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Reliable supply even when the unexpected happens?

Network downtimes, natural disasters and external attacks are just

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transition to islanded mode, continually supplying stable, high-quality

power with 100 percent peak renewable penetration. ABB is the pioneer

and world-leader in microgrid solutions.

http://new.abb.com/power-generation/microgrids-solutions

Naturally.

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

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1Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

The Name GameBy Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

which really hyped up the discussions.

All in all, the query convinced me, as

much as the term autonomous network might

sound impressive, the industry has accepted

microgrid as the name of choice. The term

microgrid gets right to the point. It is a small

grid, micro in nature compared to the larger

centralized grid. It mimics the utility grid,

so it is a grid. Combining the two says it all:

microgrid.

The Past Is Critical During the terminology conversations, many friends kept

telling me how this new technology was the key to the future

of the grid. The idea this technology is new hit a humorous

note for me and gave me another idea. I love history and, many

of us tend to forget, as an industry, we are standing on the

shoulders of giants. So I started asking friends, When and

where was the frst microgrid?

This brought about all manner of interesting answers, but

none were correct until I ran into my longtime friend Reigh

Walling. He answered the question without a bit of hesitation,

saying it was in 1882 when Thomas Edison opened his Pearl

Street station. I expected him to know because he had spent

his career as a GE engineer before starting his own company.

Remarkably, back in the day, Edisons Pearl Street station

met all of todays criteria for a microgrid. It was small with a

localized generation and distribution network. It even included

batteries for energy storage. It was direct current, and direct

current microgrids are a hot topic today. It supplied heat from

steam generation to buildings around its facilities; we call this

combined heat and power. Edisons design served as a model

for the early power utilities that sprang up to provide electric-

ity to consumers.

The idea of microgrids dating back to the beginnings of the

industry got attention, but admittedly, calling those systems

microgrids is a bit of a stretch. Edison and his cronies never

had to deal with the likes of Superstorm Sandy and the impact

weather has on society when the lights are off for millions of

people for weeks, but their straightforward approach to electri-

fcation planted the seeds of the solution for us.

The size and complexity of the mega grid are the critical is-

sues. The simplicity of the microgrids modular construction is

the solution. It provides utilities a way to enhance the security,

improve the reliability, reduce the outages and increase the en-

vironmental friendliness of the grid without a total redesign.

While the new microgrid technology really has been de-

cades in the making, it defnitely has made the move from

niche to mainstream. As a result, the resiliency of the central-

ized grid is being improved, but we must take advantage of it.

Have you ever thought about all the

nicknames, catchphrases and, in

some cases, bizarre naming we

lovingly apply to equipment, processes and

technologies used in our industry? We love to

use expressions rather than more technically

accurate names. Heck, they are easier to re-

member and, in many cases, better describe

how a device is applied than a more formal

term ever would.

Take one of the latest technologies to be

sweeping the industry: the microgrid. When

starting work on this supplement, I contacted a lot of industry

experts and many friends to get a fresh perspective on this

technology.

One colleague indicated he does not like the term

microgrid because it is inaccurate. He said the term autono-

mous network, as used in Europe, is more correct. Autono-

mous network suggests a network operating independently

from other networks; therefore, it is his wish that everyone

stop using the nonsensical microgrid term. I tend to think of

autonomous networks more in relation to computer systems

than power grids. For the IT department, it is a system that

controls a group of networks, which is not a microgrid.

Well, as luck would have it, the IEEE Power and Energy

Society (PES) General Meeting was about to take place in

Denver, Colorado, U.S., and I was scheduled to present a pa-

per. The conference also gave me an opportunity to attend sev-

eral sessions on microgrid technology.

Opportunity at Hand Not only would I get to hear about the state of this tech-

nology and its deployment on the grid at the conference, I

would also get a chance to poll friends, colleagues and subject-

matter experts on nomenclature (that is, autonomous network).

After all, I have had some of my most proftable learning ex-

periences sitting around a PES breakfast table or during coffee

breaks, and this topic promised to be fun.

As a past chair of the PES T&D committee, I have a wide

base of friends and colleagues who love spirited discussions

as much as I do, and they had some strong opinions on zany

names. Interestingly, the autonomous network term usually

brought a lot of blank looks from around the table. Generally,

someone would ask, Do you mean microgrids? Then the dis-

cussions would get interesting.

Many of these individuals were working on applications

still in development while others were installing them on the

grid, but pretty much everyone favored the microgrid term.

Of course, a few people present had to add terms such as

mega grid, mille grid, nano grid and centralized grid,

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2 November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

The key to the future of the grid is understanding microgrid technologies.

By Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

The more complicated the system, the easier it is to break. If that is not a correlation to Murphys Law, it should be, and the T&D industry could be the poster child for it. The electric grid has been supersized to the point it is groaning under its girth. Increased demand for more and better quality power has pushed the grid to its limits in both size and complexity.

What started out simply as regional islands of intercon-nected power networks has morphed over time into what the U.S. National Academy of Engineering described as the most complex machine ever developed by humankind. This mega grid is a marvel of interconnectivity that sup-plies a mind-boggling amount of electricity, but the mag-QLFHQWPDFKLQHLVQRWZKDWLWXVHGWREH:LWKLWVDUFKLWHFture of large centralized generation plants and reliance on a spiderweb of T&D lines to supply consumers, the mega JULGOHQGVLWVHOIWRRXWDJHGLIFXOWLHV

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a modernized master smart grid would go a long way to solving todays mega-grid-related problems. However, the obstacles of implementing this master technology solution are plenty, ranging from regulatory approval to an enor-mous estimated price tag. It is doubtful a super smart grid will be deployed quickly. A more reasonable strategy has risen on the global radar in the last few years: microgrids.

What Is a Microgrid? ,WVKRXOGEHDQHDV\WDVNWRGHQHDPLFURJULGEXWLWLV

QRW7KHGHQLWLRQKDVEHFRPHDELWKD]\LQPDQ\SHRSOHVminds because some promoters of microgrids have been XVLQJDSSOLFDWLRQVWRGHQHWKHWHFKQRORJ\UDWKHUWKDQWKHother way around. Fortunately, the International Council RQ/DUJH(OHFWULF6\VWHPV&,*5(KDVGHYHORSHGDGHnition gaining traction within the industry.

