A LARGE SCALE SOLAR BASED MICROGRID APPLICABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE FUTURE DISASTER RESILIENT COMMUNITY IN JAPAN

A microgrid (MG) is defined as “a group of interconnected energy-consuming devices and equipment and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that act as a single controllable entity with respect to the utility grid”. Solar powered MGs are thought to be useful for disaster damage mitigation especially a loss of electricity. Therefore, this study aims at developing a nationwide solar MG applicability potential map aiming at achieving a more disaster resilient community in the future. Solar photovoltaic (PV) database and hazard risk maps are used to choose low-hazard risk solar PV locations. Then, the number of affordable people by those PVs is estimated. The number of people around designated shelter places and the affordable population using solar power are compared to find potential locations for future MG installation. The result of the study showed that candidate places for solar powered MG systems are mostly located in the prefectures along the pacific side of Japan, where large earthquakes occurred or are predicted in the near future. In those places, installation of MG systems would further improve the disaster resilience. However, the connectivity of a local grid to the main power supply should also be considered to assess the MG suitability more appropriately. The electricity grid information and Tsunami hazard areas should be included to represent more realistic situation for the MG planning in the future studies.