The Ontario government is investing $2.5 million toward what will be the first solar/diesel microgrid in the province’s far north region. The microgrid will be built and operated by the Fort Severn First Nation, and will connect wind and solar to existing diesel generators. The funding comes from a $130 billion, 10-year infrastructure effort … [Read more...]
Look Inside the Oncor Microgrid
August 10, 2015 By
We first reviewed the Oncor microgrid back in April. This three minute video takes you inside the Oncor microgrid. Host David Chiesa, of S&C Electric, describes its state-of-the-art workings and how utilities like Oncor are using microgrids to keep the lights on during natural … [Read more...]
Quick Microgrid News…Haiti’s First of 80 Microgrids…More on NY Prize…Congress & Microgrids
June 11, 2015 By
In this week's quick microgrid news... EarthSpark International, an organization dedicated to ending energy poverty, has completed the first of what it hopes will be 80 microgrids in Haiti. Called the EKo Pwòp microgrid, it is serving 430 homes and businesses in downtown Les Anglais in the South of Haiti. The microgrid operates with a 93 kW … [Read more...]
Podcast: Wesleyan University’s Microgrid Designed to Resist Outages
May 27, 2015 By
Wesleyan University's microgrid was the first project to receive funds from the state of Connecticut's microgrid pilot program, which aims to help utility customers harden their infrastructure. Wesleyan, which can generate 3.1 MW, wants to avoid power outages like the one it experienced in 2012 for 77 hours. The university can generate about 99 … [Read more...]
A Good Microgrid Fit vs. a Microgrid Craze
May 15, 2015 By
There's a big difference between a good microgrid fit and what one microgrid manager calls the microgrid craze. "When I look at the microgrid craze, I don’t see how it’s going to happen," says Alan Rubacha, director of the physical plant at Wesleyan Unviersity, which was the first to receive funding from Connecticut's microgrid program, an … [Read more...]
Four Ways the New Energy Consumer Takes Control
May 8, 2015 By
They're smart, proactive, want to cut costs and ensure their electricity supply isn't interrupted. They're the new energy consumers -- and they're taking control of their electricity supply, especially in four ways: with energy management, microgrids, energy storage and by connecting with the smart grid. These are the findings of a new white paper … [Read more...]
Maryland’s Microgrid Policy: Building a Market, Not Giving Away Money
April 16, 2015 By
“We want you in our state,” Kyle Haas, a Maryland energy policy manager told a room full of microgrid developers last week in Washington, D.C. “I want to bring your company to Maryland.” But don’t expect any grant money – or much anyway – to sweeten the pot. While California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, are offering tens of … [Read more...]
Microgrids Create a Second Shift for School Buses after they Deliver the Kids
March 12, 2015 By
Imagine community microgrids with electric school buses that don't just shuttle kids, but act as appliances. And not just any appliances, but ones that keep the power on in schools so that they can serve as emergency shelters during a disaster. That’s the kind of analysis going on within the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, a non-profit … [Read more...]
A Blueprint for Campus Microgrids: “Internet of Energy” Project
February 20, 2015 By
The Microgrid Automation Project at Las Positas Community College, funded with a $1.5 million grant from the California Energy Commission, aims to create a blueprint for campus microgrids. The project will produce a "blueprint of how to design, finance, and operate microgrids and energy (storage) systems in a scalable and financeable way, … [Read more...]
Microgrid Policy, Benefits to be Explored This Week at IDEA’s Campus Energy 2015
February 9, 2015 By
Microgrid policy will be among topics discussed at a special workshop offered during this week's Campus Energy 2015, held by the International District Energy Association in Denver, Colorado. The February 10 workshop, “Microgrids and Electrical Distribution Systems,” will focus on policy, benefits, industry vocabulary, measurement and metrics, … [Read more...]
