Deadline Feb. 15 for Microgrid Greater Good Award Submissions

The deadline — February 15 — is fast approaching to nominate projects for the Microgrid Greater Good Awards. The winners will be announced at Microgrid 2020, which will be held June 2-3 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Microgrid Knowledge Greater Good Award recognizes microgrids that fill a clear societal need and bolster the case that microgrids improve the human condition. Applications should demonstrate this role through a strong narrative.

A panel of independent judges will consider submissions for microgrids operating in any part of the world. 

Now in its second year, the award program seeks applications in four categories. One category is new for this year — an award for a microgrid that operates in the state where the conference will be held. The four awards are:

• Highest Recognition for a Microgrid Serving the Greater Good 
• Greater Good Award for a Grid-Connected Microgrid
• Greater Good Award for a Remote Microgrid
• Local Greater Good Award (for a project in the conferences host state, this year Pennsylvania).

Anyone may nominate a microgrid, whether they are affiliated with the project or not, by filling out the form here. Only operating microgrids are eligible. 

“In the last year alone, microgrids have taken on some heroic tasks — keeping power flowing to parts of California during emergency wildfire shutoffs, helping North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island recover from a devastating tidal wave, and electrifying farflung villages in Africa and India for the first time. We created the Greater Good Award to spotlight this kind of story,” said Elisa Wood, editor-in-chief for Microgrid Knowledge.

Winners must offer one or more of these microgrid benefits:

• Improve the quality of life for those in or near the service territory
• Provide access to electricity to community members during a power outage
• Provide power to remote or undeveloped areas
• Lower energy costs
• Bolster energy reliability
• Improve air quality
• Help attain carbon reduction 
• Ensure the safety of seniors or other vulnerable populations
• Improve the ability to secure basic necessities (eg food, water, communications, medicines, transportation)
• Enhance a local economy
• Promote community or preserve the peace
• Preserve the natural environment
• Provide a lower cost alternative to more expensive infrastructure development 
• Provide education about the value of local energy
• Instruct engineering students or other key stakeholders about microgrids