Entergy Louisiana and Enchanted Rock Deliver Microgrid-Powered Resilience to 2 Baton Rouge Hospitals
Baton Rouge General (BRG) Medical Center is now better able to serve the surrounding community during hurricanes and power outages thanks to two new microgrid systems.
BRG, utility Entergy Louisiana and onsite power generation provider Enchanted Rock activated the microgrids earlier this month.
Located on Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet and Mid City campuses, the 3.6 MW and 5.8 MW gas-fired microgrids can fully power hospital operations during outages, including lifesaving equipment, heating and cooling, lighting and other systems that ensure patient comfort and care.
“For more than two decades, whole-facility generators have been our goal, and for a couple of years now Baton Rouge General, the state of Louisiana and Entergy have worked together to make this a reality,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, president and CEO of BRG. “Bringing these generators online is not just an investment in infrastructure but in peace of mind, ensuring that our team can continue delivering safe, uninterrupted care to our patients no matter the circumstances.”
The grid-connected systems, which are integrated into the natural gas pipeline network, will also supply power to the grid when needed.
Power Through
The microgrids were installed as part of Entergy Louisiana’s Power Through program, a cost-sharing energy resilience service that provides natural gas-based backup generation to essential community facilities, such as hospitals. Entergy Louisiana, a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, provides natural gas service to nearly one million customers in Baton Rouge and electricity to more than a million customers across 58 parishes in the state.
BRG is one of the first organizations to participate in the program.
The utility owns, operates and will maintain the equipment and BRG will pay a fixed monthly fee for the 20-year term of the agreement.
“This project showcases the best of what we aim to do at Entergy: provide solutions that strengthen critical infrastructure and support the well-being of our communities,” said Jody Montelaro, vice president of public affairs at Entergy Louisiana.
The project was also awarded $9 million in State Capital outlay funding, money appropriated by Louisiana for acquiring, constructing, renovating or making permanent improvements to long-term physical assets.
“This project is a great example of what can happen when public funding and private innovation work together,” said Sen. Franklin Foil of Louisiana’s 16th District. “These new generators help ensure Baton Rouge General can provide continuous care for our community no matter what storms come our way.”
Hospitals investing in microgrids
BRG is a community acute care hospital with more than 600 beds across three campuses. It is also a teaching hospital, affiliated with multiple medical school programs.
It is one of many healthcare facilities across the country that have invested in microgrids in recent years. Maryland’s Meritus Health switched on its renewable and combined heat and power (CHP) system in October. In August, Loma Linda University Hospital activated its solar and energy storage microgrid.
Resilience is the common driver behind each of these systems. Because microgrids can seamlessly and automatically switch from the grid to onsite power resources during an outage, they are well-suited to deliver mission-critical power when it’s needed most.
“Reliable power means hospitals can focus on patients, not outages, and we are honored to play a part in keeping care continuous when it matters most,” said Jim Barbour, regional vice president of utilities at Enchanted Rock.
In many cases, hospital microgrids are displacing diesel-powered generators, the traditional source of backup power. When paired with renewables or lower carbon fuels such as natural gas, the microgrids not only provide reliable power, but they also reduce the facility’s carbon emissions.
About the Author
Kathy Hitchens
Special Projects Editor
I work as a writer and special projects editor for Microgrid Knowledge. I have over 30 years of writing experience, working with a variety of companies in the renewable energy, electric vehicle and utility sector, as well as those in the entertainment, education, and financial industries. I have a BFA in Media Arts from the University of Arizona and a MBA from the University of Denver.