A utility-scale microgrid that uses energy storage has slashed the use of diesel fuel and allowed for up to 70 percent renewables to serve a Portuguese Island, Graciosa. The microgrid is made up of a 6-MW, 3.5-MWh battery system from Switzerland-based Leclanché, about 1.5 MW of wind energy, 3 MW of solar and an existing diesel system that … [Read more...]
The Microgrid Knowledge South America Channel
News and feature articles on microgrids in South America including RFP's, policies and players impacting the region.
What’s Driving Microgrids toward a $30.9B Market?
August 30, 2018 By 17 Comments
A forecast issued this week by Navigant Research identifies several new trends emerging in the global microgrid market as it moves toward becoming a $30.9 billion industry by 2027. The number of vendors in the arena has increased dramatically. Utilities, once seen as obstructers to microgrids, are now building their own. Microgrid growth is … [Read more...]
Siemens Building an 80-MW Microgrid Network in the Brazilian Amazon
October 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Bringing reliable, secure and affordable electricity to the remote Amazon Basin is probably one of the most difficult obstacles to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal of universal electricity access by 2030. But that's exactly what Siemens Brazil hopes to do by way of a microgrid network. With the support from Brazilian utility Centrais … [Read more...]
Microgrid Knowledge Seeks Input for its 2017 Survey
September 5, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Who’s building microgrids, where and why? Please share your insights by taking the Microgrid Knowledge 2017 Survey, now live here. It will take just 10 minutes (or less) to answer the questions. And in return we’ll be sure you are among the first to receive the results. Just leave your email (optional) at the end of the survey, and we’ll … [Read more...]
EPS Installs Green Microgrid for ENEL…Can U.S. Cities Go All Green?…Stem in Austin
June 1, 2017 By 1 Comment
Paris-based EPS installs green microgrid for Enel Electro Power Systems (EPS) has completed a plug and play green microgrid for Italian utility Enel at a construction site in Chile. Powered by solar and two forms of storage, the microgrid requires no diesel energy backup, making it emissions free, according to the Paris-based microgrid … [Read more...]
Distributed Energy Storage Reduces Demand via 8,000 Batteries
April 7, 2017 By 3 Comments
A distributed energy storage network of 8,000 batteries located at 7,000 telecom facilities in France has reduced utility demand by 10 to 15 MW during two demand response events. And now the company that managed the program wants to bring it to the U.S. Actility, which provides IoT-based grid balancing and demand response programs, wants to … [Read more...]
How the World Defines Microgrids and Why You are Confused
January 30, 2017 By 4 Comments
Microgrid, minigrid, picogrid… All this tiny terminology can add up to some big confusion. Even the industry itself defines microgrids in different ways. Microgrids, minigrids and picogrids have some things in common: they are all locally generated, locally distributed sources of clean energy. Is it all just a matter of to-MAY-to, … [Read more...]
The Vital Role of Reciprocating Engines in Remote Communities
September 12, 2016 By 1 Comment
We offer a global view of reciprocating engines in remote communities in this excerpt from the Microgrid Knowledge guide, Reciprocating Engine Generators and Microgrids: The Last Defense Against a Power Outage. In a land where winter can bring only a few hours of sunlight daily—or none at all for 67 days in Barrow, Alaska the northern most … [Read more...]
What’s behind Caterpillar’s New Hybrid Microgrid Play? Here’s a Deeper Look
May 17, 2016 By 4 Comments
Caterpillar became the latest big infrastructure company to unveil a microgrid play with the recent launch of its hybrid microgrid into the global market. The Cat hybrid technology combines solar, energy storage and fossil fuels and will focus on projects 10 kW to 100 MW. A $47 billion company, Cat intends to leverage its global distribution … [Read more...]
Bypassing Utility Models for Clean, Smart Microgrids in Emerging Markets
April 28, 2016 By 5 Comments
Energy project developers are just beginning to see the advantages of bypassing the old and “messy” electricity infrastructure in favor of clean, smart microgrids in developing countries. That was one of Haresh Patel’s observations about the information gleaned from developers for its latest Mercatus Global Advanced Energy Insights … [Read more...]
