Page 29 - Vol 28 Issue 29 2019

microgrids energy

procure and manage energy in order to and microgrid integrators have more of a foundational microgrid will vary
save on energy costs, improve reliability, experience selling standalone products significantly from one setting to another,
reduce carbon emissions, and achieve and services than complex solutions like it will likely provide a customer with some
other ends. Microgrids are one of the best microgrids, so many are at the beginning measure of resiliency as well as energy cost
ways of taking advantage of this diversity of the learning curve as well. This new set reduction. Microgrid components such as
of choices because they are flexible, in of opportunities requires the expertise microgrid controllers and energy storage
many cases modular, and can address of a new set of energy services providers batteries lend themselves well to this kind
the energy user’s individual energy- that can integrate these solutions so that of phasing since they are designed to be
choice preferences. This availability of they do not become a burden on the end highly interoperable with a wide range of
energy-choice is the fourth reason for the user customer. complementary technologies. By starting
intensifying interest in microgrids. In the ideal case, a customer would small, the concept can prove itself, and
engage an advisor with a proven track subsequent projects can be undertaken
record of operational microgrids that later to build on top of that foundational
can lead them through the entire microgrid. Although initiating the
Finally, microgrids provide process, from the initial scoping stages microgrid design process may seem
customers with protection to commissioning and perhaps even to daunting, this “perfect storm” of factors
against cybersecurity threats operations & maintenance. Working with that is bringing microgrids into the
on the grid. The investment an experienced advisor can take much mainstream cannot be ignored. Rather,
in “smart” technology on the of the guesswork out of the microgrid the opportunity exists today to find ways
grid in the past decade is development process. to include these new technologies in a
important on the one hand, Engaging an experienced advisor can customer’s overall business strategy.
but, that added intelligence also enable the team to design a “holistic
also creates a potential target microgrid,” or a microgrid that is designed
for attack by hackers, foreign with the whole system in mind. Many rush
state-backed bad actors, and to put in solar PV and energy storage as the By approaching the process
others with an interest in first steps in their microgrid given the hype with a holistic design
disrupting the grid. around them without thinking about the mentality and planning for
energy profile of the site overall. A holistic smart phasing, energy users
microgrid, in contrast, would start with can start to take advantage
Investing in islanding technology provides energy efficiency measures that reduce of the diverse benefits that
a measure of energy security against the the fundamental energy demand of the microgrids offer.
growing threats on the broader grid. site so that subsequent energy generation
systems, be they PV, CHP, or anything else,
Breaking Through the Remaining are right-sized to the setting. Without this
Barriers for Microgrids crucial step, microgrid customers may be (Courtesy of
www.renewableenergyworld.com)
Although many of the stars are aligning wasting money on systems that are larger
for microgrids today, a number of than necessary, creating higher capital
persistent challenges holding back and operating costs that could be avoided
the microgrid industry remain. One of with a lower energy load.
the most common ones we see is that One of the other key strategies that can
the prospect of combining a suite of help a customer initiate the process of
technologies into a functional microgrid acquiring a microgrid is by starting with
involves more complexities, which may a “foundational microgrid” and phasing
be new and confusing to many would- subsequent projects over time. A
be customers and even providers. On foundational microgrid is designed to a
the demand side, customers are often scale that addresses a few clearly defined
facing difficulty determining the value pain points or priorities for a customer Will Agate is Vice President of
of resiliency to their organization or but stops short of a complete microgrid Microgrid Services at Ameresco
convincing key decision-makers of its deployment. Although the format
importance. On the supply side, vendors

Will Agate

AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 28, Issue 29, 2019 | 29