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...]
Say ‘oil’ and Houston comes to mind. Software is Silicon Valley. Steel is Pittsburgh. But for the fledgling microgrid industry, a regional identity has yet to form. California and New York are strong contenders. But the title could go to Massachusetts. Consider the company Massachusetts keeps. GE and Schneider Electric, two energy … [Read more...]
The Syracuse microgrid, one of 11 NY Prize Stage 2 winners, is forecasting a strong financial return using waste-to-energy generation that eases pressure on local landfills. Led by the Central NY Regional Planning and Development Board (CNYRPDB), the project is the only Stage 2 winner to rely on waste-to-energy conversion as its primary … [Read more...]
Here's a look inside the 11 microgrid project winners selected March 23 by the New York Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) in Stage 2 of the NY Prize. (Also see our related story about the NY Prize Microgrid Winners.) Siemens, which is working on several of the winners, said that the model projects will pave the way for … [Read more...]
Renewables and microgrids are natural companions on the electric grid. Could the day come when we have a grid of all microgrids run on 100 percent renewables? For most advanced economies the idea of no centralized grid and no fossil fuels is at best far in the future. But all audacious goals begin one step at a time. And such is the case for a … [Read more...]
Massachusetts intends to identify microgrid opportunities statewide, mirroring work done on a more concentrated level by the City of Boston, according to state clean energy officials. Stephen Pike, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), and Galen Nelson, a senior director at the center, described the state’s microgrid strategy … [Read more...]
Our in-depth look at microgrid costs topped the list of most read microgrid articles in 2016. Readers also showed strong interest in stories about large market players and state and federal policy. Companies featured in the top 10 include ABB, Caterpillar, S&C Electric, Siemens, GE, Hitachi and National Grid. Notably, the story, “Hitachi … [Read more...]
Anthony Colonesse, vice president of Ameresco’s Energy Security Group, describes the evolution of Ameresco’s microgrid business strategy — from energy efficiency to today’s battery storage advances.
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