Many microgrids consist of a solar PV system, battery storage, and a backup generator or back up fuel cell system. The backup generator or fuel cell system, run on hydrogen, natural gal, propane, diesel, gasoline, or other fuel sources, provides resilience for the microgrid. Propane is a low carbon fuel source that produces less soot than diesel … [Read more...]
A collection of white papers on Community Microgrids
Microgrids Find Their Business Case with Climate Resilient Internet
Microgrids are the future for resilient, sustainable energy, but cost is a stumbling block. ROI is hard to calculate and “even when a microgrid is cost effective, developing and proving a business case can be difficult.” This paper confronts that challenge with a stronger value proposition; one that taps a new revenue stream and maximizes … [Read more...]
A Critical Assessment of the ‘Big Three’ Types of Microgrids
In the last few decades, many commercial/industrial (C/I) energy users, universities, military bases, and public facilities around the world have implemented all types of microgrids to reduce electric power costs, incorporate clean power (decarbonize), and enhance power reliability and quality. Today, another benefit of microgrids has emerged that … [Read more...]
Nine Lessons Learned from Successful Community Microgrids
While most existing microgrids serve a single entity (e.g., a university, military base, or commercial/industrial customer), a community microgrid can serve more than 1,000 energy users. While the potential benefits of community microgrids are numerous for all involved parties,to date, very few community microgrids are operating or planned … [Read more...]
Six Barriers to Community Microgrids and Potential Ways Developers can Surmount Them
The potential market for community microgrids is significant. And many collaborative projects are possible in the U.S. for a first community microgrid in each city or county. Once a city or county completes its first community microgrid and realizes its various benefits, the potential for additional community microgrids increases. To develop … [Read more...]
What on Earth is an ‘Oasis’ Community Microgrid?
In the last few decades, over 2,200 commercial/industrial (C/I) energy users, universities, military bases, and public facilities around the world have implemented microgrids to reduce electric power costs, incorporate clean power (decarbonize), and enhance power reliability. Today, another benefit of the community microgrid has emerged that … [Read more...]
Protecting Communities & Vital Services with Smart Microgrids
Explore how a community microgrid can protect a neighborhood and vital services with energy leaders from Schneider, Siemens and more. Protecting Communities & Vital Services with Smart Microgrids Moderator: Clark Wiedetz (Schneider Electric) VP marketing, energy-as-a-service Arnela Smajlovic (Siemens Digital Grid) product manager of … [Read more...]
Hydro Tasmania Develops an Advanced Utility Grade Hybrid Energy Solution
The challenge was to develop a hybrid energy system and reduce Flinders Island’s dependence on diesel for electricity. Located off Tasmania’s north-east Coast, Flinders Island is about 60 kilometers from north to south and 37 kilometers from east to west, with a total land area of more than 1,300 square kilometers. The solution? A utility grade … [Read more...]
Distributed Energy Systems Case Studies Spotlight Worley Battery Energy Storage & Microgrids
This report from Worley Group walks readers through three case studies from Worley distributed energy systems projects involving battery energy storage systems, solar microgrid and university microgrids. Are any of these top of mind for your company? See below for a brief introduction to these threee projects. Worley protects community with … [Read more...]
Resiliency Microgrids — Enabling Cost-Effective Solutions to Both Mitigate Outages from Wildfire and Extreme Weather Risks
Low cost and modular microgrids can provide long-duration resiliency services to host customer sites while helping integrate variable renewable energy supplies at the grid operations level. The duality such modular microgrids can offer has been clearly demonstrated in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. Can a similar … [Read more...]
