Natural Disasters Archives | Mesa Power Solutions

Midland Offices Overcome Tornado Damage, Continue Customer Care

June 11, 2024

The weather forecast in Midland, Texas, seemed normal the morning of May 30. The high would be around 100, but Shop Lead Johnathon Roderick said that is to be expected this time of year. “I think it was, you know, higher winds,” Roderick said about the forecast. “10 to 20 mile per hour winds later in the day is what was expected.” Clear skies most of the day gave way to a storm that exceeded expectations, as shortly after 5 p.m., weather alerts for a possible tornado and baseball-sized hail appeared on Midland workers’ phones. Roderick said he left work about five minutes before the warnings came. He saw what looked like a dust storm out of the window of his truck and thought little of it. “Like a minute later, I luckily was going under an underpass,” Roderick said. “It just happened so fast. It started raining really bad — crazy, ridiculous winds — so I just ended up staying under the underpass.” Jerome Goodboe — the health, safety, and environment manager — had left by the time the

Image Depicting Renewable Energy with an electrical load.

A Balancing Act: Navigating the Potential Overwhelming Effects of Renewable Energy on the Grid

July 13, 2023

Renewable energy has emerged as a somewhat promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a cleaner and more sustainable future. However, as the adoption of renewable energy sources continues to surge, concerns are arising about the potential strain it may impose on the electrical grid. This piece explores the challenges posed by renewable energy and how we can effectively address them to ensure a more seamless transition to a greener energy future. The Rise of Renewable Energy The last decade has witnessed huge growth in renewable energy installations worldwide. Solar panels adorn rooftops, wind turbines grace landscapes, and hydropower facilities harness the force of flowing water. This green revolution is undoubtedly a significant stride toward preserving our environment and reducing our dependence on finite resources. Nonetheless, the increasing capacity of renewable energy sources threatens to overwhelm the electrical grid. The Grid’s Achilles’ Heel The electrical grid, an intricate network of power generation, transmission, and distribution, was primarily designed to handle centralized power sources such as coal and natural gas plants. With the surge in distributed generation through renewables, the grid faces

Diagram of an Automatic Transfer Switch Connected to Utility and Load

The Importance of an Automatic Transfer Switch in Backup Power Systems

June 30, 2023

An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is a critical component of a backup power system that ensures and automatic transfer of power supply from the primary power source to a backup generator during a power outage. It plays a vital role in maintaining power supply in various industries, including healthcare, data centers, and manufacturing. This article will explore what an ATS is, how it works, and its advantages. What is an Automatic Transfer Switch? An ATS is an electrical device that switches the power supply source from the utility grid to a backup generator in the event of a power outage. It is designed to detect power outages and immediately transfer the power supply to the backup generator, which can be powered by natural gas, propane, or diesel. An ATS also monitors the power supply from the backup generator to ensure that it is stable and reliable. How does an Automatic Transfer Switch work? An ATS works by constantly monitoring the voltage and frequency of the incoming power supply from the utility grid. When a power outage occurs, the ATS automatically

Minimizing the Energy Cost of Your Crypto Mining Operations

June 29, 2022

Cryptocurrency is taking the world by storm—and whether you are skeptical of it or spending your kid’s college fund for more, there is no denying a new crypto-industry that is surpassing a $2 trillion market cap and can consume over $100 worth in electricity per transaction— including your Papa John’s pizza order. The purpose of this blog is to briefly summarize some of the recent data on minimizing the cost of mining for cryptocurrency and specifically highlight methods to reduce the energy cost of your crypto mining operations. The nature of cryptocurrency mining requires electricity, and often a significant amount. Accessing cheaper electricity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of virtual mining. As we are coming from the perspective of power generation technology, the simple assumption that crypto mining requires electricity tells us that the cheaper electricity we can provide, the cheaper we can make mining for our customers. With this in mind, our research in this paper has focused on the specific power needs of virtual mining and how miners can reduce their electrical bills.

Ice on a Texas sign due to a power outage.

Lessons From the Texas Power Outages

October 14, 2021

4 million Texans experience power loss as temperatures reach record lows below zero. Texas is facing major power outages while record-low temperatures sweep across the United States. Tuesday afternoon 5NBC Dallas Fort Worth reports 4 million North Texans are experiencing power loss as temperatures reach record lows below zero. Another winter storm is forecasted to hit from northwestern and north-central Texas to northern Maine (AccuWeather). ERCOT, The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, is now requiring local utilities to institute controlled power shutoffs to relieve the grid and ensure emergency services remain in operation. What has this taught us… 1. Plan for the worst Many Texas communities never planned for long outages like the one they’re experiencing, with some communities going into day 3 without power. One thing we’ve learned is that not only do you need to be proactive in planning your standby power solution but assume your next outage will be four months, not 4 days. When planning for the worst, it is important to consider how long your backup power can last… Some backup generators are only designed

Hurricane season incoming yield sign with dark skies.

Hurricane Season Prep: Resilient Microgrid

May 5, 2021

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more destructive, causing longer power outages and making hurricane preparedness more pressing than ever before. The 2020 hurricane season resulted in record-breaking U.S. economic losses of up to $65 billion, as estimated by AccuWeather. Forecasts report 2021 to be even more severe, with approximately 17 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes expected for the year. Knowing that hurricane damage and power disruptions are coming, how will you ensure your business is ready to weather the storm and avoid power and business loss? 1. Assess Your Current Power Situation Backup generator Many businesses own backup or standby generators, assuming they will only need to use them for a short period. But how long will you need an alternative power source, and will that generator run for as long as you need it? While it varies by manufacturer, most standby units are designed to run no more than 200 hours per year for no more than one week at a time. Bear in mind, hurricane disasters

Case Studies

Mesa power solutions microgrid - energy costs cut in half.

Microgrid Solutions Reduce Energy Costs By Half

May 26, 2022

Lessons From the Texas Power Outages

October 14, 2021

Category