According to CIGRE, Microgrids are electricity dis-tribution systems containing loads and distributed energy resources (such as distributed generators, storage devices or controllable loads) that can be operated in a controlled, coordinated way either while connected to the main power network or while islanded. 8VLQJ WKH &,*5( GHQLWLRQ WKH0LFURJULG ,QVWLWXWH

VXJJHVWV DSSOLFDWLRQV FDQ EH FODVVLHG LQWR RQH RI IRXUmain categories:2IIJULG$PLFURJULGWKDWLVQRWFRQQHFWHGWRDOR

cal utility network, such as an island.&DPSXV$PLFURJULG WKDW LV IXOO\ LQWHUFRQQHFWHG

with the local grid but can maintain some level of service in isolation from the grid, such as a university or corporate campus &RPPXQLW\ $PLFURJULG WKDW LV LQWHJUDWHG LQWR

the utility network, serving multiple customers within the community. It is a cluster serving a group of customers.

MICROGRIDS Are Everywhere

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La Gomera is one of the smallest of the Canary Islands with an electrical grid that is stability-challenged because of its wind and solar generation. A 500-kW fywheel-based grid-stability system was installed to improve that grid. Courtesy of ABB.

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Nano grid The smallest microgrid network with the ca-

pability of operating independently, such as a single building.

Combining the CIGRE defnition with the Microgrid In-

stitutes categorization provides the order needed to keep ev-

eryone on the same page. These microgrid systems have ca-

pacities and capabilities defned by customer requirements.

Looking under the technologys hood, one can see a microgrid

consists of components such as a controller (centralized or de-

centralized, depending on the design), some distributed gener-

ation sources, a fast separation device (breakers), a high-speed

communications system and some local loads.

The controller performs dynamic control over the system.

It is responsible for regulating power production and con-

sumption within the microgrids boundaries (that is, the ener-

gy management system). It also performs actions such as grid

synchronization, system protection, cybersecurity, load shed-

ding and ancillary services to the grid. The controller closely

monitors the interconnection with the central grid and, when

called to, can seamlessly transition from parallel operation

with the central grid to island mode.

The distributed generation portion of the microgrid system

supplies electrical power to the protected loads. These sources

can range from fossil-fuel-operated resources such as diesel

and natural gas generators to renewable-driven microturbines,

fuel cells, solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines. With

the appropriate systems in place, microgrids also are expected

to participate in energy markets one day.

Why the Interest in Micogrids? The size of the load varies depending on the microgrid cus-

tomer, but numbers today are defnitely pushing the market

out of its pilot project demonstration phase. Frost & Sullivan

released a report earlier in 2015 predicting the rapid growth in

microgrids over the next fve years will redefne this segment

of the marketplace. It also noted the landscape will be very

dynamic with utilities, municipal governments, public power,

energy management companies, independent power produc-

ers, municipal utilities and independent transmission utilities

being among the major players deploying microgrids.

Part of the driving force behind this interest is the negative

impact of extended power outages on the economy. Other driv-

ers include fuel-cost savings, carbon footprint reduction and

fuel independence. In some countries, even social drivers are

playing a role, such as increasing the rate of electrifcation by

deploying microgrids in rural areas. However, power outages

remain the chief motivating infuence.

The World Bank confrmed this when it published a survey

on the global infuences electricity outages are having on the

world economy. In the category of all countries, it reported the

number of electrical outages in a typical month is 6.4 with a

duration of typically 2.7 hours. It estimates the average mon-

etary loss as a result of these outages is approximately 4.7% of

a countrys annual sales.

To put those fgures in perspective, a recent GE report es-

timates power interruptions cost businesses in the European

Union about 150 billion euros annually. The DOE estimates

the cost of power-related outages to the U.S. economy is

approximately $150 billion in damages annually.

Eaton publishes a Blackout Tracker Report each year. In a

recent report on 2014 activities, Eaton noted the U.S. experi-

A microgrid has a group of distributed generation with control devices, a method to disconnect from the utility grid and a localized load. Courtesy of Siemens.

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enced 3,634 outages affecting 14.2

million people, an increase of 12%

over 2013.

Amazingly, the DOE reported

90% of all electrical outages take

place on the distribution system in

the U.S. This means of the 3,634

outages in 2014, about 3,270 of

them were experienced on the

distribution system. With these

numbers, it becomes clearer why

microgrids are attracting so much

attention in North America and

elsewhere.

Several years ago, the Electric

Power Research Institute (EPRI)

identifed the sectors particularly

sensitive to power outages. EPRI

found the digital economy, contin-

uous process manufacturing sector and essential services were

vulnerable to power-supply interruptions. These are segments

where microgrids can provide relief by eliminating outages

and their economic impact completely.

Extreme Weather Brings It Into Focus Although there are many causes for power-supply interrup-

tions, the DOE estimates severe weather is the single leading

cause of power outages in the U.S. The agency says severe

weather and, correspondingly, power outages are increasing.

Superstorm Sandy focused everyones attention on mi-

crogrids when it turned out the lights on approximately 8.5

million people in the northeastern U.S. Microgrids provided

isolated islands of electricity and heat when the utility grid was

devastated, which did not go unnoticed. Stories about hard-

ships the population endured were punctuated by reports

of plentiful power where microgrids existed.

In the months following Superstorm Sandy, a joint

report was published by the DOE, the Department of

Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental

Protection Agency. The report provided examples of how

microgrid technology enabled some critical infrastructure

to continue operation when the electric grid went down.

The report described a large housing complex in the

Baychester section of the Bronx, New York, that had

power and heat from a 40-MW system until the grid was

restored. Similarly, Princetons 11-MW microgrid pro-

vided power to portions of its campus in Princeton, New

Jersey, during the crisis. The U.S. Food and Drug Admin-

istrations White Oak research facility had power from

its on-site generation for two and a half days, and other

microgrids fourished, as well.

Many of these microgrid systems were powered by a

distributed generation technology referred to as combined

heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration. The

joint report pointed out that CHP allows these segments

Middle East and Africa 1%

Latin America 3% Antarctica 0%

Asia-Pacic47%

Europe 5%

North America44%

Worldwide, the market for microgrids is growing substantially. Courtesy of Navigant.

to function with greater resiliency during and after a storm.

The agencies said CHP has proved its value as an alternative

power source repeatedly for many years.

Frost & Sullivan reported the CHP marketplace for 2012

was evenly distributed among North America, Europe and

Asia-Pacifc sectors, but marketing research shows North

America is the current leader for overall microgrid installations.

A Navigant Research report stated worldwide microgrid

capacity had increased to more than 12,030 MW by the end of

second quarter 2015. The report said roughly 66% of this ca-

pacity is installed in North America alone. Future predictions

by GTM Research projected an increase of about 1,843 MW of

microgrid capacity in North America by 2017.

