of modern disaster response reveals multiple deficiencies. The MED-1 Green Project has been executed as a multiphase project designed to identify energy utilization inefficiencies, decrease demands on diesel generators, and employ modern energy management strategies to expand operational independence. This approach, in turn, allows for longer deployments in potentially more austere environments and minimizes the unit's environmental footprint. The ultimate goal is to serve as a proof of concept for other mobile medical units to create strategies for energy independence. ( Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness . 2014;0:1–8)