Yet another global name is expanding its microgrid play -- Rolls-Royce -- with yesterday's announcement that it has taken a stake in an energy storage and controls startup and will now offer turnkey microgrids. The transportation and power technology company will add batteries, controls and renewables to its microgrid line following its investment … [Read more...]
Very soon...on May 7...executives from around the world will be in Chicago for Microgrid 2018, which promises to be the game changer microgrid conference of the year. Not only does Microgrid 2018 feature tours of working microgrids in the Chicago area, extensive networking events, and a stellar lineup of speakers, but look who’s coming. Here is … [Read more...]
Jayant Kumar, global digital grids program director at GE Grid Solutions, discusses how community microgrids can change civilization, and why every city planner should keep them top of mind. Elisa Wood, chief editor of Microgrid Knowledge, interviewed Kumar at Microgrid 2017 in Boston. In terms of who the industry needs to be educating on the … [Read more...]
Sometimes events make an argument more strongly than words can. Such was the case in 2017 when disaster after disaster spoke to the vulnerability of the electric grid and the need for microgrids to ensure power supply. First came Hurricane Harvey in late August with wind and water knocking out 10,000 MW of generating capacity in Texas. Then on … [Read more...]
Several microgrids are among the more than two dozen winning projects that will share $20 million in energy storage grants announced today by Massachusetts. Reflecting the reality of today’s market, battery technology dominated the winners list, although some projects also employ thermal and flywheel storage. Use of battery storage has increased … [Read more...]
The microgrid market is growing and evolving, but new regulations and policies are needed to ensure it thrives, according to top industry players. Says Greg Clark, senior project manager, Power Engineers, “We believe the microgrid market is in a state of transition: from a specialized niche market of emergency power systems dedicated to mission … [Read more...]
A confluence of innovation, risk taking, and public and private effort has created a five-year, $1.5 billion microgrid market opportunity in Kenya, leading Germany’s TFE Consulting to dub the East African nation, “The World's Microgrid Lab.” International startups are deploying innovative mobile 'pay as you go' (Pay-Go), home solar, and … [Read more...]
Large ports and maritime facilities make regular, intensive use of some of the largest, heaviest and most power-hungry machinery and equipment manufactured. Serving their energy needs is no small task, whether it be via conventional grid, distributed energy resources, or a mix of both. So it seems appropriate that one of the most ambitious projects … [Read more...]
Here we profile the Clarkson Avenue Microgrid project, as part of a series of occasional articles about NY Prize winners, based on their detailed applications to the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). Given the critical nature of their services, hospitals are prime candidates for microgrids. Maintaining a … [Read more...]
Researchers at Michigan Technological University look at use of solar microgrids for national security. They find that the US has the technological capability to install the 17 GW needed to fortify military bases. Distributed microgrid tech can secure the electrical grids at military bases to reduce the impact of cyberattacks, physical … [Read more...]
Batteries traditionally play the energy storage role. The goal of the Maxwell Technologies ultracapacitor bank installation on the UC San Diego’s microgrid was to see if ultracapacitors can provide a more cost-effective energy storage system for microgrids—and better response time—than batteries. Maxwell Technologies’ Jessica Baris explores the ins and outs of the innovative ultracapacitor energy storage system on UC San Diego’s microgrid.
State regulatory bodies are realizing that out-of-date regulatory rules are limiting Microgrid adoption and are working to change regulation. States such as New York, Connecticut, and Minnesota have allocated funding and started conversations on how best to change the state regulation to allow for Microgrids to be adopted.
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