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November 2015

Reliable supply even when the unexpected happens?

Naturally.

Network downtimes, natural disasters and external attacks are just

some of the reasons why a grid-connected facility may need to become
temporarily independent. ABBs microgrid solutions enable a smooth
transition to islanded mode, continually supplying stable, high-quality
power with 100 percent peak renewable penetration. ABB is the pioneer
and world-leader in microgrid solutions.
http://new.abb.com/power-generation/microgrids-solutions

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

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The Name Game

By Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

ave you ever thought about all the

nicknames, catchphrases and, in
some cases, bizarre naming we
lovingly apply to equipment, processes and
technologies used in our industry? We love to
use expressions rather than more technically
accurate names. Heck, they are easier to remember and, in many cases, better describe
how a device is applied than a more formal
term ever would.
Take one of the latest technologies to be
sweeping the industry: the microgrid. When
starting work on this supplement, I contacted a lot of industry
experts and many friends to get a fresh perspective on this
technology.
One colleague indicated he does not like the term
microgrid because it is inaccurate. He said the term autonomous network, as used in Europe, is more correct. Autonomous network suggests a network operating independently
from other networks; therefore, it is his wish that everyone
stop using the nonsensical microgrid term. I tend to think of
autonomous networks more in relation to computer systems
than power grids. For the IT department, it is a system that
controls a group of networks, which is not a microgrid.
Well, as luck would have it, the IEEE Power and Energy
Society (PES) General Meeting was about to take place in
Denver, Colorado, U.S., and I was scheduled to present a paper. The conference also gave me an opportunity to attend several sessions on microgrid technology.

Opportunity at Hand
Not only would I get to hear about the state of this technology and its deployment on the grid at the conference, I
would also get a chance to poll friends, colleagues and subjectmatter experts on nomenclature (that is, autonomous network).
After all, I have had some of my most proftable learning experiences sitting around a PES breakfast table or during coffee
breaks, and this topic promised to be fun.
As a past chair of the PES T&D committee, I have a wide
base of friends and colleagues who love spirited discussions
as much as I do, and they had some strong opinions on zany
names. Interestingly, the autonomous network term usually
brought a lot of blank looks from around the table. Generally,
someone would ask, Do you mean microgrids? Then the discussions would get interesting.
Many of these individuals were working on applications
still in development while others were installing them on the
grid, but pretty much everyone favored the microgrid term.
Of course, a few people present had to add terms such as
mega grid, mille grid, nano grid and centralized grid,

which really hyped up the discussions.

All in all, the query convinced me, as
much as the term autonomous network might
sound impressive, the industry has accepted
microgrid as the name of choice. The term
microgrid gets right to the point. It is a small
grid, micro in nature compared to the larger
centralized grid. It mimics the utility grid,
so it is a grid. Combining the two says it all:
microgrid.

The Past Is Critical

During the terminology conversations, many friends kept
telling me how this new technology was the key to the future
of the grid. The idea this technology is new hit a humorous
note for me and gave me another idea. I love history and, many
of us tend to forget, as an industry, we are standing on the
shoulders of giants. So I started asking friends, When and
where was the frst microgrid?
This brought about all manner of interesting answers, but
none were correct until I ran into my longtime friend Reigh
Walling. He answered the question without a bit of hesitation,
saying it was in 1882 when Thomas Edison opened his Pearl
Street station. I expected him to know because he had spent
his career as a GE engineer before starting his own company.
Remarkably, back in the day, Edisons Pearl Street station
met all of todays criteria for a microgrid. It was small with a
localized generation and distribution network. It even included
batteries for energy storage. It was direct current, and direct
current microgrids are a hot topic today. It supplied heat from
steam generation to buildings around its facilities; we call this
combined heat and power. Edisons design served as a model
for the early power utilities that sprang up to provide electricity to consumers.
The idea of microgrids dating back to the beginnings of the
industry got attention, but admittedly, calling those systems
microgrids is a bit of a stretch. Edison and his cronies never
had to deal with the likes of Superstorm Sandy and the impact
weather has on society when the lights are off for millions of
people for weeks, but their straightforward approach to electrifcation planted the seeds of the solution for us.
The size and complexity of the mega grid are the critical issues. The simplicity of the microgrids modular construction is
the solution. It provides utilities a way to enhance the security,
improve the reliability, reduce the outages and increase the environmental friendliness of the grid without a total redesign.
While the new microgrid technology really has been decades in the making, it defnitely has made the move from
niche to mainstream. As a result, the resiliency of the centralized grid is being improved, but we must take advantage of it.
Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

