Schneider Microgrid and Energy Savings Program Could Cut Jersey City Costs by $21M

March 30, 2021
Jersey City, a city immediately west of New York City with a population of 262,000, expects Schneider’s microgrid and energy savings plan will save the city $21 million over 20 years and provide $19 million to pay for capital improvements.

Schneider Electric is developing an energy savings program for Jersey City, New Jersey, that includes a microgrid based on an existing 1.2-MW solar array.

The microgrid will provide power so that city facilities can continue operating through power outages and emergencies with a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

Join us at Microgrid 2021 for a special session: “How Microgrids Reduce Energy Costs” at 11 a.m. EST, May 18. Participation is free if you register in advance. Space is limited on the virtual platform so please register now.

“Having experienced Superstorm Sandy and, more recently, witnessing the devastating power outages in Texas last month, we’ve been working to establish a strong and resilient infrastructure to keep our community safe and healthy, every day and through every level of emergency,” Fulop said.

“This microgrid and the entire [energy savings] program will serve as a national resiliency model saving us millions of dollars and significantly reducing our carbon footprint, while improving air quality and the overall health and quality of life for our residents,” Fulop said.

The City Council of Jersey City on March 24 agreed to hire Gabel Associates to review the energy savings improvement program being developed by Schneider. The city council expects to vote on Schneider’s plan at an April meeting.

Last year, Schneider won a request for proposals to set up the energy savings program, beating out Honeywell International, DCO Energy and Willdan Energy Solutions.

Jersey City, a city immediately west of New York City with a population of 262,000, expects Schneider’s energy savings plan will save the city $21 million over 20 years and provide $19 million to pay for capital improvements.

Components of the plan for 22 city facilities include more rooftop solar, LED lighting, upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, transformer replacements, combined heat and power systems, and renewable energy credits and carbon dioxide offsets.

Superstorm Sandy triggered interest in microgrids

Since Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey in 2012, causing about $30 billion in damage, the state has been exploring microgrids as a way to protect important facilities from power outages.

Last year, New Jersey unveiled a master energy plan that included measures aimed at supporting microgrids, which the state contends can help protect against the effects of sea level rise.

In 2017, the New Jersey Bureau of Public Utilities doled out $2 million to help 13 towns and cities develop microgrids.

Interested in microgrids? Join the discussion on the Microgrid Knowledge Linkedin Group.

About the Author

Ethan Howland

Related Content

In the Race to 100% Renewable Energy, Islands Will Win — With the Right Grid Improvements

March 18, 2024
Looked at individually, islands are often overlooked as unimportant players on the global economic stage. Smaller geographies, smaller communities, fewer resources, and often ...
petrmalinak / Shutterstock.com

DOE Funds Long-Duration Energy Storage Microgrid for California Tribe

March 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has made a conditional commitment to provide a $72.8 million partial loan guarantee for the development of a solar plus long...
Image credit Tommy Lee Walker/Shutterstock

Microgrids Help Create Data Centers that Don’t Break the Grid or the Environment

March 18, 2024
A new model for data center design uses microgrids to provide flexibility and clean energy that reduces grid stress. Other models focus on modular data center design and providing...
Brandon Olafsson / Shutterstock.com

Department of Energy Spending Up to $200M Connecting Remote Microgrids

March 15, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy is currently accepting proposals for transmission projects that would connect remote and isolated microgrids to each other or to existing transmission...

Only through Standardization Can Microgrids Accelerate the Energy Transition

Jan. 18, 2024
Jana Gerber, North America microgrid president at Schneider Electric discusses how standardizing microgrids will accelerate the energy transition.

Get the full report
Get the full report
Get the full report
Get the full report
Get the full report

Energy Modeling: An Essential Step in Microgrid Projects

Learn how energy modeling can be used to determine the best energy mix for your microgrid, as well as determine how big it needs to be to achieve your project goals.