A major hospital that treats critically ill patients cannot afford power failures. Facing intermittent power problems — and needing to replace old boilers — the 536-bed University of Illinois Hospital installed a 24 MWe cogeneration system for its campus in Chicago. Powered by three Taurus 70 natural gas turbine generator sets, the system fulfills … [Read more...]
How the Clean Power Plan Will Spur More Microgrids…Eventually
August 7, 2015 By 1 Comment
The Clean Power Plan is likely to spur more microgrid development, offering a new and different kind of public policy support for these mini-versions of the larger grid. But not overnight. Announced by the Environmental Protection Agency this week, the rule requires that states come up with plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions from electric power … [Read more...]
How the Clean Power Plan Advances Microgrids
August 6, 2015 By 1 Comment
Microgrids win a new and different kind of public policy support under the carbon-cutting Clean Power Plan announced by the Obama administration this week. The rule requires that states come up with plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric power 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. That means cutting 870 million tons of carbon … [Read more...]
How Microgrids Earn Revenue and Serve the Central Grid
December 4, 2014 By 1 Comment
Grid-connected microgrids earn revenue by selling what are known as 'ancillary services' to the central grid. These services help keep power flowing in a stable fashion. Offering these services makes a microgrid valuable well beyond the buildings it powers. The microgrid becomes an asset to society at large. Read more in the following excerpt from … [Read more...]
The Importance of Heat in the Energy Efficient Microgrid
November 25, 2014 By 5 Comments
The following is an excerpt from new our report, The Energy Efficient Microgrid. It can be difficult for microgrids to compete on cost alone if they provide only electricity. However, when combined heat and power (CHP) is added to the equation, microgrids become more competitive based on economics alone. Why? Most power generation … [Read more...]
Microgrids, CHP and District Energy: Growth by the Numbers
November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Our latest Think Microgrid excerpt looks at microgrids, CHP and district energy market growth. Continue reading or download the full report, The Energy Efficient Microgrid. Microgrid Market Growth Forecasts call for dramatic growth ahead for microgrids, particularly in North America. Navigant Research projects that the market will expand from just … [Read more...]
The Speed of Microgrid Market Growth, CHP and District Energy
November 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Our latest Think Microgrid excerpt looks at microgrid market growth, as well as the numbers for companion technologies, combined heat & power and district energy. Continue reading or download the full report, The Energy Efficient Microgrid Microgrid Market Growth Forecasts call for dramatic growth ahead for microgrids, particularly in North … [Read more...]
Think Microgrid: Why Government Leaders Are on a Serious Quest to Build Microgrids
November 13, 2014 By 1 Comment
The following is an excerpt from our latest Think Microgrid report, The Energy Efficient Microgrid Simple microgrids have existed for more than 100 years, going back to Thomas Edison. Until recently, North American energy planners viewed microgrids as largely niche energy projects, most likely to be found on college campuses, islands or remote … [Read more...]