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MICROGRIDS
Are Everywhere
The key to the future of the grid
is understanding microgrid technologies.
By Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

he more complicated the system, the easier

it is to break. If that is not a correlation to
Murphys Law, it should be, and the T&D
industry could be the poster child for it.
The electric grid has been supersized to the
point it is groaning under its girth. Increased demand
for more and better quality power has pushed the grid
to its limits in both size and complexity.
What started out simply as regional islands of interconnected power networks has morphed over time into what
the U.S. National Academy of Engineering described as the
most complex machine ever developed by humankind.
This mega grid is a marvel of interconnectivity that supplies a mind-boggling amount of electricity, but the magQLFHQWPDFKLQHLVQRWZKDWLWXVHGWREH:LWKLWVDUFKLWHF
ture of large centralized generation plants and reliance on
a spiderweb of T&D lines to supply consumers, the mega
JULGOHQGVLWVHOIWRRXWDJHGLIFXOWLHV
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
a modernized master smart grid would go a long way to
solving todays mega-grid-related problems. However, the
obstacles of implementing this master technology solution
are plenty, ranging from regulatory approval to an enormous estimated price tag. It is doubtful a super smart grid
will be deployed quickly. A more reasonable strategy has
risen on the global radar in the last few years: microgrids.

November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

What Is a Microgrid?
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QRW7KHGHQLWLRQKDVEHFRPHDELWKD]\LQPDQ\SHRSOHV
minds because some promoters of microgrids have been
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other way around. Fortunately, the International Council
RQ/DUJH(OHFWULF6\VWHPV&,*5(KDVGHYHORSHGDGH
nition gaining traction within the industry.
According to CIGRE, Microgrids are electricity distribution systems containing loads and distributed energy
resources (such as distributed generators, storage devices
or controllable loads) that can be operated in a controlled,
coordinated way either while connected to the main power
network or while islanded.
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VXJJHVWV DSSOLFDWLRQV FDQ EH FODVVLHG LQWR RQH RI IRXU
main categories:
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cal utility network, such as an island.
 &DPSXV  $ PLFURJULG WKDW LV IXOO\ LQWHUFRQQHFWHG
with the local grid but can maintain some level of service
in isolation from the grid, such as a university or corporate
campus
 &RPPXQLW\  $ PLFURJULG WKDW LV LQWHJUDWHG LQWR
the utility network, serving multiple customers within the
community. It is a cluster serving a group of customers.

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La Gomera is one of the smallest of the Canary Islands

with an electrical grid that is stability-challenged
because of its wind and solar generation. A 500-kW
fywheel-based grid-stability system was installed to
improve that grid. Courtesy of ABB.
Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

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A microgrid has a group of distributed generation with control devices, a method to disconnect from the utility grid and a
localized load. Courtesy of Siemens.

