There has been a significant shift in mindset around bridge power in recent years, according to Ryan Spivey, senior sales engineer for mission critical power systems at distributed energy developer PowerSecure.

Spivey recently sat down with Rod Walton, managing editor of EnergyTech, to discuss how onsite energy assets, once viewed as a stopgap measure, are providing greater lifetime value for data centers, manufacturers, mission critical facilities and the broader power grid.

[Insert Video: https://vimeo.com/1199438063]

Bridge power is a flexible, behind‑the‑meter solution that uses a mix of distributed energy resources — such as natural gas, ultra‑clean Tier 4 diesel generators, battery energy storage systems and fuel cells — to provide prime, day‑to‑day power during long utility interconnection delays.

But it can do more than fill a short-term power gap, Spivey said. Customers are starting to realize that those same assets can also provide significant value after the utility interconnection arrives.

“The solutions that PowerSecure and the markets are implementing today are essentially advanced microgrids,” Spivey explained. They bring on-site generation and advanced controls together to get a facility up and running, but once grid power is available, they can shift into providing backup power, redundancy and grid‑supporting capacity.

“As long as we are working with our customers to design a flexible system with the future in mind, these systems can transition into this longer term resiliency asset that supports their operations, improves reliability, and gives the customer ultimately more control over their energy strategy as they move forward,” he said.

Collaborating with the utility, not cutting ties

Spivey stressed that bridge power benefits not only the customer, but also the broader power grid. The microgrid controls enable customer participation in utility demand response programs, and in some cases, the power markets themselves. Both can ease strain on the grid.

“This is not about moving away from the grid and being independent,” Spivey said. “This is about finding better ways for the customer [and] the utilities to work together.”

He also noted that in some markets, large load customers are now required to bring their own capacity when they want to enter an interconnection queue.

“At the end of the day, if you have flexible capacity, it can be a very, very valuable resource in securing quicker power,” he added.

A full lifecycle infrastructure decision

Spivey concluded by providing tips for evaluating bridge power options. He recommended that developers start by setting a realistic commercial operation date, understanding utility interconnection timing (including likely delays), and mapping how the load will grow over time.

He also advised designing systems that can shift from prime bridge power into long-term backup, flexibility, and grid-support roles. “I would encourage developers to really look at bridge power as a full lifecycle infrastructure decision,” he said.

Finally, he stressed the importance of working with a partner that can execute end-to-end.

“When thinking about bridge power designs, I think ultimately the right answer is usually going to be one that's not only going to solve today's challenges and hurdles for these customers, but it's something that creates value years down the road,” Spivey said.

You can watch the full video here.