Microgrid Knowledge announces finalists for 2022 Microgrid Greater Good Awards

Microgrid Knowledge has released the names of the eight finalists for this year’s Microgrid Greater Good Awards. From the eight finalists, four winners will be selected and announced at Microgrid 2022, which will be held June 1-2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Now in its fourth year, the Microgrid Greater Good Awards celebrate microgrids that fulfill a clear societal need and show how microgrids improve the human condition.

Awards are granted for: Highest Recognition for a Microgrid Serving the Greater Good; Greater Good Award for a Grid-Connected Microgrid and Greater Good Award for a Remote Microgrid. 

In addition, Microgrid Knowledge added a fourth category this year: Greater Good Award for a Local Microgrid in the conference’s host state, which for 2022 is Pennsylvania.

Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges made up of representatives of nonprofit organizations and journalists (not affiliated with Microgrid Knowledge).

Microgrids all very different

“The finalists this year offer insight into the range of ways microgrids can help people — from providing power for water, food, cooling and medical care following disasters to boosting medical care in far-flung places to keeping the power flowing at airports,” said Elisa Wood, editor-in-chief of Microgrid Knowledge. “This year’s finalists also show how very different one microgrid can be from another. One finalist provides fairly simple mobile microgrids; another offers a sophisticated university microgrid designed for others to model.’ 

Microgrid Knowledge received 60 nominations this year. Culled from those, the eight finalists vying for the awards are:

Greater Good Award Highest Recognition

• Footprint Project: Louisiana, US (Footprint Project, Schneider Electric)
• Kudagaon Village Microgrid (SunMoksha Power Private Limited, Athmallik Tehsil, Angul District, Odisha, India)

Greater Good Award for Grid-Connected Microgrid

• Santa Rosa Junior College Microgrid, Santa Rosa, California (Worley, Pacific Gas and Electric, PXiSE, Center for Sustainable Energy, California Energy Commission, Go Electric)
• Monash Microgrid, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Monash University, Indra, AZZO)

Greater Good Award for a Remote Microgrid

• Shungnak Community Microgrid; Shungnak, Alaska (Ageto Energy, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Alaska Native Renewable Industries, Blue Planet Energy, Launch Alaska, Northwest Arctic Native Association, NW Arctic Borough, Daylight Energy Services)
• Sato Medical Health Centre Microgrid, Village Sato, Durbuk, Ladakh, India (Global Himalayan Expedition)

Greater Good Award to a Pennsylvania Microgrid 

• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Microgrid, Hershey, PA (Pennsylvania State University, Cogen Power Technologies, CHA Generation and Energy Management, RMF Engineering)
• Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid, Allegheny County Airport Authority, Findlay, PA (Peoples Gas, IMG Energy Solutions, EIS Solar, PJ Dick)

2021 winners

Last year’s winners were: 

• Top award: ATLAS Containerized Microgrid, Ayillo II Refugee Settlement, Northern Uganda (Arizona State University, Pipeline Worldwide, SolarNow Uganda, Industrial Water Innovations, Corporate Interior Systems, Wholesale Floors LLC, Gensler, Tarkett, US Office of Naval Research).
• Remote microgrid: Matongo Women’s Clinic Microgrid (United Solar Initiative, Schneider Electric, Powerpoint, Curamericas).
• Grid connected microgrid: South Australian Produce Market Microgrid (Azzo, Schneider Electric, Autonomous Energy).

Runners up last year were the Kodiak Electric Association (Alaska Microgrid Group, GE, Saft, ABB); Santa Clara County Emergency Shelters (BoxPower); St. Peter Apartments Community Microgrid (Ageto Energy, Dynapower, SunPower, Samsung, AccuEnergy).

Judges for this year are Patrice Calise, associate copy editor, S&P Global Market Intelligence; Housley Carr, writer/analyst at RBN Energy; Peter Kelly-Detwiler, principal, NorthBridge Energy Partners; Melissa Marshall, director of operations for the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies/policy advisor for the World Institute on Disability; Mary Powers, special correspondent, Engineering News-Record.

About Microgrid 2022: Microgrid as Climate Heroes

Climate change is upon us and the world is not ready. Enter the microgrid, a climate change warrior that keeps the power flowing during storms and other disasters, while fostering a cleaner, less costly and more equitable energy grid. Join us in Philadelphia for the world’s largest gathering of microgrid innovators and visionaries. Learn how you can become part of this profound transformation. Learn more at Microgrid 2022: Microgrids as Climate Heroes.