Microgrid player Hitachi sets long-term environmental strategy Hitachi, a key player in the microgrid market, has set a target to reduce carbon dioxide 80 percent across the company’s value chain as part of a new long-term environmental strategy. Called "Hitachi Environmental Innovation 2050,” the plan also calls for a 50 percent improvement … [Read more...]
Energy Storage Grew 126%. And Surprise! California Did Not Lead the Way
September 7, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Energy storage grew 126 percent in the U.S. between the first and second quarters this year, according to a report released today by GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association (ESA). In all, the quarter saw 41.2 MW of new energy storage deployed, putting the industry on track for a second consecutive historic year, with an expected 287 MW … [Read more...]
Nested Microgrid Proposed for Town of New Paltz
September 6, 2016 By 4 Comments
Sometimes one microgrid in a single footprint is not enough. Sometimes a community needs a nested microgrid -- several separate microgrids in one -- to take energy reliability to a whole new level. A NY Prize contender, the Town of New Paltz, N.Y. has proposed such a project, a $12 million nodular microgrid to maintain energy supplies for … [Read more...]
Energy Storage is an Enabler for Microgrids
September 6, 2016 By 2 Comments
ABB's Bob Fesmire explains how energy storage is becoming more refined, and acting as an enabler for microgrids. Most of the time when people talk about microgrids, they talk about reliability (e.g., for a hospital or other critical load) and renewables. When people talk about renewables, they often talk about storage (e.g., to maximize the … [Read more...]
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...]
RMI: What it Will Take to Improve Energy Access and Security
September 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Laurie Guevara-Stone, writer/editor for the Rocky Mountain Institute's Solutions Journal, interviews RMI trustee Maria van der Hoeven about energy access and security -- two critical global issues. A member of RMI’s Board of Trustees since October 2015, Maria van der Hoeven has had a long career working on challenging modern energy issues. She … [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...]
Reciprocating Engines and Microgrids: A Natural Fit
August 31, 2016 By Leave a Comment
From the Microgrid Knowledge guide, Reciprocating Engine Generators and Microgrids: The Last Defense Against a Power Outage, this article looks at the natural fit between reciprocating engines and microgrids. Microgrids are not a new idea; in fact, there are microgrids that have been operating for decades. But it wasn’t until after Superstorm … [Read more...]
Microgrid Roadmap Building Continues in California…ViZa to Bring Microgrids to Africa with Jabil Inala
August 30, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The California Energy Commission plans to hold its next microgrid roadmap workshop 10 a.m. PT, September 6 at the Secretary of State Building in Sacramento. The state launched the series of workshops in May to set priorities for microgrid policy and help the industry standardize, commercialize and drive down costs for consumers. The CEC is … [Read more...]
US Microgrid Market Growing Faster than Previously Thought: New GTM Research
August 29, 2016 By 5 Comments
The US microgrid market is growing faster than expected, fueled by a rise in new ownership configurations, says a report released today by GTM Research. GTM now forecasts that US microgrid capacity will reach 4.3 GW by 2020, up from the research firm’s estimate last quarter of 3.71 GW. The US currently has about 160 microgrids with 1,649 MW of … [Read more...]