Another Navigant report focused on the sales of microgrid

systems worldwide. The Navigant report predicted sales of

Reven

ue (m

illions of dollars)

20,000

18,000

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Year

Rest of world

Asia-Pacic

Europe

North America

Annual microgrid revenues for world markets 2011-2017. Courtesy of Pike Research.

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microgrid technology will grow globally from the $4.3 bil-

lion spent in 2013 to nearly $20 billion by 2020. The report

also stated, Under a more aggressive scenario, revenue could

reach $36.2 billion annually.

In a press release from Navigant, Peter Asmus, a princi-

pal research analyst, said, Microgrids are inching their way

into the mainstream ... The number of companies active in the

space, and the range of applications of microgrids, are growing

exponentially.

Helping the Environment Not only do microgrids provide security, resiliency and

reliability by adding a renewable energy component, they

do so in an environmentally friendly manner. Thanks to the

dropping prices of PV, panels and inverters have made rooftop

solar installations grow exponentially in solar-rich environ-

ments. Aggregating these small local PV resources enables

microgrid-controlled large blocks of renewable generation to

be connected to the central grid, thus becoming a demand-

response resource.

RnR Market Research released The Global Microgrid

Market for 2015-2020 report with forecasts of the microgrid

marketplace. The report estimates the microgrid industry

will grow at 18.72% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

in terms of revenue and 17.29% CAGR in terms of microgrid

installed capacity over the period of 2014-2019.

The report also identifed the major manufacturers operat-

ing in the microgrid enabling technology marketplace: ABB,

GE Digital Energy, Siemens, S&C Electric, Lockheed Martin,

Bosch, Schneider Electric, Chevron Energy, Echelon, General

Microgrids, Microgrid Solar, Pareto Energy, Power Analytics,

Spirae and Viridity Energy. With players such as these manu-

facturers, it really shows how the technology is no longer a

niche area for shade-tree enterprises of yore.

The Role of Energy StorageBy adding energy storage to the mix, microgrids are im-

proved further. Storage stabilizes the microgrid by providing a

very fast response to power-delivery needs. It also enables the

microgrids energy management system to drive optimization

by allowing load management assets to vary based on factors

such as demand and cost.

A storage component also frms the power output, making

it dispatchable. Time shifting the load profles is possible, too,

which aids in demand management when a microgrid has an

energy storage component.

RnR Market Research also recognized microgrids with

storage capability as a potentially important player in this

marketplace. Its companion report on The Global Energy

Storage for Microgrids Market 2014-2018 forecasts the

microgrid storage market will grow at a CAGR of 19% from

2013 through 2018. The report identifes the storage technolo-

gies as advanced lead-acid batteries, advanced Lithium-ion

batteries, fow batteries, sodium-metal-halide batteries and

fywheels.

As in the frst RnR Market Research microgrid report

mentioned, the research frm identifed the following com-

panies as important manufacturers in this technology in its

companion report, as well: ABB, EnStorage, NEC, S&C

Electric, GE Digital Energy, Toshiba, Ampard, Greensmith

Energy, Aquion Energy, Green Energy Corp., Raytheon Co.

and Sunverge Energy.

Turning the Corner The future grid is going to include microgrids installed on

the utilitys grid, supporting industrial loads and providing

power to residential customers. Microgrids and their com-

ponent costs are dropping. Efforts are being made to stan-

dardize microgrids, thereby easing their integration into the

Remote islands like the island of Faial in the Atlantic Ocean are microgrids in themselves. They are adding more wind generation to their power mix, and that is causing problems with the power supply. Courtesy of ABB.

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power-delivery system. Regulatory groups, utilities and the

public have seen the benefts of a strong resilient grid rein-

forced by microgrid technology. As a result, the industrys

emphasis on microgrids is shifting from demonstration proj-

ects to deployment.

Microgrids also are being seen as environmentally friend-

ly, as renewable resources such as PV and wind are added to

their generation capabilities. By adding a CHP component, the

effciency of a microgrid increases to roughly 80%.

Energy storage is improving the demand-response capa-

bilities of a microgrid, thereby helping to reduce system loads

during critical peak conditions. It also improves renewable

dispatchability. With all these benefts, it is easy to see why

the worldwide microgrid market is developing so rapidly. Su-

perstorm Sandy and other extreme weather events have been

hard to endure, but they had a silver lining by putting pres-

sure on the industry to accelerate the use of technologies like

microgrids and all their components.

Microgrid technology can be used for energy management when connected to the utility grid and provide power when islanded. Courtesy of Siemens.

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World8

Marble Bar, located in Australias outback, has tremendous solar resources that require the stability a microgrid can offer. Courtesy of ABB.

One Size Does Not Fit AllMicrogrids come in all sizes and shapes; therefore,

ftting individual solutions to each application

can be challenging.


Whenever there has been a problem with

power delivery, the response has been to

make the system bigger, to supersize it.

It almost has been a mantra of bigger is

better. These sacred words were chanted

in every part of the grid: There is no substitute for wire in the

air. As a result, the electric grid has become a gigantic maze

of hubs, interconnection points and nodes connecting more

remote centralized power plants to the customer, but this only

has added to the issues.

Despite the continuation of these old-school practices, the

electrical network has not improved. If anything, it has be-

come more fragile and easier to shut down, which has led to a

debate on decentralization of the network. The idea is to place

generation closer to the load centers and enable the load cen-

ters to be sectionalized in times of crisis while still providing

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electrical power to the customer.

This sounds pretty complicated, but it is

actually a dialogue about grid reliability and

grid resiliency. The driving force behind this

discussion is the issue of how to deal with

prolonged power outages brought about by

extreme weather conditions and issues such

as grid security. At frst glance, reliability

and resiliency may seem like the same thing.

However, the distinction between these

terms has generated a great deal of attention

in the industry, with microgrid technology

becoming the focus of the reliability-resil-

iency discussion.

Reliability and Resiliency Reliability, as related to the power supply, is an electricity

supply that is always available without limitations. Resiliency,

as related to the power supply, is an electricity supply that can

recover from adverse events quickly with minimal impact to

the customer.

Interestingly, the consumer has been demanding appropri-

ate enhancements be added to the network, but defning these

enhancements has been challenging. How has the industry

reacted to the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY)-centered pro-

testers gone global, which is known as build absolutely noth-

ing anywhere near anybody (BANANA)? Well, noninvasive

technology would be a good place to start, which is one reason

microgrid technology has been gaining such attention.

A microgrid is unobtrusive and can be concealed in exist-

ing facilities. It is adaptable and can be modularized and sized

to meet the needs of the application.

