Credit: Malcolm Koo
Since MicrogridKnowledge.com recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, we thought this would be a good time to give you some insight into who – and what’s – capturing reader attention. So here are the top read articles for the last six and 12 months.
The Oncor microgrid wins the six-month prize. And for the year, the most read story was about the world’s largest vehicle-to-grid demonstration, a military project in California.
MicrogridKnowledge.com’s Top Read Stories for the Last Six Months
1. Rumor is True. Oncor Unveils First-of-a-Kind Microgrid
Rumors have circulated for months that S&C Electric, Schneider Electric and Oncor had in the works a microgrid more sophisticated than any so far built in North America. Today the companies lifted the veil off the completed project near Lancaster, Texas.
2. Did Tesla Really Move the Needle on Microgrids April 30? Or Did New York?
Tesla made a big splash April 30 with its entry into the microgrid business. But action the same day by New York is likely to really move the needle on microgrids.
3. NY Prize Stage 1 Awards: Who, Why and What’s it Mean for Community Microgrids
New York showed itself as the nation’s leader in community microgrid development July 8 by awarding funds for an unprecedented 83 projects through its $40 million NY Prize
4. Central Hudson and NRG Energy Propose Complex Microgrids in New York
Central Hudson Gas & Electric wants to test the market for complex microgrids in a project with NRG Energy that may span as many as 50 buildings.
5. Creating a Grid-of-Grids: The Genius behind the NY Prize and its Real End Game
Not everyone sees the NY Prize as a big deal. After all, they say, the end stage of New York’s competition for $40 million is construction of about five community microgrids.
6. Off to Summer at my Remote Microgrid
Star Island, one of the nine Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire near Maine, has everything one might expect from a remote island getaway: beautiful views of the Atlantic, boating, kayaking, 43 acres for hiking and family activities – even programs to pursue personal and spiritual growth. It also has something one might not expect: its own 130-kW solar array microgrid.
7. What Community Microgrids Offer to North American Cities and Towns
Towns and cities are awakening to the importance of community microgrids; to the value of gaining control over their energy supply, and ensuring that it is clean, efficient and secure.
8. Major U.S. Senate Energy Bill Pushes Microgrids, Grid Modernization
Microgrids get a federal push under a broad Congressional energy bill unveiled yesterday by U.S. Senate energy committee leaders after months of hearings.
9. But What if the Microgrid Fails Too?
Microgrids act as insurance if the central electric grid fails. So it’s fair to ask, how do you keep the microgrid from failing too?
10. Disruptive Energy for Good or Bad?
The die is cast. Disruptive energy — in the form of solar plus energy storage — will upend the U.S. electric grid as we know it over the next three decades. That’s the implication of a new report, “The Economics of Load Defection,” by the Rocky Mountain Institute and Homer Energy.
MicrogridKnowledge.com’s Top Read Stories for the Last 12 Months
1. US Air Force Unveils World’s Largest Electric Vehicle-to-Grid
And so it begins. For years we’ve talked about the profound change the electric vehicle will bring to the power grid. And now, in Los Angeles the military will show how it’s done with the world’s largest vehicle-to-grid project to date. Princeton Power Systems, also known for its work on microgrids, designed and delivered 13 bi-directional electric vehicle charging stations.
2. Boston Wants to Build Microgrids. But What about Utility Franchise Rights?
Contrary to popular thinking, utility franchise rights aren’t a big obstruction to microgrids in Massachusetts. That’s the word from a legal analysis released this week by Harvard Law School at the request of the City of Boston.
3. The Home Microgrid: Not Later. Now.
What solar installer hasn’t seen a homeowner’s face drop upon learning that rooftop solar panels don’t spare the home from an outage when the electric grid goes down? A home microgrid can change all that. And JLM Energy is at the forefront of the market with its recent roll-out of the Energizr.
4. How Cell Phones Are Driving Remote Microgrid Growth: UGE’s story
A funny thing happened to Urban Green Energy (UGE) on the way to becoming a small wind turbine manufacturer. The New York company discovered that demand was limited for its product on a stand-alone basis. But combine small wind turbines with solar, storage and some intelligence – into a remote microgrid – and the market is vast.
5. Rumor is True. Oncor Unveils First-of-a-Kind Microgrid
Rumors have circulated for months that S&C Electric, Schneider Electric and Oncor had in the works a microgrid more sophisticated than any so far built in North America. Today the companies lifted the veil off the completed project near Lancaster, Texas.
6. Microgrids 101: A Non-geek Definition of Microgrid
Everyone thinks microgrids are cool — even if they don’t know what they are. Here’s a 101 for those who want to impress friends and gain new admirers by explaining a microgrid at the next neighborhood gathering.
7. Advanced Microgrid Solutions: How to Make Building Fleets into a Peaker Plant
Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) plans to store energy from fleets of buildings that can act as peaker plants on the grid, under a contract it won this week with Southern California Edison.
8. Did Tesla Really Move the Needle on Microgrids April 30? Or Did New York?
Tesla made a big splash yesterday with its entry into the microgrid business. But action the same day by New York is likely to really move the needle on microgrids.
9. Hello Local Energy, Bye Old Power Industry, Say New York Regulators with Key Vote
New York, where the power industry began over a century ago, might be where it ends too. At least the power industry as we know it today.
10. Think Microgrid: The Local Energy Revolution
A kind of collective ‘ah ha’ is driving North America toward a more distributed grid, what some call local energy. Businesses, industrial facilities, institutions and cities are realizing the value of taking control over their energy supply. Read more in our second Think Microgrid report, “The Energy Efficient Microgrid: What Combined Heat & Power and District Energy Bring to the Microgrid Revolution.”
Read new stories on MicrogridKnowledge.com each week by subscribing to our free newsletter. Thanks! Elisa Wood, Editor.
