In a filing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Alternative Transmission (ATI) proposes a technology that could bring a new meaning to the concept of non-wires alternatives. Based in Sullivan’s Island, S.C., the company wants to move batteries by rail for discharge and charge where needed on the electric grid. Further, … [Read more...]
Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) use distributed energy resources and microgrids to defer or replace the installation of more traditional 'wires and poles' infrastructure. When utilities choose non-wires alternatives, they often save ratepayers money by avoiding investments in costly infrastructure. By utilizing distributed energy resources (DER) at … [Read more...]
Erik Svanholm, vice president, non-wires alternatives for S&C Electric, defines the term 'non-wires alternatives' and gives examples of how microgrids can provide these alternatives to traditional investments in wires and the transmission grid during an interview with Microgrid Knowledge's Elisa Wood at Microgrid … [Read more...]
Eversource plans to develop an energy storage microgrid in New Hampshire that takes the local energy concept to a new level by pairing the microgrid with a bring-your-own-device program. The project also offers an example of a path for utilities to develop microgrids when state rules allow utility ownership of energy storage. Charlotte … [Read more...]
We worry about the big calamities like hurricanes and cyberattacks that cause long power outages. But let’s face it, for most of us momentary outages are more likely to disrupt our daily lives. Mike Edmonds, chief commercial officer for S&C Electric, thinks about this when his 5-year-old son calls out: “Alexa, bedtime story!” Raised … [Read more...]
Developers and technology companies worldwide continue to focus on electrifying energy-poor areas of Africa. Recent example: 40,000 residents and businesses in the northeast African country of Eritrea now have reliable electricity thanks to two new minigrids. Developed by UK-based Solarcentury, the minigrids (Africa's term for microgrids) … [Read more...]
Microgrids that regulators determine “serve the public interest” are back in play in Maine this year as lawmakers try to pass a bill that fell short a year ago. Legislators passed a bipartisan bill last year more clearly defining how microgrids could be created, but former Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed it. Newly elected Gov. Janet Mills … [Read more...]
A team at the University of Calgary plans to build a mobile microgrid that promises to improve the simultaneous distribution and management of both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electricity. Three university professors are leveraging proprietary AC-DC power conversion and energy management technology to build and operate a … [Read more...]
India's Tata Power, AES and Mitsubishi recently commissioned what the project partners say is India's first, and South Asia's largest, grid-scale battery-based energy storage system (BESS) — a 10 MW-10 MWh system supplied by Fluence, a Siemens and AES company. Connected to a substation owned by Tata Power subsidiary Delhi Distribution … [Read more...]
Eversource is proposing a 14.7-MW battery energy storage project on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., that is designed to reduce the use of diesel generators on the island, provide voltage support, and defer construction of additional undersea cables to the island. “This battery storage system will help Martha’s Vineyard meet its energy goals and … [Read more...]
Pierre Delforge, an NRDC senior scientist, describes an historic decision by the city of Berkeley, California that requires electrification of all new buildings — and the trend it may foretell.
An advanced microgrid offers both power supply and energy savings and derives value from each. And that’s just the start of the complex stream of economic benefits that can emanate from a microgrid; others include electric reliability, resiliency, energy security, emissions reductions and energy bill savings. This paper provides an overview of microgrid financing and how the microgrid controller can help your microgrid reach maximum return on investment.
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