California wants more microgrids. What’s standing in the way? The state is launching a research project to figure it out.
As a start, the California Energy Commission is asking stakeholders to take a survey aimed at ferreting out the challenges faced by the microgrid community — particularly issues that involve technology and cost, as well as codes and standards.
The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MicrogridRDD. Responses are due Feb. 2, 2015.
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In addition, the commission plans to hold a workshop to discuss lessons learned and to share information received from stakeholders. The commission has yet to set a date (Check back here for updates.)
DNV GL is facilitating the project for the commission. Stakeholders can communicate with the project team by e-mailing [email protected].
The research project comes as the commission gets ready to issues results toward the end of this month from its $26.5 million microgrid solicitation (PON-14-301).
The state is allotting $20.5 million to low-carbon microgrids at critical facilities (police, fueling stations, supermarkets, etc.) or those that include renewable energy. The request for proposals also made available $6 million for projects that demonstrate smart grid and bi-directional vehicle charging. Bidding closed Nov. 17, 2014.
Gov. Jerry Brown has made clear he wants the state to continue on its path toward more microgrids and energy. In his inaugural speech earlier this month he said he envisions “more distributed power, expanded rooftop solar, microgrids, an energy imbalance market, battery storage, the full integration of information technology and electrical distribution and millions of electric and low-carbon vehicles.”
California already is well ahead of the rest of the nation when it comes to plug-in electric vehicles. Five out of a 1,000 vehicles in California are now PEVs, according to the Energy Information Administration. In fact, about half of the PEVs in the U.S. can be found in California.
Follow @MicrogridNews to track California’s research into microgrids.
