Utility costs make up a large percentage of a school’s or university’s spending budget. In addition to the power needed to keep day-to-day operations running, many educational institutions need power during times of crisis as many serve as disaster gathering zones. Downtime, especially for universities that support high-tech and medical research facilities, can be extremely costly. These are just some of the challenges that campus microgrids can address for schools and universities.
A new white paper from Mesa Solutions outlines the economic benefits that campus microgrids can deliver to schools and universities. First, the paper explores how microgrids can reduce energy costs through peak shaving or participation in a utility’s demand response program. The author next explains how microgrids can mitigate the volatility of grid electricity costs. The paper also addresses how campus microgrids can lower or eliminate a school’s emissions.
Mesa Solutions outlines several examples of successful campus microgrids, including those at Princeton University, Northeastern University and the Santa Barbara Unified School District. The paper also provides information on how to pay for a campus microgrid.