Nano grid The smallest microgrid network with the capability of operating independently, such as a single building.
Combining the CIGRE defnition with the Microgrid Institutes categorization provides the order needed to keep everyone on the same page. These microgrid systems have capacities and capabilities defned by customer requirements.
Looking under the technologys hood, one can see a microgrid
consists of components such as a controller (centralized or decentralized, depending on the design), some distributed generation sources, a fast separation device (breakers), a high-speed
communications system and some local loads.
The controller performs dynamic control over the system.
It is responsible for regulating power production and consumption within the microgrids boundaries (that is, the energy management system). It also performs actions such as grid
synchronization, system protection, cybersecurity, load shedding and ancillary services to the grid. The controller closely
monitors the interconnection with the central grid and, when
called to, can seamlessly transition from parallel operation
with the central grid to island mode.
The distributed generation portion of the microgrid system
supplies electrical power to the protected loads. These sources
can range from fossil-fuel-operated resources such as diesel
and natural gas generators to renewable-driven microturbines,
fuel cells, solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines. With
the appropriate systems in place, microgrids also are expected
to participate in energy markets one day.

Why the Interest in Micogrids?

The size of the load varies depending on the microgrid cus-

November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

tomer, but numbers today are defnitely pushing the market

out of its pilot project demonstration phase. Frost & Sullivan
released a report earlier in 2015 predicting the rapid growth in
microgrids over the next fve years will redefne this segment
of the marketplace. It also noted the landscape will be very
dynamic with utilities, municipal governments, public power,
energy management companies, independent power producers, municipal utilities and independent transmission utilities
being among the major players deploying microgrids.
Part of the driving force behind this interest is the negative
impact of extended power outages on the economy. Other drivers include fuel-cost savings, carbon footprint reduction and
fuel independence. In some countries, even social drivers are
playing a role, such as increasing the rate of electrifcation by
deploying microgrids in rural areas. However, power outages
remain the chief motivating infuence.
The World Bank confrmed this when it published a survey
on the global infuences electricity outages are having on the
world economy. In the category of all countries, it reported the
number of electrical outages in a typical month is 6.4 with a
duration of typically 2.7 hours. It estimates the average monetary loss as a result of these outages is approximately 4.7% of
a countrys annual sales.
To put those fgures in perspective, a recent GE report estimates power interruptions cost businesses in the European
Union about 150 billion euros annually. The DOE estimates
the cost of power-related outages to the U.S. economy is
approximately $150 billion in damages annually.
Eaton publishes a Blackout Tracker Report each year. In a
recent report on 2014 activities, Eaton noted the U.S. experi-

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Revenue (millions of dollars)

enced 3,634 outages affecting 14.2

20,000
million people, an increase of 12%
18,000
Rest of world
over 2013.
Asia-Pacic
Amazingly, the DOE reported
16,000
Europe
90% of all electrical outages take
14,000
North America
place on the distribution system in
12,000
the U.S. This means of the 3,634
outages in 2014, about 3,270 of
10,000
them were experienced on the
8,000
distribution system. With these
6,000
numbers, it becomes clearer why
microgrids are attracting so much
4,000
attention in North America and
2,000
elsewhere.
Several years ago, the Electric
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Year
identifed the sectors particularly
sensitive to power outages. EPRI Annual microgrid revenues for world markets 2011-2017. Courtesy of Pike Research.
found the digital economy, continuous process manufacturing sector and essential services were to function with greater resiliency during and after a storm.
vulnerable to power-supply interruptions. These are segments The agencies said CHP has proved its value as an alternative
where microgrids can provide relief by eliminating outages power source repeatedly for many years.
and their economic impact completely.
Frost & Sullivan reported the CHP marketplace for 2012
was evenly distributed among North America, Europe and
Asia-Pacifc sectors, but marketing research shows North
Extreme Weather Brings It Into Focus
Although there are many causes for power-supply interrup- America is the current leader for overall microgrid installations.
A Navigant Research report stated worldwide microgrid
tions, the DOE estimates severe weather is the single leading
cause of power outages in the U.S. The agency says severe capacity had increased to more than 12,030 MW by the end of
second quarter 2015. The report said roughly 66% of this caweather and, correspondingly, power outages are increasing.
Superstorm Sandy focused everyones attention on mi- pacity is installed in North America alone. Future predictions
crogrids when it turned out the lights on approximately 8.5 by GTM Research projected an increase of about 1,843 MW of
million people in the northeastern U.S. Microgrids provided microgrid capacity in North America by 2017.
Another Navigant report focused on the sales of microgrid
isolated islands of electricity and heat when the utility grid was
devastated, which did not go unnoticed. Stories about hard- systems worldwide. The Navigant report predicted sales of
ships the population endured were punctuated by reports
of plentiful power where microgrids existed.
Middle East and Africa 1%
In the months following Superstorm Sandy, a joint
report was published by the DOE, the Department of
Latin America 3%
Antarctica 0%
Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental
Protection Agency. The report provided examples of how
microgrid technology enabled some critical infrastructure
to continue operation when the electric grid went down.
The report described a large housing complex in the
Asia-Pacic
North
47%
America
Baychester section of the Bronx, New York, that had
44%
power and heat from a 40-MW system until the grid was
restored. Similarly, Princetons 11-MW microgrid provided power to portions of its campus in Princeton, New
Jersey, during the crisis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations White Oak research facility had power from
its on-site generation for two and a half days, and other
microgrids fourished, as well.
Europe 5%
Many of these microgrid systems were powered by a
distributed generation technology referred to as combined
heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration. The Worldwide, the market for microgrids is growing substantially.
joint report pointed out that CHP allows these segments Courtesy of Navigant.
Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