Dynamic Technology The versatile microgrid really came to center stage after

Superstorm Sandy. The technology seems to have become

the focus of the reliability-resiliency discussion. Helping

that dialogue is a recent report from the U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE), which listed severe weather as the No. 1 cause

of power outages.

The DOE predicts, The number of outages caused by se-

vere weather is expected to rise as climate change increases

the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. In

effect, this implies the problem is not going away and the solu-

tion must deal with it.

Microgrids have the capability of dynamic energy manage-

ment along with the ability to protect critical loads, that is,

resiliency. The rapid spread of distributed generation, such as

rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations, also has played a criti-

cal role in this decentralization undertaking. Many research

groups say microgrids combined with distributed generation

Ross Island is located in Antarctica, where electric power is not taken for granted. The microgrid used here must be dependable. Courtesy of ABB.

The Capstone fuel cell is an integral part of the Oncor microgrid. Photo by Rick Bush.The Oncor microgrid uses Tesla batteries. Photo by Rick Bush.

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are fundamentally changing the way electricity distribution is

taking place.

The old game-changer expression is constantly being used

to describe the combination of microgrids with renewable gen-

eration and energy storage. This emphasis is shifting the grid

concept from a centralized grid toward the development of a

utility grid combined with localized grids microgrids

that are self-sustaining miniature versions of the utility grid.

This has resulted in a slew of new microgrid applications

for consumers ranging from individual facilities to large in-

stallations. Microgrid technology allows these facilities to be

separate from the main grid and operate independently (that

is, resilient). It also increases energy effciency, ensures power

stability and improves power quality (that is, reliable) when

attached to the macrogrid.

These microgrids with the ability to interface with the larg-

er grid have captured the attention of consumers, utilities and

regulators alike. The fact a microgrid can operate in parallel to

the utility grid, or can island itself when necessary, checks the

boxes for both reliability and resiliency in the overall plan for

making the grid more robust.

Transformation

Often after a catastrophic event such as Superstorm Sandy,

there is a great deal of talk and no action. As time passes, so

does the attention span, but this has not been the case with

microgrid technology. A great deal of activity has taken place

in the U.S. with programs and projects developed to harden

the grid.

In Connecticut, the governor announced a statewide mi-

crogrid program to power public services and some businesses

in the event of widespread outages on the power grid.

New York also announced big plans for microgrids in the

state and has since become the leader of Northeastern states in

incorporating microgrids into the utility grid. It currently has

75 installations, both planned and operational, totaling about

200 MW of capacity at last count and more coming.

New Jersey also was hard hit by Sandy. It announced a

$200 million energy resiliency program with microgrids and

distributed generation for the state.

The federal government has been busy, too. The DOE an-

nounced a wide range of microgrid activities with both re-

gional and state partnerships to improve the resiliency of cities

and towns during extreme weather events and other potential

electricity disruptions.

Building in grid resiliency has gained greater urgency in

recent years, as demonstrated by the economic and personal

losses from electricity outages due to severe weather, said En-

ergy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Keeping the power on during

extreme weather events and other electric grid disruptions is

essential, particularly so that critical facilities such as hospitals

and water treatment plants can continue operating.

Various Sizes

One of the most successful microgrid adaptations to date

has been the combined heat and power (CHP) technology. It

is one of those new-yet-old categories of technology. Edison

used this feature at his Pearl Street station. He provided heat

from the steam generators to the buildings around the facility.

Today, DOE estimates the U.S. currently has about 4,100

CHP facilities in service. These facilities have a combined

generation capacity of roughly 8 GW. The DOE also pointed

out there are approximately 200 multifamily housing commu-

nities in the CHP database, so this technology is versatile.

A microgrid is a stand-alone power system complete with generation, distribution and loads. The technology integrates all the components into a reliable system. Courtesy of ABB.

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The addition of PV, distributed wind, fuel cells and natu-

ral gas generation has redefned what size microgrid is cost-

effective. Because of such a wide selection of generation, mi-

crogrids can be supplied in a wide variety of sizes, ranging

from a few hundred kilowatts to multi-megawatt applications.

Generally, residential-sized microgrids serving one fam-

ily or perhaps a neighborhood is usually less than 50 kW

but could go up to 1 MW or 2 MW. Small industrial mi-

crogrids are commonly rated more than 200 kW, but less than

5 MW. Utilities have been working on feeder microgrids rang-

ing from 5 MW to 20 MW. The substation microgrid is typi-

cally larger than 20 MW. Rural microgrids come in various

sizes defned by what the end user needs.

Marble Bar, Australia, is a good example of a small mi-

crogrid helping a remote community to take advantage of a

rich renewable source. Marble Bar has a 300-kW PV-powered

plant that was added to existing diesel generators to form a

microgrid. The intermittent energy provided by 2,000 single-

axis solar modules is stabilized by ABBs PowerStore kinetic

fywheel grid-stabilizing technology, while the microgrid sys-

tem is controlled by ABBs Microgrid Plus networked control

system. Together, these technologies enable peak penetration

of renewable-generated energy of 85%. On average, 60% of

the energy demand of Marble Bar is being supplied by solar

energy, which displaces about 400,000 liters of fuel a year,

equivalent to 1,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Mix and Match PowerStream, a community-owned energy frm, has

launched a hybrid microgrid demonstration project at its head-

quarters in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, with GE. The project

will include a 1.8-kW wind turbine, 17 kW of PV solar panels

and a 35-kW natural-gas-fueled generator with storage. The

storage includes a 23-kW lead-acid battery, a 12-kW lithium-

ion battery and a 6-kW sodium-chloride battery.

GE is providing its Grid IQ Microgrid Control System as

well as all necessary engineering design services. GE also will

include its Durathon battery technology for the microgrid.

The microgrid control system will monitor, track and fore-

cast loads, generation and storage devices. This system will

provide PowerStreams headquarters with lighting, air condi-

tioning and electric vehicle charging while allowing Power-

Stream to gain valuable microgrid operating experience in a

controlled setting.

A really challenging microgrid confguration came out of

Antarctica at the Ross Island research station a few years ago.

This is a very remote location and it is an extremely environ-

mentally sensitive area. The New Zealand Antarctic Institute

and Meridian Energy Ltd. wanted to reduce the reliance of the

Scott Base and McMurdo station on diesel-generated electric-

ity, so it planned to install three 330-kW wind generators.

The wind generators would feed both research facilities.

Backup diesel generation would still be needed, but it was es-

timated the wind turbines would reduce the carbon-dioxide

emissions by about 1,242 metric tons per year.

