Connecticut has proposed a series of measures to ensure utilities consider non-wires alternatives, among them incentives, competitive bids from third parties, and a way to evaluate non-wires alternatives against traditional distribution grid investments. Non-wires alternatives — which include microgrids and other distributed energy … [Read more...]
Disasters and outages wake homeowners to the benefits of home microgrids
July 15, 2022 By
The Silvies Valley Ranch, a rural, eco-friendly luxury resort in eastern Oregon that has home microgrids, is slowly moving forward. It is one of several projects throughout the US responding to growing demand from US homeowners seeking residential microgrids for resilience and sustainability. Either planned or already in place at Silvies … [Read more...]
This is why microgrids are becoming popular: Jigar Shah
April 4, 2022 By
Jigar Shah, a well-known energy entrepreneur who now serves as director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) loan programs, posted on LinkedIn last week: “This is why #microgrids and #distributedgeneration are becoming so popular.” Shah was referring to a US Energy Information Administration (EIA) graphic that shows power production costs falling … [Read more...]
UK Microgrid Project Offers Path to Residential Electrification
November 22, 2021 By
A new zero-carbon microgrid development underway in the UK could pilot a route to the use of microgrids that add far greater value to energy consumers. The Grove Park housing and business development at Sellindge, near Ashford in Kent, will be powered exclusively via a renewable energy plus storage microgrid coupled with a smart grid … [Read more...]
Welcome, Stranger, to the Real Energy Revolution: Demand Flexibility and Connected Communities
October 19, 2021 By
If you asked folks on the street about the energy revolution, they’d probably say something about wind and solar. They'd be a bit behind the times. Renewables were the game changer a decade ago. Today’s insurgent is energy flexibility. Energy flexibility is a software-driven ability imbued within advanced distributed energy resources, such … [Read more...]
How Rural Electric Cooperatives Can Power Through California Outages with Microgrids
July 19, 2021 By
Rural electric cooperatives often don’t own their own power resources and usually rely on other utilities’ lines for importing power, which can create challenges during public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) or grid outages. Microgrids can help solve these problems. Take, for example, Anza Electric Cooperative, which is located in a high … [Read more...]
Why and How to Bring Microgrids to Small Town America
March 26, 2021 By
This spring, the Poudre Valley Electric Association (PVREA), which provides power to northern Colorado, plans to test a microgrid for a small town that has experienced outages because of car accidents on curvy roads, extreme weather, and, in September, a fire that left the town without power for 52 hours. The microgrid, which will replace … [Read more...]
Puget Sound Energy Looks to Invest Heavily in DERs
March 9, 2021 By
Amid plans to shed about 750 MW of coal-fired generation, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is preparing to invest heavily in distributed energy resources (DERs), including non-wires alternatives and possibly microgrids, according to a draft integrated resource plan (IRP). “Distributed energy resources, such as battery energy storage and rooftop as … [Read more...]
Microgrid at Australian Equestrian Center Helps Town Hit by Bush Fires
March 2, 2021 By
When bush fires swept the south coast of New South Wales in Australia last year, an equestrian center showed why it's good to have a neighbor with a microgrid. Willinga Park, an equestrian property that spans 2,000 acres on two national parks, became a safe haven for local residents’ cattle and horses in December, and its islanded microgrid … [Read more...]
California Regulators to Tackle Payment for DERs Acting as Non-Wires Alternatives
February 9, 2021 By
California is on a cutting edge quest to find ways to accurately value decentralized energy, as evidenced last month in its microgrid tariff decision, and this week as it takes up a proposal on using distributed energy as non-wires alternatives. The California Public Utilities Commission is slated Thursday to consider two pilot programs that … [Read more...]
