OATI Launches USA Microgrids and Other Microgrid News from IDEA and Oncor

Feb. 10, 2017
OATI launches USA Microgrids..Got a microgrid idea for IDEA?…Greensmith wins contract for Oncor microgrid
OATI launches USA Microgrids

USA Microgrids is the new microgrid development arm of  Minneapolis-based Open Access Technology International (OATI).

The company says that it will help companies explore ways to make microgrids successful investments. USA Microgrids performs a wide variety of services to support microgrids and distributed energy resources (DERs). The services include feasibility studies, facility operations, asset optimization, maintenance, NOC operation services, and other aspects of managing generation assets.

OATI has been involved in microgrid development since 2011 and is involved in microgrid projects across North America. Most recently, USA Microgrids helped plan and execute OATI’s in Bloomington, MN, which has completed initial construction. When fully operable, the next-generation data center will showcase such technologies as combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP), solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind generation, and energy storage.

“USA Microgrids promotes the growth of microgrid technology that functions alongside Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and utilities,” said David Heim, chief strategy officer, USA Microgrids. “We are excited to design systems that help our customers adapt to and thrive in significant industry change.”

Got a microgrid idea for the Federal Infrastructure Plan?

With plans being offered by Senate Democrats and the Trump Administration to rebuild and renew infrastructure, the International District Energy Association is developing a list of potential potential district energy/CHP/microgrid projects.

IDEA plans to present the list for consideration in a pending Federal Infrastructure Plan.

Have a project idea? Please click here to download the IDEA submittal form, add your project, and email the completed form to [email protected]

IDEA and its affiliate the Microgrid Resources Coalition is hosting Microgrid 2017 in partnership with Microgrid Knowledge, Nov. 6-8 in Boston. Register today.

Greensmith wins contract for Oncor microgrid

Texas utility Oncor has selected Greensmith’s GEMS software to orchestrate performance of a variety of complex grid applications supporting power quality and energy availability.

“We chose Greensmith as a partner and software provider to help expand the functionality of our microgrid and enhance individual components and overall system reliability and performance,” said Michael Quinn, Oncor’s vice president of strategy and chief technology officer.

Greensmith says that the GEMS platform is a widely-deployed energy storage software solution globally, with a robust yet flexible feature functionality for grid-scale, behind-the-meter and microgrid storage control architecture.

Track news about USA Microgrids, IDEA, Oncor and Greensmith by following Microgrid Knowledge on Twitter @MicrogridNews.

About the Author

Elisa Wood | Editor-in-Chief

Elisa Wood is an award-winning writer and editor who specializes in the energy industry. She is chief editor and co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and serves as co-host of the publication’s popular conference series. She also co-founded RealEnergyWriters.com, where she continues to lead a team of energy writers who produce content for energy companies and advocacy organizations.

She has been writing about energy for more than two decades and is published widely. Her work can be found in prominent energy business journals as well as mainstream publications. She has been quoted by NPR, the Wall Street Journal and other notable media outlets.

“For an especially readable voice in the industry, the most consistent interpreter across these years has been the energy journalist Elisa Wood, whose Microgrid Knowledge (and conference) has aggregated more stories better than any other feed of its time,” wrote Malcolm McCullough, in the book, Downtime on the Microgrid, published by MIT Press in 2020.

Twitter: @ElisaWood

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