ABB was selected to provide a microgrid solution for this

project. One of the criteria for the microgrid was the ability

of the wind farm to provide electricity to both research facili-

ties. The diesel generation also had to be able to back up each

facility, but there was a catch the power systems of the

two research stations operated at different frequencies. The

New Zealand system operated at 50 Hz (cycles per second)

and the U.S. system operated at 60 Hz. Another critical chal-

lenge was to eliminate the intermittency and variability of the

wind generation.

The frst challenge was answered with a frequency convert-

er. ABB built this device into the microgrid system, allowing

the two asynchronous (50-Hz and 60-Hz) power systems to

Microgrid Projects

Navigant identifed more than 12,000 MW of microgrid capacity throughout the world, up from 4,393 MW last year. Here are a few of the microgrid projects that are under construction, in service or planned in the coming years.

Project Name Type of Project Country Description Completion Date

Parker Ranch Hawaii Geothermal, solar and wind United States Integration of renewables to the grid Planning

Nanyang Technology University Solar, wind, tidal and diesel with storage

Singapore Design, develop and deploy microgrid system

Under construction

Kodiak Island Wind and diesel generation United States Stabilize island grid and increase renewables

2015

SP AusNet GESS Grid energy storage system Australia Storage batteries and diesel generation microgrid system

2014

University of Genoa Renewable generation and conventional generation with energy storage

Italy Develop a microgrid that can be adapted to cities.

2015

Lanzarote Ancillary power systems services Spain 1.6-MW PowerStore unit 2014

PowerStream Building microgrid Canada 5-kW PV, natural gas generatorand battery storage

2014

Blue Lake Rancheria Community microgrid United States 0.5-MW PV, fuel cell, battery storage system

Under construction

Faial Island Hybrid power system wind and HFO generators

Azores Renewable energy integration 2013

Doomadgee 1.26-MW PV and diesel generation microgrid system

Australia Renewable energy integration Planning

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be coupled together. This enabled the systems to operate in

tandem, passing power in either direction.

The second challenge intermittency and variability

brought about by the wind generation was addressed by

ABBs PowerStore grid-stabilizing fywheel system. This

device is a fywheel rated at 500 kW that man-

ages power fuctuations by power injection or by

absorption.

The entire system is controlled by ABBs Mi-

crogrid Plus, which monitors the wind turbines,

diesel generators, loads and fywheel energy stor-

age device. The controller matches the loads with

the most economical confgurations of generator

sets. It also smooths out surges and optimizes fow

control within the isolated networks.

They Think Big in Texas Utilities are getting involved with microgrids,

too. It is no longer a customer-side-of-the-meter

phenomena, but no utility has taken the plunge

quite like Oncor, based in Dallas, Texas. Oncor has

seen how the emerging energy storage and control

systems can better enable microgrids, so it was only

natural for the utility to construct its own microgrid

application to get some operational experience.

What makes the Oncor microgrid unique is its

topology. In April 2015, Oncor announced it had installed a

new concept in microgrids on its system. It is a clustered mi-

crogrid, actually with four separate microgrids integrated to

work together. The four individual microgrids can perform as

one operating microgrid or individual microgrids operating in

AusNet Australia has installed a hybrid grid energy storage system (GESS) 1-MWh battery with a 1-MW diesel generator that is controlled by ABBs Microgrid Plus control system. Courtesy of ABB.

Even parking can be used for microgrid generation, as shown here for the Oncor microgrid. Photo by Rick Bush.

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parallel, in tandem, or with the Oncor grid. The choice is de-

pendent on the system conditions.

Oncor selected S&C Electric Co. and Schneider Electric to

design and build its microgrid. Other partners included ABB,

Kyocera, Princeton Power Systems, SMA Solar Technology

and Tesla.

The interconnected microgrids have nine different distrib-

uted generation resources including 104-kW PV arrays,

a 65-kW gas microturbine, one 200-kW stationary battery, a

25-kW community battery, a 200-kW diesel generator, two

175-kW diesel generators and a 45-kW propane generator

for a total peak capacity of 989 kW upon loss of grid power

in emergencies, plus the Oncor grid for power selection in

non-emergency operations. The microgrid is a combina-

tion of S&Cs advanced distribution automation equipment

and Schneider Electrics Microgrid Controller along with its

StruxureWare Demand-Side Operation technology.

The system uses high-speed communications and distrib-

uted grid intelligence to determine the most effcient use of

power resources and to guarantee power to critical site opera-

tions in the event of an extended grid outage. The energy stor-

age portion of the system can take power from the Oncor grid

or the facilitys generation resources.

Interestingly, one of the batteries is manufactured by Tesla

Motors and the other by S&C. This style of microgrid is locat-

ed on the customers side of the meter, but Oncor happens to be

the customer. Oncor will explore how similar microgrids and

services could be provided or supported by the utility for other

This advanced lead-acid battery with S&Cs grid storage management system has been applied to a PV farm to reduce the intermittency of the solar power. Photo by Gene Wolf.

critical infrastructures such as hospitals, 911 dispatch centers

and computer centers.

Microgrid Variety Microgrid technology is being adapted in ways never

thought of when developers started deploying pilot projects to

prove the concept. The Ross Island microgrid took grid stabi-

lization to a new level with a fywheel smoothing out the wind-

generated power while using a frequency converter to enable

the microgrid to feed two asynchronous power systems.

One innovative application was the combining of one fuel-

based generator with one renewable energy generator to form

hybrid microgrids. That has been surpassed with microgrid

projects like Oncors mix of multiple-fueled generators and

energy storage with PV.

These project and others being developed are proving the

concept of public-purpose microgrids. These clustered mi-

crogrids can function like building blocks. Under normal con-

ditions, they can operate in parallel to the utility grid. When

an unexpected event takes place such as a feeder problem, they

can be independent of the grid and each other. In the event of

a much larger event such as a storm, they can operate in larger

combinations to meet the needs of the community.

Microgrids are changing the business models for industry

and for utilities. Of course, it could be expensive and, in many

cases, disruptive, but the shift to this old-yet-new technology is

inevitable and a trend the industry cannot afford to sit back and

watch. Besides, the challenge is too much fun to ignore.

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Sustainable MicrogridsMicrogrids are being hybridized with renewable

generation and energy storage.


Globally, one of the fastest-growing power-

delivery technologies is the microgrid, yet

when looking for the word on merriam-

webster.com, the search returns: The word

youve entered isnt in the dictionary. That is

remarkable considering how long this technology has been in

use by utilities, industrial facilities, military bases and resi-

dential customers worldwide. It seems Merriam-Websters

dictionary needs to play catchup in the technology sector.

