Economic, technology and environmental incentives are changing the face of electricity generation and transmission. Centralized generating facilities are giving way to smaller, more distributed generation partially due to the loss of traditional economies of scale. Distributed generation encompasses a wide range of prime mover technologies, such as … [Read more...]
As power utilities strive to improve the reliability of electricity delivery and become eco-sustainable, microgrids are gaining in popularity. However, there are challenges in extending network to microgrid communications. In order to enhance microgrid communications, the technology SDN is being used as a new way to communicate with microgrids. … [Read more...]
The traditional electrical grids deployed on remote islands and microgrids includes a single centralized diesel generating station with distribution lines connected to the rest of the island. This configuration is proving to be expensive and unsustainable. Progressive utilities across the World (with support from organizations such as the World … [Read more...]
As a cornerstone of one of the youngest, largest, and most prestigious planned communities in the country (the City of Irvine), UCI was established on sprawling undeveloped acreage on the bluffs bounding the Pacific Ocean. This allowed the campus to be methodically and systematically designed from scratch with a large, circular central park … [Read more...]
Application of individual distributed generators can cause as many problems as it may solve. A better way to realize the emerging potential of distributed energy generation is to take a system approach which views generation and associated loads as a subsystem or a microgrid. During disturbances, the generation and corresponding loads can separate … [Read more...]
Microgrids can provide an avenue for increasing the amount of distributed generation and delivery of electricity, where control is more dispersed and quality of service is locally tailored to end-use requirements, with applications from military bases to campuses to commercial office buildings. Many studies have been done to date on microgrid … [Read more...]
Many large utility customers, including military installations, hospital campuses and universities, are considering microgrids to better manage energy usage and enhance power quality and system reliability. In addition to greater “energy security,” some of the microgrid effects offer a variety of economic benefits ranging from greater efficiency … [Read more...]
With the recent technological advancements in communication infrastructures, mobile and cloud computing, smart devices, and power electronics, a renewed interest in power systems research has emerged. When these enabling technologies are jointly utilized to sense and actuate power generation, distribution, and demand, the resulting smart- grid has … [Read more...]
Microgrids have been proposed in order to improve reliability and stability of electrical system and to ensure power quality of grid. Microgrid consists of low voltage distribution systems with distributed energy resources, such as wind turbine and photovoltaic power systems, together with storage devices. It is essential to protect a microgrid in … [Read more...]
Distributed energy resources (DER) have served Minnesota residents and communities since the earliest days of electricity-powered machines. Indeed, before the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and electrification efforts in the 1930s and ’40s, such companies as Delco-Light sold gasoline-burning “electric plants” for homes and farms that hadn’t yet … [Read more...]
Ameresco’s vice president of microgrid services, Will Agate, describes the process of getting started on your microgrid project — the very first step of which is to carefully consider and define the needs of your organization and its community.
In the early 20th century, the centralization of electricity production made huge process, enabling significant economies of scale and improved power plant efficiency. Today, decentralization could help tackle the energy challenges of the 21st century by creating an optimized way to access reliable, green and resilient energy. Download the white paper from Schneider Electric that explores decentralization and the role of microgrids.
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