Microgrids can protect public health during power outages by keeping the water clean, ensuring medical facilities are running, and keeping people cool during dangerous heat waves. But a number of challenges must be overcome, especially at the policy level, in order to realize these benefits. Both public-health and electricity industry … [Read more...]
Here we profile the Clarkson Avenue Microgrid project, as part of a series of occasional articles about NY Prize winners, based on their detailed applications to the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). Given the critical nature of their services, hospitals are prime candidates for microgrids. Maintaining a … [Read more...]
The Village of Wappingers Falls is in an area of New York known for its spiritual retreat centers. Now two of those centers may expand their spiritual shelter to physical shelter by way of a community microgrid. Located on the banks of the Hudson River, the densely populated village is vulnerable to flooding in storms. During Hurricane Irene, … [Read more...]
The idea of the East Bronx Healthcare Microgrid was born out of special pressure on the crucial hospital system. During storms and power outages, the four hospitals must remain open not only to serve existing patients, but also those transferred from evacuated hospitals in Manhattan and other New York City boroughs. Further, the medical … [Read more...]
It’s a surprise to many when they learn that their grid-connected solar panels can _not_ keep the lights on during a power outage. This was a lesson the Northeast US learned the hard way during Sandy, the 2012 superstorm that knocked out power to 8 million people. Two weeks or more without electricity, solar panel owners were venting to the … [Read more...]
The Town of Hempstead, NY wants to build a microgrid project to ensure power supply for emergency services in two coastal communities that are vulnerable to storms. The $2.66 million microgrid would provide back-up generation in case of a utility outage in Point Lookout and Lido Beach. Severe coastal storms tend to knock out power to the … [Read more...]
Huntington, New York has proposed a $22.9 million microgrid project, designed to bring reliable energy to a hospital, wastewater treatment plant, emergency center and other buildings and homes in a busy, downtown area. Located on the north shore of Long Island, the town’s 200,000 residents face electric reliability problems that make Huntington … [Read more...]
Micah Kotch received more than one ovation for a job well done at the Microgrid Knowledge conference last week, after announcing that he will be stepping down as director of NY Prize. Kotch has been the pivotal figure in the emerging microgrid market, shepherding the ambitious $40 million NY Prize through its first stage. The competition has … [Read more...]
New York has issued the second NY Prize request for proposals, this one offering $8 million from the $40 million pot designated to spur community microgrid development in the state. One of the most watched microgrid opportunities in North America, the NY Prize attracted 147 microgrid proposals in its first phase last year. From those proposals … [Read more...]
Commercial customers paying demand charges and time-of-use rates should seriously consider an investment in solar plus storage, a common technology used in microgrids. RMI’s Ryan Shea and Madeline Tyson describe the the organizations recent research on costs.
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