Everyone is looking to AI (artificial intelligence) for entertainment, streamlined work processes, and even companionship. While many of these programs, apps, and features claim to be free, there is actually a very real cost to all of this automation: the stability of the electrical grid.
Georgia has 12 power plants that produce 10,460 MW of electricity. Some of these facilities generate only 160 to 240 MW of power. While all of the plants are owned by Georgia Power, the energy they produce is part of the Southeast electricity market, which serves multiple states, including Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and parts of Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Mississippi. That energy comes from a mix of coal, nuclear, and natural gas.
To put demand into perspective, a single data center can consume as much as 650 MW of electricity continuously, which is equivalent to the energy use of a small city. In Georgia alone, load growth from data centers is expected to increase by 6.82 GW through 2029.
Although the average home uses less than a KW of energy each day, that demand adds up quickly when multiplied across homes, businesses, and essential large-scale operations such as hospitals, municipal water and sewer plants, and industrial facilities. The grid can only handle so much at one time. When extreme weather hits, the added pull from heaters and air conditioners working overtime places even more strain on the system.
So, what does this have to do with powering your home? Choosing solar energy and installing a backup battery to store excess energy onsite can help ensure your household continues to have electricity when suppliers are forced to initiate rolling blackouts to protect the stability of the grid. Producing your own power also helps reduce strain on the overall system.
Dreamlife Innovations is here to help you find the best solar and battery backup solution to meet the needs of you and your family.
