A new report from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association details why there's a future in microgrids for association members--and everyone else. "Powering Microgrids for the 21st-Century Electrical System," lays out the business case for microgrids, identifies the technological advances that will increase microgrid use, and provides a … [Read more...]
The Microgrid Knowledge Renewables channel has breaking news and articles on wind, solar and other renewable energy sources used in microgrids
With Flexibility, Eastern Grid Can Get More than 30 Percent Renewables Online
September 6, 2016 By 1 Comment
With increased flexibility, the eastern grid can get more than 30 percent renewables online, and at times, can boost its renewables penetration to up to 60 percent. That's the word from a new report from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), "The Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study (ERGIS)." To bring … [Read more...]
Good News for Microgrids from California Climate Bills
September 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment
California's passage of two aggressive climate bills offers good news for microgrids, since they can act as levers to help the state reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Once again, the state has led the climate change battle, this time with last week's passage by the state legislature of the two bills, SB 32 and AB 197. The bills aim to reduce … [Read more...]
CleanSpark’s Latest Project: A Hint of the Grid of Microgrids to Come?
August 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment
A small microgrid being developed at a California golf club by CleanSpark offers a hint of the grid of microgrids or ‘fractal grid’ energy futurists foresee. A developer of microgrid control technology, CleanSpark last week announced completion of the $2.7 million phase one of the microgrid at the Rams Hill Golf Club. The microgrid itself … [Read more...]
Decentralized Energy Receives Less Funding than Utility Projects: Report
August 15, 2016 By 1 Comment
Decentralized energy receives less funding than utility-scale projects, indicating a need to rethink policy, says a new report by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). "Unlocking Climate Finance for Decentralised Energy Access" analyzes information from the Climate Funds Update database, which offers information on … [Read more...]
California Awards $1.5M to Plan Advanced Microgrid in Santa Monica
August 14, 2016 By 4 Comments
The California Energy Commission last week granted $1.5 million for planning and design of an advanced microgrid in Santa Monica. The funding comes from the state’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, created to bring innovative clean energy ideas to market. Santa Monica won the money from an EPIC competition earlier this year, … [Read more...]
Energy Storage and the Supermajors…6 Policies to Up Corporate Use of Renewables…& More News
August 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment
What Total's energy storage play means for supermajors French oil company Total is the first oil “supermajor” entering new areas of business including solar plus storage and distributed energy generation, Lux Research says, and the other global oil supermajors — BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Total — should follow … [Read more...]
Avoiding Outages with Hydropower Microgrid…More Renewables in the North American Energy Mix… And Other Quick News
August 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment
A hydropower microgrid to avoid outages Following its second major outage in three years, the city of Idaho Falls is evaluating a hydroelectric microgrid plan with Idaho National Laboratory (INL). As reported by PostRegister.com, the microgrid would be powered by Idaho Falls' four hydroelectric plants on the Snake River, which can power as … [Read more...]
EnSync Sells Innovative Solar-Plus-Storage PPAs in Hawaii
August 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
EnSync Energy Systems has sold a portfolio of power purchase agreements to AEP Onsite Partners--including three innovative solar-plus-storage PPAs. "These are the first solar-plus-storage PPAs in Hawaii. We believe this is a first nationally and I am confident it is the first PPA of its kind utilizing hybrid storage," said Dan Nordloh, executive … [Read more...]
Integrating Renewable Energy into Microgrids: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies
August 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The business case for microgrids is improving by the day. Microgrids offer tremendous potential to enhance reliability, resilience, and long-term energy security. As microgrid technologies continue to advance and costs decline, business models and regulatory structures are beginning to shift in recognition of the potential benefits these systems … [Read more...]
