Microgrids and a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

1.The community with a shared future for humankind is the community of the earth’s biosphere

The civilization and culture that human beings have created thus far,the economy,society and ideas,the nation,and religion,will vanish if human beings perish.Recent developments in astrophysics have been remarkable,and observations have been made from telescopes with incredible accuracy and range at great expense.Although extraterrestrial exploration has reached celestial bodies far away,the existence of “life” is yet to be discovered beyond Earth.Experiments aimed at establishing an earthly “artificial biosphere” on Mars have been unsuccessful.

Stuart Kauffman,who paved the way for “complex systems”,has remarked,“The environment that is earth,is an unbelievable miracle in terms of biological calculations.” The “miracle planet Earth” is currently the only habitat known to humankind and the sole environment for all life forms.It is an “irreplaceable planet”.

Compared to the universe as a whole,the Earth is incredibly tiny.Within that minuscule environment,life exists only in its thin biosphere,akin to a “thin skin”.This thin biosphere encompasses the atmosphere,the Earth's surface,the depths of the sea and underwater,and the shallow underground.The range of the biosphere exists only on the surface of the Earth (diameter 12,000 km);in addition,10 km above the surface and 10 km underwater and underground comprise the biosphere.Most areas of the Earth’s thin skin are too hot to support life.Moreover,locations far away from the Earth,such as spacecraft,cannot survive without the support of the Earth.

Earth’s environment,discussed globally every day,is the biosphere essential for humankind’s survival.In the 21st century,human beings are facing survival crises for the first time,and are recognizing that their own actions are the canses of the crisis.The only way humans can survive is by understanding the essence of the planet’s environment,i.e.,the biosphere in which they live,and maintain that biosphere.

Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States,human beings have destroyed and exploited the earth’s environment,and their biosphere.A prime example is the dependence on fossil fuels,which continues to accelerate global warming.The history of humankind since the 20th century revolves around the fight over fossil fuels.

Furthermore,the population explosion throughout the world has brought about a shortage of water,food,and resources.Consequently,human beings have been competing fiercely for these resources.We wonder if there is really a fundamental way for humankind to survive.

2.A Sun-Based Economy is the core of any strategy for human survival

“Sun-Based Economy”,published in Japan in 2009,combines great scientists’ ideas with the development of the latest technology and social systems,directly answering the problems facing humankind,and summarizing and presenting facts in a precise and dynamic theory.In 2019,“Sunshine Economy” was published in China,which declared that China should be at its center.What is a Sun-Based Economy? Solar energy is the driving force for life on Earth.The sun that shines down produces water vapor,gives us water in the form of rain and snow,supports plants that are the beginning of the food chain through photosynthesis,and gives life to animals,including humans,that live by taking in nourishment from plants.

Solar energy manifests itself in light,heat,rain and snow,ocean currents,wind,and plants.The energy derived from the sun can be converted into electricity and eventually become freely available,just like the Internet.Technological innovation that utilizes inexhaustible renewable energy,networking,and interconnected power grids can liberate humanity from energy shortages.

Likewise,maintaining the earth’s environment,which supports the biosphere,is integral to human survival.To prevent global warming caused by carbon dioxide,which is the leading cause of destruction of the earth’s environment,we must switch to renewable energy that does not emit carbon dioxide.Solar energy does not require fossil fuels,such as coal and oil,which are non-renewable and emit carbon dioxide.Solar energy is also renewable because the sun provides energy year after year.The conversion to renewable energy is essential for maintaining the earth's environment,which is vital for the survival of humankind.

3.Microgrids will be essential for a community with a shared future for mankind

It became clear that the spread of COVID-19 worldwide would be unsolvable without a response by humankind as a whole.Similarly,the problem of worldwide power and resource shortages cannot be solved without a collective response from humanity.Therefore,the era of “a community with a shared future for mankind” has already begun.The world’s energy structure is undergoing profound changes.Distributed energy,represented by photovoltaic,wind power,energy storage,and flexible load,is gradually being integrated into the energy supply.The traditional energy system has gradually developed into an integrated energy system with a high proportion of renewable energy,new equipment,new network configuration,new operation mode,and new business model.When a concretely envisioned community with a shared future for humankind is established,microgrids will metaphorically play the role that “cells” perform within the human body.

As microgrids are based on decentralization,autonomy,and networking,they are essential for renewable energy power systems that are decentralized sources of power.Power generation,electricity storage,and power transmission and distribution are operated by microgrids.However,microgrids do not stop at electric power.Everything that uses electricity,such as living,industry,information,money,daily living,life,family,businesses,the economy,and society can be reconstructed with microgrids as an element of their infrastructure.

If this occurs,online delivery,transportation systems involving the autonomous driving of automobiles,telemedicine,online education,shopping,and the prevention and control of pandemics will not be the only things required to be connected to microgrids.Microgrids will also be essential for the transportation and supply of water and agricultural,forestry,and fishery products,the recycling and resource recovery of waste,and the purification of the environment including water,air,and soil.The power industry can cooperate with other industries possessing superior technology and know-how to provide a stable supply of electricity and environment-friendly natural energy for use in artificiallylit indoor farms.Moreover,they can collaborate to deliver even greater value to customers by building sustainable environment-friendly and people-friendly agriculture.Energy-saving indoor farm systems with compact size,low cost,ability to be installed anywhere,and stable cultivation that is not affected by weather or natural disasters,can be developed as an energy-creating and saving technology.The system is more environment-friendly and farmer-friendly and enables the stable cultivation of crops throughout the year.

In short,microgrids will form the infrastructure for the survival network essential to a community with a shared future for humankind.The characteristics required for microgrids are decentralization,autonomy,networking,interdependence,and safety.With such characteristics,microgrids resemble the human body in that highly differentiated,decentralized,and independent cells are connected to a network and have defense functions such as immunity,which immediately work against disorders and dangers.

4.The special issue of “Distributed Energy and Microgrids”

The increasing share of variable renewable energy sources,the strict targets set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,and the requirements for improving system security and reliability demand essential changes in our energy systems.The research of advanced energy infrastructure has become increasingly pertinent.Microgrids are essential infrastructure for realizing distributed energy,a decentralized power source.In addition,microgrids enhance people’s lives by supplying electricity and closely linking information,mobility,living,health,and financial infrastructure.Unless we focus on renewable energy,we cannot avoid the gravest risks of climate change to humankind.At the center of this is the economic and social ecosystem created by the microgrid,which is essential to the “Community of Common Destiny”.

Given the above background,this special issue of “Distributed Energy and Microgrids” aims to provide a platform for timely publishing of high-quality papers for sharing new theoretical findings,technological advances,case studies,and practical applications in modern distributed energy and microgrids.It is intended for a broad audience interested in understanding technical,economic,and management issues in this important research field.

This issue contains articles supported by leading research institutions and universities,including the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Waseda University,Ibaraki University,Meisei University,Kyushu Institute of Technology,Shanghai Jiao Tong University,Tian Jin University,Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings,Kansai Electric Power Company,State Grid Shanghai Electric Power Company,Plants Laboratory Inc.etc.

We believe that this special issue and the presented papers will help promote the exploration and understanding of future power systems containing high penetration of renewable energy sources,thereby facilitating the sustainable development of clean energy and energy electrification.