Energy In My Yard : A strategy to increase usage renewable energy from local sources

Abstract

This paper presents a concept of “EIMY; Energy In My Yard”, which proposes that local energy demands should be met from an optimum combination of local, renewable sources to the maximum degree that technical and economic considerations permit. Shortfalls and surpluses in local energy production would be accommodated through an interface with the national grid. The various kinds of renewable energy could play within the EIMY framework, according to their nature, ubiquity, and capacity. Integrated renewable energy systems have considerable advantage over independent utilization of renewable resources. A computer simulation for a rural area in Japan shows that an integrated renewable energy system with an optimum combination of resources can decrease not only CO₂ emission but also the cost, even though the installation and operating costs were assigned at current market rates, without weighting for advantages such as low CO₂ emission in the simulation. Problems to realize EIMY are also discussed.