Along with providing power-outage protection, these de-

vices have been very successful at supplying black-start power

and providing reinforcement of the centralized grid in times

of heavy demand. To be clear, a microgrid is a much smaller

version of the centralized grid. It comes complete with genera-

tion, a control system and load. It is capable of operating in

parallel with the utility grid or completely separate from it.

The technology can be found in large metropolitan areas

as well as in remote corners of the world and everywhere in

between. Microgrids have been part of the utility scene for de-

cades, but extreme weather-related outages such as hurricanes

and ice storms, along with weak grids requiring backups, have

put the technology front and center.

Kodiak Island is isolated from the mainland power grid. Its power system is critical not only to the economy but to life itself. Courtesy of ABB.

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The Early DaysWhen microgrids rst appeared,

cost was the biggest challenge affect-

ing their deployment, but increased

usage has brought down prices and

enhanced features have made them

more cost-effective and justi able.

Another factor encouraging the

installation of more microgrids has

been improved regulatory and utility acceptance,

although there is still a way to go. For example, in the United

States, federal, state and local governmental entities have not

only increased their support of the deployment of microgrids,

but many also are offering incentives with their grid-resiliency

programs to give the technology a boost.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has funded an

$8 million microgrid program. The DOEs National Renew-

able Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be working with compa-

nies to develop more sophisticated controllers for microgrids.

NRELs energy system integration facility will be used to test

these devices with real-time simulations at full power.

One noteworthy project is located on the National Grids

system in Potsdam, New York. The microgrid will use local re-

newable resources as much as possible and have underground

components. The proposal calls for a combination of technolo-

gies including 3 MW of combined heat and power generators,

2 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV), 2 MW of energy storage and

900 kWh or more of hydroelectric generation.

It also will include underground distribution lines from the

microgrid to its protected loads because of the areas propen-

sity to ice storms. Prior to Superstorm Sandy, this area held the

record for the most damaging weather-related outage caused

by the infamous 1998 ice storm.

Clarkson University is designing the underground distri-

bution system, which will be built in parallel to the existing

grid. GE is developing an enhanced microgrid control system

to integrate these different power resources into a system that

can power Potsdams protected loads and enable National Grid

to use these resources for energy management.

The entire microgrid system will be tested at NRELs

facilities prior to deployment. The goal of the Potsdam mi-

crogrid project is to develop a system that can be adapted to

other towns and communities susceptible to extreme weather-

related disasters like Potsdams ice storms.

Solar Microgrids One of the most exciting attributes of todays microgrids is

the role renewables have taken in the technology. Environmen-

tal friendliness is becoming an important feature to stakehold-

ers. Back in the day, anyone installing a microgrid was limited

to generation that burned fossil fuels. Although fossil fuels are

used still, the push is on to limit them. Elements like PV solar,

wind and fuel cells are being integrated into microgrids.

Interestingly, at the very time the cost of microgrids is be-

ing reduced, the prices of PV panels and inverters also have

been dropping steadily. This has made microgrid technology

very desirable in underdeveloped portions of the world where

there is no electricity. A recent paper from the International

Energy Agency pointed out more than 1.3 billion people do

not have access to electricity. International Energy Agency

said getting fossil fuels to those areas can be challenging and

expensive, but they have solar and wind resources that can be

tapped for electricity.

Not only is this concept popular with remote areas need-

ing electricity, it is becoming important to communities in the

developed and developing countries committed to improving

their carbon footprint by reducing their dependency on fossil

fuels. According to GTM Research, installations of microgrid

technology are experiencing record growth worldwide.

In the U.S. microgrid market, GTM predicts the cumulative

capacity of microgrids will reach approximately 2.8 GW by

2020. More importantly, that 2.8 GW represents a $3.5 billion

investment during that period, which will encourage further

development of the technology.

HIS Technology reported approximated 45 GW of PV was

installed globally in 2014 and estimates 2015 installations will

be in the range of 53 GW to 57 GW.

GTM said, 2014 was a transitional year. It predicts the

Asia-Paci c region will install about half of the projected

global installations of PV in 2015. China will install about

14 GW of the regions projected 30 GW of PV. GTM stated,

The Leinster Mine needs both the voltage support of the microgrid and the ability to provide power to its loads. Courtesy of ABB.

Todays microgrid components have a very small footprint and can be installed anywhere in the world. Courtesy of ABB.

been improved regulatory and utility acceptance,

although there is still a way to go. For example, in the United

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Europe will begin an upswing and North America, primar-

ily the United States, will continue its year-over-year growth.

The Solar Energy Industries Association points out low PV

costs are driving the record PV installation. The association

also noted most of the major solar companies now offer some

form of energy storage with their systems.

Microgrids with Storage Figures from GTM show battery storage technology is cur-

rently integrated into 44% of the installed microgrids in the

United States. If renewables are playing such a substantial part

in the generation component, it only makes sense customers

are adding storage to mitigate the intermit-

tency of PV systems.

Storage also improves the capability of

a microgrid. Energy storage gives the mi-

crogrid an enhanced ability to be used in de-

mand management and energy management

systems, but there are more storage options

available than batteries.

Alaska leads the world in microgrid de-

ployments, according to Navigant Research.

One of the more interesting microgrid in-

stallations took place on Kodiak Island off

Alaskas southern coast. Kodiak Electric

Association is a rural electric cooperative

serving a population of 15,000 with no inter-

connection to the mainland. Many years ago,

the cooperative committed to producing 95%

of its electricity using renewable generation

by 2020. Today, the majority of its 28 MW

of power is produced by hydrogenation and

9-MW wind generation with some

diesel backup.

The system also has two 1.5-

MW battery systems, so it is truly

a hybrid system. The city of Ko-

diak decided to upgrade its die-

sel crane to an electrically driven

crane with more capabilities than

the diesel crane. The electric crane

was expected to generate power

fuctuations, which could destabi-

lize an isolated grid like the one on

Kodiak Island. Something had to

be done to the cooperatives grid

to address this issue.

Kodiak Electric Association

selected ABB to provide an en-

hanced microgrid. The system

included two ABB 1-MW Power-

Store grid-stabilization genera-

tors. These devices are based on

a fast-acting spinning fywheel

technology with ABB inverters to

store short-term energy to absorb and inject both real and reac-

tive power onto the microgrid. PowerStore also can be outft-

ted with batteries or whatever the customer specifes, so it is

fexible.

