Now, it is an asset to be profitably exploited. The absolute beauty of this concept is that the excess heat inexorably generated in the process of providing electricity was previously a problem to be dealt with. On hot days, the excess heat from a system is routed to the absorption refrigerator and used to provide cooling as an air conditioner equivalent. It can be taken a step further in a process called trigeneration, which adds a device called an absorption chiller, AKA an absorption refrigerator. The formal term of such an arrangement is combined heat and power (CHP). It is also wasteful, as this heat can be used to provide hot water and to heat building, and a well-designed microgrid will do just that. Safely venting this heat can be expensive. The generation of electricity often involves the generation of heat. Saving Money: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) It will also strive to minimize use of the diesel to save on fuel costs as much as possible, while making sure basic energy needs are met. It will also point the PV cells at the correct angle to absorb the most sunlight. Part of its job is to be aware of the weather forecast to estimate the amounts of energy that the PV system and the wind turbine can contribute. There is also an energy management system. The new microgrid includes a 22 kW tracking solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a 3 kW wind turbine, and a 170 kWh storage battery system. Too far off the beaten track for any established macrogrid, the town’s only previous source of energy was a 150 kW diesel generator, which only operated 10 hours each day.Ī wind turbine in Huatacondo, Chile. The University of Chile has developed a microgrid for the town of Huatacondo. Many different scenarios were presented, but all emphasized decentralization and the capability to segregate the system into eight minigrids, subdivided into microgrids. An important hallmark is that each microgrid component will be able to function on its own no matter what happens to the utility as a whole.Īdditionally, because Puerto Rico is an island, a ship-based LNG terminal on the island is highly desirable. The minigrids, themselves, will be divided into microgrids, also able to go it alone.Īn integrated resource plan (IRP), submitted by Siemens, places heavy emphasis on solar energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and energy storage capability. The plan involves dividing the island into eight inter-connectable, regional minigrids, each capable of functioning on its own if needed. This left many American citizens in this US commonwealth in situations where they couldn't rely on power, including keeping insulin refrigerated and useable.Īt present, the Puerto Rican utility authority, PREPA, is restructuring the island's power grid-likely by establishing multiple renewable-energy microgrids. Maria left the island residents with no electricity at all for extended periods of time. Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria is a famous example of when a macrogrid has failed. There are many motivations for the establishment of microgrids, and three of the most common are: They maintain a webpage entitled Examples of Microgrids that lists and provides links state-of-the-art examples of projects accomplished or still under construction. Image used courtesy of Berkeley Lab.īerkeley Labs and the US Department of Energy (DOE) actively promote microgrids. On cloudy days when the wind is calm, it can’t generate sufficient power and may have even run out of stored energy, so the macro grid is called on to transfer power to our microgrid.Ī Microgrid that connects to the Macrogrid when conditions mandate. When the sun shines and the wind blows, the microgrid may generate more power than its users need-and even more than it can store-so it transfers power to the macrogrid. The classical case is a microgrid whose main energy source is renewable power. Alternatively, in the grid-connected mode, it can be a source of power to the macrogrid or it can draw power from the macrogrid as conditions demand. This system can operate completely independently from the traditional centralized power grid (macrogrid) in “island” mode. Or, putting it differently, a microgrid is a system of energy sources, energy consumers, and energy storage. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode." "A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. Department of Energy Microgrid Exchange Group characterizes microgrids in this manner: Here's a look at why microgrids may be important to the future of grid power.Īs reported by the Lawrence-Berkeley Lab, the U.S. Learn more about the argument for microgrids.Īn even in well-served areas, microgrids make it easier to incorporate renewable energy and to help their operators to save money.
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