Cloud computing giant VMware is joining forces with one of the world’s tech capitals, Palo Alto, California, to explore the potential of community microgrid projects. The partners announced on Thursday that they will develop a proof-of-concept microgrid at VMware’s headquarters in Palo Alto. The project will test the resiliency offered by … [Read more...]
The City of Berkeley received a grant from the California Energy Commission as part of its Electric Program Investment Charge program to conduct the Berkeley Energy Assurance Transformation (BEAT) project. The BEAT project explored how to design a clean energy microgrid community (CEMC) to serve key municipal buildings and to improve community … [Read more...]
United Illuminating (UI) has completed the Woodbridge microgrid, a project funded through Connecticut's Microgrid Pilot Program. The microgrid will power police, fire and shelter services during storms, blackouts and other emergencies. Town and state leaders, including Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, gathered on Monday to celebrate the … [Read more...]
Energy decentralization is a major development that could help tackle the energy challenges of the 21st century. Major technical and economic improvements have allowed substantial progress in decentralized energy resources, such as solar energy and storage and the Internet of Things (IoT), driving new cooperation and optimization capabilities. Also … [Read more...]
It is clear why city leaders are turning their attention to community microgrids. Energy is the lifeblood of any contemporary community, and severe storms in recent years have revealed the vulnerability of the central grid. The American electorate knows this and is concerned. In a March 2015 Gallup poll 88 percent of those surveyed described … [Read more...]
New York is offering $40 million for community microgrids to cut energy costs and boost electric reliability, consumer choice, and energy efficiency. Called the NY Prize, the program has been in the works since January 2014, when it was announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. New York follows California, Connecticut and New Jersey in putting money on … [Read more...]
We can’t always count on electrical grids – as recent events like Superstorm Sandy have made painfully clear. Electrical power distribution systems do fail, and sometimes for long periods of time. That’s why community microgrids with energy storage are vital to keep power flowing to critical services, those that provide health care, energy and … [Read more...]
If neighborhoods controlled their power supply, chances are many would opt for clean and efficient energy, especially if it’s cost-effective. But energy choices aren’t left to the locals in the United States. Instead, utilities, cities and states determine our mix of power plants. Communities might have more say if they develop their own … [Read more...]
The National Defenses Resource Council’s Bettina Begroo takes a look at the purpose of green banks and their potential for improvement for climate change.
A microgrid is a discrete energy system consisting of distributed energy sources (e.g. renewables, conventional, storage) and loads capable of operating in parallel with, or independently from, the main grid. The primary purpose is to ensure reliable, affordable energy security for commercial, industrial and federal government consumers. Benefits that extend to utilities and the community at large include lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lower stress on the transmission and distribution system.
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