The ABB microgrid provides voltage and frequency sup-

port to the Kodiak Electric Association grid. The fywheel

component also extends the life of the two battery systems

by reducing the wear and tear during charge-discharge cycles

caused by the electric crane. Its energy management capabili-

ties reduce the intermittencies from the islands 9-MW wind

farm, which is why this is such an interesting application of

hybrid microgrid technology.

5,000

4,500

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

-

Cap

acity

(M

W)

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Year

Commercial/industrial

Community/utility

Campus environment

Military stationary base

Remote/off-grid

Microgrid capacity is projected to continue its growth at substantial levels. Courtesy of Pike Research.

Isolated islands such as Kodiak offer unique opportunities to prove thevalue of microgrid technology when integrating renewable energy into theislands power grid. Courtesy of ABB.

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New Elements on the Scene

There are solar microgrids, wind microgrids and storage

microgrids, so it makes sense that we are now seeing com-

bined elements like solar-plus-storage and wind-plus-storage

microgrids coming onto the scene. Taking advantage of ad-

vancements in microgrid controllers, these new elements can

balance the microgrids loads with the renewable energy re-

sources output.

For example, the solar-plus-storage microgrid offers stand-

alone operation and also can provide dynamic energy man-

agement in parallel with the grid. Not only is the customer

side of the meter taking advantage of the solar-plus-storage

microgrid technology, but the utility side of the meter is ben-

efting, too. One of these microgrid projects was installed in

Borrego Springs, California, and recently made history with

an unprecedented accomplishment.

Several years ago, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) re-

ceived an $8 million grant from the DOE to launch the Borrego

Springs microgrid, which is an unbundled utility microgrid,

according to the utility. SDG&E owns the distribution assets,

but some or all of the distributed energy resources are owned

by the customers. This was followed by a $5 million grant

from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to expand

the Borrego Springs microgrid. The project partners included

Lockheed Martin, IBM, Advanced Energy Storage, Horizon

Energy, Oracle, Motorola, Pacifc Northwest National Labora-

tories and the University of California, San Diego.

The DOE and CEC project is a hybrid microgrid with a

total microgrid installed capacity of about 4 MW, made up of

two 1.8-MW diesel generators, a 500-kWh/1,500-kWh battery

at the substation (which will be instrumental in achieving peak

load reduction), three smaller 50-kWh batteries, six 4-kW/

8-kWh home energy storage units, about 700 kW of rooftop

solar PV and 125 residential home area network systems.

The grants provided funding to increase the size of the mi-

crogrid to include all of the Borrego Springs community and

tie NRG Energys nearby 26-MW Borrego solar facility into

the microgrid. The NRG facility provided enough renewable

energy to power the entire community of 2,800 customers.

This expansion makes the Borrego Springs microgrid one of

the largest microgrids in the United States.

In addition to the NRG solar farm, the Borrego Springs

microgrids distributed generation resources include two tra-

ditional 1.8-MW diesel generators and several battery systems

that allow the microgrid to fll in the power fuctuations from

the solar facility.

After completion of the DOE- and CEC-funded microgrid

expansion, SDG&E was able to use the microgrid to eliminate

a power outage needed to repair the radial transmission line

feeding Borrego Springs. It had been damaged by lightning

and the utility estimated the outage time to repair the damage

would be about 10 hours.

Microgrids come in various sizes that can power buildings or much larger areas. Courtesy of ABB.

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The GRID4EU ProjectElectricity has been around for

a long time. In fact, so long that we

constantly hear the electrical grid

is old and out of date. There have

even be comments about how

Thomas Edison would be at home in

any substation or generation plant

used today. If you think about it, that

just isnt true. Sure, the basic compo-

nents are similar to devices used in

those early days, but that appear-

ance is only skin deep.

Todays digital grid is a smart

grid, and its getting more intelligent

all the time. As this technology

unfolds, there is a great deal of talk

about the electrical grid of the fu-

ture. It is an exciting topic and many

have let their imaginations run wild

with science fctional ideas, but

in the European Union (EU), they

are doing more than talking

about it; they have decided to

take an active approach rather

than the reactive posture many

others in the industry accept.

The European Commission

proposed a large-scale demon-

stration of distribution networks

with distributed generation and

active customer participation

several years ago. It took form

in 2011 as the GRID4EU project.

Six major European distribution

system operators (DSOs) pooled

their expertise and answered

the commissions proposal.

These DSOs represent more than

50% of the metered electricity

customers in Europe, and they

have a enormous stake in how

the grid will develop as more

advanced smart grid technology is deployed.

The DSOs represented in the GRID4EU project are the CEZ Distribuce (Czech Republic), ENEL Distribuzione (Italy), ERDF

(France), Iberdrola Distribucion (Spain), RWE (Germany) and Vattenfall Eldistribution (Sweden). The project is designed

to develop and test new innovative technologies. It will also advance standards for these technologies with real-world

experience.

In addition to the six DSOs, there is a unique partnership of 27 energy suppliers, manufacturers, system integrators,

research centers and universities from the EU taking part in the project. This is the largest smart grid project in the EU. The

GRID4EU project has received 25 million euros in EU funding and 29 million euros in industry funding.

The project consists of six different pilot projects taking place in six different countries that seek to complement and

enhance each other. GRID4EU will test the potential of new technologies in areas such as renewable energy integration,

1. Secondary substation node (SSN) or LV and MV control infrastructure

2. Automatic failure detection

3. Automatic frid recovery

4. Customer engagement

1. Islanding

2. Reduction of power demand

3. Manage maximized PV production on LV network regarding constraints and exibility programs

4. Encourage resident to adopt smarter habits according to network state

1. Voltage control on MV grids

2. Anti-islanding protection on MV grids

3. MV measurement acquisition

4. Demand response for MV customers

1. LV grid automation of failure management

2. MV grid automation of failure management

3. Management of islanding operation

1. Failure management in MV networks

2. (dec.) grid opeation in MV networks

1. Outage detection in the LV network

GRID4EUs six major European distribution system operators. Courtesy of GRID4EU.

The GRID4EU consortium. Courtesy of GRID4EU.

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resiliency, electric vehicle develop-

ment, demand side management,

microgrids and energy storage. It will

also work toward improving peak

load management, energy effcien-

cy and load reduction, and keeping

the whole system balanced.

What makes the project unique is

its approach. Overall, it is a large-

scale demonstration project that

has to be scalable and can be repli-

cated over the entire European grid.

What makes GRID4EU standout from

the pack is the innovative methodol-

ogy being used. There are many partners involved with the six pilots and all are working together in an effort to share the

results of each of the pilot projects for their mutual beneft and improvement of their common knowledge.

