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...]
The Microgrid Knowledge Inside Microgrids channel provides articles, photos, and videos of some the world's most advanced microgrids. If you’d like to have your microgrid profiled please email: Elisa@EnergyEfficiencyMarkets.com
Reciprocating Engine Generators and Microgrids: Unsung Heroes of the Electric Grid
August 11, 2016 By 3 Comments
The new Microgrid Knowledge guide, Reciprocating Engine Generators and Microgrids: The Last Defense Against a Power Outage, looks at a technology that gets little attention but serves a crucial role on the electric grid. Reciprocating engine generators are often the last line of defense when all other resources fail in a power outage. That's just … [Read more...]
Grid-Connected Microgrids and Battery Technology
August 10, 2016 By 1 Comment
Grid-connected microgrids are considered the future of a smarter electric grid. So as large-scale battery technology and economies of scale continue to improve, many utilities are investigating the use of battery technology as the basis for Grid Energy Storage Systems (GESS). AusNet Services, the largest energy delivery service in Victoria, … [Read more...]
‘Optimized Microgrid’ at Algonquin College Achieves Positive ROI
July 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment
An optimized microgrid at Algonquin College demonstrates how to be a showcase for sustainability and earn a positive return on investment, in this excerpt from our new report “How Microgrids Can Achieve Maximum Return on Investment (ROI): The Role of the Advanced Microgrid Controller.” Algonquin College in Ontario, Canada is modeling how to become … [Read more...]
Solar Microgrids in South Africa Electrify, Boost Economic Development
July 22, 2016 By 2 Comments
Accenture Development Partnerships has teamed up with the University of Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD) and The Rural Development Company to develop solar microgrids in South Africa that aim to provide rural electrification and economic development. Accenture is trying to create a sustainable economic model that can be … [Read more...]
Inside an Optimized Microgrid: What is the Source of its Value?
July 12, 2016 By 1 Comment
Here we lift the lid on an optimized microgrid to see the source of its real value: the advanced microgrid controller. Surprisingly, the controller makes up a relatively small amount of a microgrid's costs, as we discuss in this excerpt from our new report, "How Microgrids Can Achieve Maximum Return on Investment (ROI): The Role of the Advanced … [Read more...]
Watershed Energy Storage Events Create Microgrid Markets
June 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment
We're seeing watershed events in the energy storage industry, and they're creating new microgrid markets. That's the word from Matt Roberts, executive director of the Energy Storage Association. Here's just one example of the many watershed events that are creating opportunities for microgrids: PJM recently created a performance capacity … [Read more...]
Duke Energy Microgrid Tests Game-Changing Communications System
May 31, 2016 By Leave a Comment
A Duke Energy microgrid test bed is striving to crack one of the biggest challenges facing utilities today: the need to seamlessly integrate distributed resources and allow for real-time communication between the resources and utilities. In North Carolina's Gaston County, at the Mount Holly test bed, Duke is experimenting with 'Open Field … [Read more...]
Storm-Struck PECO Proposes Two Integrated Community Microgrids
May 20, 2016 By 3 Comments
Plagued by power outages due to storms, PECO on May 18 filed a plan with Pennsylvania regulators to build two integrated community microgrids for a high density neighborhood with an 8.6 MW load. "Severe weather is a leading cause of power outages in PECO’s service territory. For example, as a consequence of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, approximately … [Read more...]
What’s behind Caterpillar’s New Hybrid Microgrid Play? Here’s a Deeper Look
May 17, 2016 By 2 Comments
Caterpillar became the latest big infrastructure company to unveil a microgrid play with the recent launch of its hybrid microgrid into the global market. The Cat hybrid technology combines solar, energy storage and fossil fuels and will focus on projects 10 kW to 100 MW. A $47 billion company, Cat intends to leverage its global distribution … [Read more...]
