Distributed Generation & Microgrids News

ABB will install an integrated solar-diesel microgrid at its Longmeadow premises in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 96,000 square meter facility houses the company's country headquarters as well as medium voltage switchgear manufacturing and protection panel assembly facilities, with around 1,000 employees. The solution includes a rooftop solar PV field and a PowerStore grid stabilizer, that will help to maximize the use of clean solar energy.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Siemens and Power Analytics will study the technical and economic feasibility of installing community microgrids in 16 cities across New York. These communities were each awarded $100,000 in initial microgrid funding through New York State's NY Prize competition in order to evaluate how microgrids local energy networks that are able to separate from the larger electrical grid can expand customer choice, ensure power reliability, improve resiliency and preserve the environment.

Siemens partnered with Con Edison to install technology that will help keep Con Edison customers in sections of Lower Manhattan in service during severe flooding. Con Edison chose a new automation system to synchronously control underground switches and circuit breakers that will separate two of Con Edison's power distribution networks into four sub-networks. Siemens developed the distribution feeder automation (SDFA) technology specifically for Con Edison's system.

ABB and Samsung SDI signed a memorandum of understanding to promote microgrid solutions globally. The two companies will establish a global commercial alliance to develop and market modular and scalable microgrid solutions, utilizing lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. ABB will provide technologies for electrification, control optimization, stabilization and consulting services. Samsung SDI will provide the batteries and the battery management system.

Toshiba will participate in the Levenmouth Community Energy Project in Fife, Scotland, a 4-year project to investigate the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel. The project will run from 2015 to 2020 in a redevelopment area of the Methil Docks in Methil, Fife. Electricity generated by wind and solar power will be used to power a hydrogen producing water electrolysis system, and the hydrogen will be stored and used as a fuel source for hybrid commercial vehicles (HCV) powered by fuel cells and diesel engines.

PSEG Long Island embarked on a federally funded, three-year reliability and resiliency project to further strengthen the electric grid across Long Island and in the Rockaways. More than $729 million of federal recovery funds were secured for the Long Island Power Authority via an agreement last year between Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the FEMA 406 Mitigation Program.

APR Energy commissioned a 20-MW expansion of its power plant in Myanmar, providing the Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE) with a guaranteed minimum of 102 MW of power generation. Based in Kyaukse, in the Mandalay region, the expanded power plant is one of the largest thermal plants in Myanmar, providing electricity to over six million people. It features the newest generation CAT low-emission mobile gas power modules and runs on natural gas.

GE's Digital Energy business will provide Reykjavik Energy Iceland's largest utility company with its PowerOn Advantage advanced distribution management system (ADMS). The addition of GE's grid software will enable Reykjavik Energy to reduce operational costs while also improving functionality. Reykjavik Energy's electrical distribution network serves more than half of Iceland's population.

The Microgrid Alliance (MGA) and the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) joined forces, with MGA becoming part of ADS. The Microgrid Alliance was established in early 2014 to bring together companies and individuals involved in or interested in the microgrid space so that they could exchange information and expertise, and collaborate on activities.

SunEdison and Omnigrid Micropower (OMC Power) signed a framework agreement to develop 5,000 rural projects, representing 250 MW of electricity, throughout India over the next three to five years. Building upon the 36-kW micro power plants OMC Power has already put in place across India as part of a sustainable and reliable rural electrification plan, this partnership will bring electricity to 10 million additional people.