The utility industry members of the EU have taken seriously the application of this developing smart grid and mi-

crogrid technology. The GRID4EU project will take a great step forward defning that grid of the future. It will require an

integrated system of all these developing and developed technologies. We have the tools in the toolbox, but combining

them into one cohesive future grid is the challenge. GRID4EU has taken that challenge and is raising the bar for the rest

of the industry as it moves toward completion.

Interactions and synergies between demonstrators. Courtesy of GRID4EU.

Early on the morning of May 21, 2015, the microgrid was

seamlessly switched, placing the Borrego Springs community

on the microgrids power. Nine hours later, the maintenance

was completed and the microgrid was switched back to the

SDG&E grid.

The utility believes this is the frst time in the U.S. a solar-

based microgrid with energy storage was used to provide elec-

tricity for an entire town, avoiding a signifcant outage. The

results were so positive, SDG&E plans to incorporate more

advanced computer software and sensors to continue to en-

hance the microgrid.

Isolated Microgrids The ability of the microgrid to island itself from the grid

and supply power to the community is a huge selling point for

the devices. This allows remote populations the ability to be

self-suffcient energy islands, which is not the same thing as

being cut off from the grid.

For example, Native American reservation communi-

ties are not always located close to a utility grid and extend-

ing distribution lines can be super expensive, which is why

microgrids are considered an attractive alternative to line

extensions. GreenBiz reported, According to the Energy

Information Administration, around 14% of households on

Native American reservations lack access to electricity, 10

times higher than the national average.

The CEC has provided a $5 million grant to help fund the

Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid project, located in northern

California. The microgrid will be powered by a 0.5-MW PV

installation, 950-kWh battery storage system, biomass fuel

cell system and diesel generators.

The Blue Lake Rancheria and Humboldt State Universitys

Schatz Energy Research Center have partnered with Pacifc

Gas & Electric Co., Siemens, Idaho National Laboratory and

REC Solar to build this low-carbon microgrid. It will provide

electrical power for the reservation, including tribal govern-

ment offces, economic enterprises and a Red Cross safety

shelter.

Siemens is implementing its Spectrum Power 7 Microgrid

Management System to dynamically manage and control the

distributed generation resources providing power to the mi-

crogrid. The installation of the microgrid will be completed

in 2016 and will enable the Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid

to operate independently from the Pacifc Gas & Electric Co.

grid in the event of an emergency such as an earthquake. The

microgrid project is being used to prove the validity of using

microgrid technology to address limited access to electricity

on tribal lands in more remote locations.

In Africa, the potential of microgrid technology has just

Remote villages are hard to supply with fossil fuels makingmicrogirds with renewable generation very desirable. Courtesy of ABB.

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begun to be realized. Studies report that some areas of Af-

rica have very good conditions for constant wind energy, not

to mention solar resources. That makes microgrid technology

very valuable for renewable energy integration and the most

cost-effective solution to provide electricity to local communi-

ties. One of those areas is Marsabit, an oasis at the edge of the

desert in a windy area of northern Kenya with a population of

5,000 that is not connected to any national grid.

Located on top of a windy hill, a diesel generator has been

the only generation source producing electricity. Socabelec

East Africa Ltd. has decided to add wind turbines to the exist-

ing installation and to stabilize the resulting microgrid through

ABBs PowerStore. The grid-stabilizing generator will inter-

face with both diesel power station and wind turbines and will

allow for maximum penetration of the clean wind energy so to

reducing reliance on fossil fuel and emissions.

Microgrids are not just for remote locations or isolated net-

works. Buildings can require microgrids, too, especially when

they need to provide for their own power needs. This condi-

tion is very common in countries where the main power grid

is under-dimensioned or cannot keep up with the fast pace of

additional power demand.

In such countries, many buildings, facilities and industrial

sites are forced to install their own generation plants to ensure

uninterrupted power supply when main network faults occur.

ABBs offces in Longmeadow, Johannesburg, South Africa,

meet these requirements. This building will have a microgrid

with a PV energy source, an integrated diesel generator and

storage batteries. It is being used to demonstrate microgrid

technology to the rest of the African continent.

Mainstreaming Microgrids There has been a great deal of activity in the microgrid

world in the past fve years. The technology has moved from a

The key to successful microgrid deployment is having the necessary components for the project. Courtesy of ABB.

specialized niche to being a mainstream utility grid asset. The

cost of distributive generation continues to drop. In many parts

of the world, solar generation costs are equal to or below that

of utility-generated electricity, which has been a great incen-

tive for the adoption of microgrid technology to integrate this

generation into the transmission grid.

Microgrids differ from the centralized grid by providing

closer proximity between generation and the load. Their ca-

pabilities have increased in both depth and dimension as the

technology evolves. With the addition of renewable generation

and storage components, microgrids have reached a new level

of complexity.

Customers may have solar, wind, fuel cells, hydro or a com-

bination of these plus other types of generation resources. If

they do, they will want to blend them into a sophisticated mix

of environmentally friendly resources. The customer expects

the manufacturers to develop resource management systems

to control and protect such a mix, which they have.

Storage has played a signifcant part in this process, too.

Like the variety of renewable generation available, energy

storage has many existing technologies to meet the demand.

The principal storage technology used with microgrids has

been the battery, but that has many offshoots such as advanced

lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and lithium. There also are sys-

tems coming available with fywheel storage, hydrogen stor-

age and ultracapacitors, to name a few.

Each renewable and energy storage technology has its own

particular pros and cons, which need to be understood, ad-

dressed and controlled to attain their fullest potential. Todays

microgrid is defnitely not the microgrid of yore. It may bear

the same name, but that is the only commonality. The mega

grid has its shortcomings and problems, but one of the most

promising solutions to these foibles is the microgrid and the

modularity it can provide with all its bits and pieces.

Sustainable energy for remote industrial operations?

Industrial and mining facilities are moving to increasingly remote

locations while pursuing ever more sustainable operations. ABBs

microgrid solutions allow for a stable independent energy supply with

100 percent peak renewable penetration even in small-scale power

networks. ABB is the pioneer and world-leader in microgrid solutions.


Naturally.

Clean and reliable power for isolated communities?

Remote communities often rely solely on fossil fuel for their energy

needs, even if it comes at a high financial and environmental price.

Thanks to ABBs microgrid solutions, stable, high-quality power can

reach the most distant locations with 100 percent peak renewable

penetration. ABB is the pioneer and world-leader in microgrid solutions.


Naturally.

Documents

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