In recent years, strong interest has developed in microgrids and minigrids in the U.S. and globally due to increasing natural disasters attributed to climate change, electricity grid reliability problems in some areas, and special needs related to remote facilities. While microgrids in various forms have developed along with the U.S. electric power grid, events such

The main advantages of adding small wind turbines for microgrids are an increase in renewable energy supply, a reduction in the amount of backup power required from a diesel generator and a reduction in the strain imposed on energy storage, thus extending battery life. Although solar power for microgrids is, in itself, efficient and largely

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) use a variety of technologies in a sector that is undergoing rapid development as policymakers in many states increasingly move toward more intermittent renewable electricity generation that creates new demands on the grid. With a growing shift away from usage of fossil fuels for power generation, BESS are increasingly being

At the second open panel of the International Microgrid Event, industry experts discussed the challenges and opportunities surrounding implementing and improving microgrid reliability. The conference hosted Chris Judd (EGM Electricity Markets, Jemena Corporate), Ben Bristow (Head of Grid Transformation (acting), Asset Management, Western Power), and Rob Wilson (Head of Western Australia, Clean Energy Finance Corporation).

Last week, the International Microgrid Event hosted its inaugural session via a virtual summit. The first panel included industry specialists James Colbert (Chairman of the International Microgrid Association), Andrew Trussel (the Acting Executive General Manager of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)), and James Seymour (the CEO of the Centre for New Energy Technologies) as they

Alastair Munro, Founder and CEO of Ryse Energy, discussed the importance of wind in microgrids at the recent Microgrid Global Innovation Forum why adding wind into the mix of technologies is important for the efficient operation of microgrids. The Importance Of Wind In Microgrids Ryse Energy is a company that, according to its founder and

Microgrids are a special sub-set of Distributed Energy Systems (DES), primarily defined by their ability to operate independently of the larger grid in “islanded”, aka “stand-alone” mode. But how do microgrids work? Specifically, microgrids can dynamically island, that is, they are grid-connected systems that have a Point of Common Coupling (PCC) with a larger power

The expanding transition in the U.S. away from large central-station power plants to an energy grid with many resources dispersed across it has led to a preponderance of new terms and technologies. Here we will examine and explain three of the most frequently heard terms: Microgrid vs DER vs Smart Grid. Microgrid vs DER vs

There are five major microgrid market segments, each having particular characteristics depending on their function, location, and who or what operates them. Commercial & Industrial Microgrids Such facilities can range from a single story that can be an office or a warehouse through to large, complex and sophisticated mining or refining operations. These assets can

How can microgrids meet your carbon goals? One of the main ways in which energy users and energy producers are now working together to defeat climate change is through the digitalization of energy networks in order to improve the integration of increasing amounts of renewable energy. This in turn also has the side-effect of generating