Join Siemens, Santa Fe Community College and Microgrid Knowledge at 2 pm ET, October 28 for a discussion about dual nested microgrids with a look at real-world examples.
Microgrid controllers, the brains of the microgrid, have grown in sophistication in recent years. The industry often describes use of this advanced intelligence in terms of a microgrid’s forecasting abilities, load management strategies, or the selling of services to the central grid.
But now we’re beginning to see the microgrid intelligence used in another way — the connection of microgrids with one another to achieve greater efficiencies, the nesting of microgrids.
“The point is that the lower cost of microgrid hardware, distributed energy assets and storage are increasing the number of different types of applications. And that’s driving a more flexible approach,” said Bill Kipnis, senior business development manager at Siemens Business Performance and Sustainability Division.
Nested microgrids are able to utilize the most efficient generation assets within the pairings for optimal operation. This enhances grid capability and creates more reliable deficit coverage. Nesting also opens up additional — and potentially more lucrative — options for market participation and more effective smoothing of renewable energy fluctuations, Kipnis said.
The well-known Bronzeville, Chicago microgrid offers an example of a nested microgrid. The Illinois Institute of Technology microgrid is being nested with the planned Bronzeville community microgrid. The nested microgrid is now in the simulation phase.
“A single commercial microgrid controller is capable of multi microgrid management,” Kipnis said. “These microgrids can operate interconnected, nested or autonomously where they are islanded from each other or the main grid.”
Sante Fe Community College, in Sante Fe, New Mexico, offers another example. The nested microgrid will provide the college with resilient power and help it meet sustainability goals, as well as serve as an educational workforce development tool. The college already has an operating solar plus storage nanogrid, used to educate students and provide energy for its hydroponic farming system. The nanogrid is now being nested within the microgrid, which is under construction.
During the one-hour webinar, Henry Mignardot, associate vice president for facilities and operations at the community college, will describe the history of the college’s dual nested microgrid project and its purpose, operations, and future role. He will be joined by Kipnis and Dean Gakos, microgrid engineer at Siemens Distributed Energy Systems, who will offer a deep dive into dual nested microgrids.
The webinar is free. Register here.
