Support has been provided to assist in the scoping, design, assessment, licensing and implementation of microgrids ranging from methane production fields in the Great Plains to hybrid renewable power systems for island communities. Economic and reliability modeling has been developed and applied to guide system design tradeoffs and equipment vendor selections. For wind based renewable microgrids, tradeoffs have been assessed for the mix and type of wind turbines and the mix and type of batteries with the goals of: 1) significantly reducing dependence on diesel-fired generation; 2) substantially relieving attendant environmental problems; and 3) achieving reliable power at an affordable price. Our work has given the client insights to the range of power supply options attainable within their resources. Implementation support has included project cost and schedule control systems development and application, equipment procurement specifications and business plan development. Similarly, a range of technologies, applications, regulatory and tariff frameworks, and business models have been assessed for microgrids that serve a regional base of customers while supporting the existing distribution grid.
As noted, our experience with wind generation and energy storage in small grids was applied to creating a supplement to the EPRI/DOE Handbook of Energy Storage that addresses the potential for energy storage to enhance the integration wind generation with the utility grid.
