Energy Efficiency Markets has launched MicrogridKnowledge.com the first independent, international news and feature website dedicated solely to the microgrid market—an industry expected to be worth $40 billion by 2020.
A modern microgrid is a small-scale power grid that often integrates efficient and clean electricity and heat, energy storage and smart grid technologies. It can operate independently or in conjunction with the area’s main electrical grid and can provide back-up power, services or support to the main grid during heavy demand periods.
Microgrids are seen as a key to keeping the power flowing when the main grid is down—after disasters like Superstorm Sandy, for example.
“Two years ago, Hurricane Sandy demonstrated a technology gap in solar. When the power went out, grid-tied solar systems all went offline, missing an opportunity to provide distributed backup power when it was needed the most,” said Darren Hammell, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Princeton Power Systems. “Resiliency can act as a strong incentive to invest in alternative energy sources and energy storage. And distributed microgrids are a fast growing industry, making this website an excellent resource for industry leaders and consumers to visit.”
The Microgrid Knowledge website and newsletter aim to inform key microgrid audiences:
• Microgrid users, such as college campuses, data centers, municipalities, critical care facilities, eco-business parks, grocery stores, manufacturers, remote outposts, the military, and others that need reliable, high quality power.
• Microgrid developers, utilities, component, system and fuel suppliers; investors, independent power producers, and those who provide combined heat and power, district energy and renewables, such as solar and wind.
• Policymakers, regulators, grid operators, researchers, and others influencing the direction of the fast-growing industry.
Microgrid Knowledge is edited by Elisa Wood, an award-winning energy writer whose work has appeared in CNN, the New York Times, Reuters, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal Online, the Washington Post and hundreds of other websites.
When most of Lower Manhattan experienced power outages after Superstorm Sandy, New York University’s Washington Square Campus kept its lights on, thanks to a microgrid.
“Microgrids are coming, and we believe they will reshape the electric grid and electric markets,” said Wood. “This is an exciting story, and we’re eager to tell it.”
Microgrids are important because they can help so many kinds of economies – from the energy rich to the energy poor – and in completely different ways. They can provide power in regions where there is no electricity and reduce costs in areas—like islands—where electricity is expensive.
“In short, microgrids are good for the world, so we’d like to see more of them,” said Wood.
A recent report from Navigant Research estimated that the microgrid industry will grow to be a $40 billion industry by 2020.
Industry stakeholders can advertise, contribute articles, or take part in the website’s white paper program. For more information, contact Kevin Normandeau at [email protected].
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