Good Thinking

NRG tackles disaster response with 42-ft energy truck

NRG tackles disaster response with 42-ft energy truck
NRG's Power2Serve
NRG's Power2Serve
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NRG's Power2Serve
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NRG's Power2Serve
With Power2Serve, energy provider NRG is addressing disaster response with 68 feet (21 m) of truck and trailer equipped with 40 kW of electrical generation
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With Power2Serve, energy provider NRG is addressing disaster response with 68 feet (21 m) of truck and trailer equipped with 40 kW of electrical generation
Power2Serve carries a 10-kW photovoltaic array
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Power2Serve carries a 10-kW photovoltaic array
With Power2Serve, energy provider NRG is addressing disaster response with 68 feet (21 m) of truck and trailer equipped with 40 kW of electrical generation
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With Power2Serve, energy provider NRG is addressing disaster response with 68 feet (21 m) of truck and trailer equipped with 40 kW of electrical generation
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One of the pressing needs in the event of a large-scale disaster or emergency is power. With Power2Serve, energy provider NRG is addressing this need head on in the form of 68 feet (21 m) of truck and trailer equipped with 40 kW of electrical generation and a Wi-Fi pavilion which people can use to communicate and keep abreast of events.

The 42-foot (13-m) truck tows a 26-foot (8-m) trailer and carries a deployable 10-kW photovoltaic array and two diesel generators. The larger of these can provide 20 kW of electrical power, and a 10 kW generator serves as backup.

As well as providing accommodation for seven volunteers, Power2Serve comes with a 50 x 20 ft (15 x 6 m) pavilion which can be heated or cooled according the conditions outside. The pavilion is kitted out with flat-panel televisions to provide news and weather updates, a satellite data connection and local Wi-Fi, tablet computers and 100 charging stations to keep phones, tools and other gadgets in working order.

NRG says that the company decided to take action in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, 2012's most devastating Atlantic hurricane. In the event of another such emergency, Power2Serve will be staffed by fully trained NRG volunteers.

Source: NRG via Treehugger

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2 comments
2 comments
bergamot69
Surely air-portable containerised generators would be more useful in an emergency- this huge truck/trailer combo does not appear to offer any offroad ability so may not be able to get to where it is most needed.
kuryus
This is a good idea. My one complaint about generators is how loud they are. I hope the folks who make this unit spend some time developing a better muffler system to quiet them down without reducing efficiency.