Microgrid 360 is a gold-standard process for developing microgrids, which is both customer- and internally-focused. It allows for teams to work effectively and gain cumulative expertise with each system we develop, and it helps deliver the highest-quality and highest-performing microgrids in the industry to our customers. The Microgrid 360 … [Read more...]
Leaders in large corporations, government agencies, and other organizations face numerous challenges in running their day-to-day operations. For them, energy – the lifeblood of many organizations – has historically been seen as reliable, and occasional power outages considered an inevitable cost of doing business. However, these same organizations … [Read more...]
Power from pig manure has proven to be an innovative solution to several farm challenges for a unique hog farm in rural Lillington, N.C. This report explores how Butler Farms installed lagoon covers for animal waste to not only reduce odors and eliminate rainwater ingress, but also to capture biogas to utilize as a renewable energy … [Read more...]
The electric power grid is undergoing one of the most fundamental changes since its inception over a century ago. That transformation has been summed up as the “3 Ds,” which stands for digitalization, decentralization and decarbonization. This value-added shift is being aided, in part, by new tools and processes, such as Hardware in the Loop … [Read more...]
Your microgrid project is ready to move forward. But a microgrid’s unique nature can trip up even the most advanced engineers and utility staff. Building microgrids is a complex endeavor. The nature of microgrid topology generally means power can now flow in multiple directions on your grid. And there are multiple facets to controlling your … [Read more...]
Microgrids are often built as customized, one-off projects. Concern exists that the industry cannot scale under this model, and prices will remain out of reach for many smaller facilities, such as farms. At Microgrid 2018 in Chicago, Craig Wooster, project manager and general contractor for the Stone Edge Farm Microgrid Project, unveiled a new … [Read more...]
During a presentation at Microgrid 2018, Bob Wengel, vice president of facilities at Shedd Aquarium, which is home to 32,500 animals and 1,500 different species, described the aquarium's developing microgrid and energy plant. With a sophisticated energy management and building automation system managed by Schneider Electric and other technology … [Read more...]
Fundamentally, microgrids provide energy reliability for critical operations. Military installations and hospitals, for example, don’t have the option of shutting down if the power goes out. Therefore, for decades they have mitigated this with on-site backup generation capability. However, continuously improving technologies and unit cost … [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...]
Distribution management systems (DMSs) are increasingly used by distribution systems operators (DSOs) to manage the distribution grid and to monitor the status of both power imported from the transmission grid and power generated locally by a distributed energy resource (DER), to ensure that power flows and voltages along the feeders are maintained … [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.
This paper, based on interviews with prominent developers, financiers and research reports, examines the evolution of microgrid financing and the obstacles to gaining financing.
It also provides concrete advice for developers about how to get microgrid projects financed. Download now to learn more.
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