Sometimes the reason for microgrids is so obvious it comes like a big blue flash in the sky. Such was the case in late December when Consolidated Edison’s system malfunctioned causing a gas flare that had some New Yorkers looking to the skies and wondering if space aliens had come to Queens. It took an announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to … [Read more...]
New York utility Orange & Rockland has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a microgrid of up to 17 MW to serve as a non-wires alternative to a substation upgrade in Orange County. Proposals are due March 7. The Consolidated Edison subsidiary seeks business partners to offer a microgrid that employs solar panels, fuel cells, … [Read more...]
Well, okay, some microgrids are electrical islands, particularly those that are on a literal island or in a desert or on a mountaintop or somewhere no central grid exists. They function in a stand-alone fashion, or in industry parlance islanded. Others operate independently just some of the time, separating from the central grid during a … [Read more...]
New York state regulators yesterday approved energy storage goals of 1,500 MW by 2025 and 3,000 MW by 2030, plus a strategy to reach them, including a $310 million incentive program. The commission has been considering its energy strategy for several months and collecting recommendations from industry players that ranged from accelerating … [Read more...]
New York is crafting one of the most ambitious energy storage targets in the nation, but major barriers could make it difficult to meet the target, according to a recent filing with state regulators by storage developer GI Energy. The affiliate of Shell New Energies US argues that energy storage developers face “massive uncertainty” … [Read more...]
EV programs may soon come to a grid near you as states continue to expand and refine charging efforts. Here's a look at some big moves this week in California, Massachusetts and New York. Massachusetts okays one of largest EV programs In Massachusetts, the state Department of Public Utilities on September 10 okayed a $25 million charging … [Read more...]
New York is outstripping the nation in development of community distributed generation, and now it’s got a plan to more than double installations. Also known as shared renewables, community solar or solar gardens, the approach creates communal local energy meant largely to benefit apartment dwellers, those with shady roofs or other … [Read more...]
A number of states are embracing the electric vehicle revolution, enacting programs intended to boost EV use on our nation’s roads. Most recently, New Jersey, New York and California announced plans to invest in EV infrastructure. As EV-friendly measures continue to be enacted, innovative rate structures and smart charging can cushion the … [Read more...]
What are the software challenges microgrid clusters face? Michael Carlson, president of Siemens Digital Grid NA, answers that question at Microgrid 2018 in an interview with Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge editor-in-chief. Microgrids are based on the concepts of reliability, efficiency, and resiliency. But as Siemens’ Michael Carlson pointed … [Read more...]
Microgrids for social justice in Massachusetts The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has awarded two $75,000 grants for social justice microgrids planned in Boston's Chinatown and Chelsea neighborhoods. The microgrids are the brainchild of an energy democracy collaborative called RUN-GJC, which intends to use the funds to conduct technical … [Read more...]
As microgrid deployments continue to rise, the question of whether to operate your microgrid using advanced centralized controls or simpler decentralized controls is top of mind for many. Here are some key considerations to help you decide whether advanced microgrid controls make sense for your deployment.
The new energy industry is working to categorize the various types of microgrids and business models. The primary goal is to minimize microgrid system cost and funding. To learn more about microgrid business modes and value chains download this white paper.
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