Noresco will expand a Navy microgrid at a submarine base in Groton, Connecticut, under an $83.1 million energy savings performance contract.
The main part of the project involves expanding the on-site cogeneration capacity and microgrid system at the Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE NLON).
During grid outages, the measures will support 100% of the power requirements for SUBASE NLON’s mission-critical piers and nuclear submarines in port, according to Noresco, a United Technologies unit.
The project includes energy conservation measures driven by new microgrid capabilities with electrical infrastructure upgrades, steam distribution system improvements, new LED lighting, and a new base-wide cybersecure energy management controls system, according to the Westborough, Massachusetts-based company.
Besides paying for the capital improvements, Noresco said it expects to spend $64 million in operations and maintenance over an 18-year performance period to be paid through energy savings.
Noresco has 34 US Navy energy savings projects, totaling more than $1 billion in guaranteed savings, according to Natasha Shah, Noresco vice president.
In 2018, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC), the Navy and FuelCell Energy broke ground on 7.4-MW fuel cell project that is designed to support the base’s microgrid.
Connecticut provided $1.1 million in bond funding for the microgrid design and gave CMEEC a $5 million grant to fund part of the microgrid project.
The fuel cell project, however, was delayed last year when FuelCell Energy dealt with financial challenges. After installing a new management team and getting financial backing, the company said in January it expects to finish installing the fuel cells before the end of July.
In December, FuelCell Energy reached a revised agreement with CMEEC that cleared the way for the sub base project to move ahead. CMEEC will buy electricity from the fuel cells and is set to operate the microgrid.
Read more about Navy microgrid projects on the Microgrid Knowledge military channel.
