PowerSecure, a distributed energy infrastructure provider and key player in the microgrid industry, announced today that its Durham, North Carolina, campus microgrid is launching a 100% renewable fuel initiative.
The Durham campus will use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to power the PowerBlock generator connected to the site’s existing hybrid microgrid.
PowerSecure’s PowerBlock systems are renewable fuel ready, so no generator modifications will be required ahead of the transition.
“The use of renewable fuels is a forward-thinking solution with sustainability benefits, including the displacement of carbon emissions,” said Chris Cummiskey, CEO of PowerSecure. “The deployment of renewable fuel at our Durham campus microgrid represents a major milestone for PowerSecure and the energy users and producers we serve.”
A cleaner diesel alternative
HVO uses a hydrotreatment process to create renewable fuel from vegetable oil or other 100% renewable raw materials. The oil or raw materials undergo a high-pressure hydrogen treatment during the process, which is different from the transesterification used to create traditional biodiesel.
The result is a high-quality fuel that is chemically identical to diesel. This means HVO can be seamlessly substituted for the traditional fossil fuel – no blending required.
HVO also offers similar performance characteristics to traditional diesel fuel but is considerably cleaner. Studies indicate that compared to diesel, HVO can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% to 85%.
A major player in the microgrid space
PowerSecure, which is a subsidiary of Southern Company, has developed, installed, managed and serviced more than 2 GW of microgrid capacity in the past two decades. The company is focused primarily on on-site power solutions for data centers, government entities and manufacturing.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the company reported that 76 of its microgrids had supported 119 utility outages in Texas.
The introduction of HVO at its Durham campus is a significant advancement in PowerSecure’s “all of the above” energy strategy, according to a statement from the company.
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