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Remote islands like the island of Faial in the Atlantic Ocean are microgrids in themselves. They are adding more wind
generation to their power mix, and that is causing problems with the power supply. Courtesy of ABB.

microgrid technology will grow globally from the $4.3 billion spent in 2013 to nearly $20 billion by 2020. The report
also stated, Under a more aggressive scenario, revenue could
reach $36.2 billion annually.
In a press release from Navigant, Peter Asmus, a principal research analyst, said, Microgrids are inching their way
into the mainstream ... The number of companies active in the
space, and the range of applications of microgrids, are growing
exponentially.

Helping the Environment

Not only do microgrids provide security, resiliency and
reliability by adding a renewable energy component, they
do so in an environmentally friendly manner. Thanks to the
dropping prices of PV, panels and inverters have made rooftop
solar installations grow exponentially in solar-rich environments. Aggregating these small local PV resources enables
microgrid-controlled large blocks of renewable generation to
be connected to the central grid, thus becoming a demandresponse resource.
RnR Market Research released The Global Microgrid
Market for 2015-2020 report with forecasts of the microgrid
marketplace. The report estimates the microgrid industry
will grow at 18.72% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
in terms of revenue and 17.29% CAGR in terms of microgrid
installed capacity over the period of 2014-2019.
The report also identifed the major manufacturers operating in the microgrid enabling technology marketplace: ABB,
GE Digital Energy, Siemens, S&C Electric, Lockheed Martin,
Bosch, Schneider Electric, Chevron Energy, Echelon, General
Microgrids, Microgrid Solar, Pareto Energy, Power Analytics,
Spirae and Viridity Energy. With players such as these manufacturers, it really shows how the technology is no longer a
niche area for shade-tree enterprises of yore.

November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

The Role of Energy Storage

By adding energy storage to the mix, microgrids are improved further. Storage stabilizes the microgrid by providing a
very fast response to power-delivery needs. It also enables the
microgrids energy management system to drive optimization
by allowing load management assets to vary based on factors
such as demand and cost.
A storage component also frms the power output, making
it dispatchable. Time shifting the load profles is possible, too,
which aids in demand management when a microgrid has an
energy storage component.
RnR Market Research also recognized microgrids with
storage capability as a potentially important player in this
marketplace. Its companion report on The Global Energy
Storage for Microgrids Market 2014-2018 forecasts the
microgrid storage market will grow at a CAGR of 19% from
2013 through 2018. The report identifes the storage technologies as advanced lead-acid batteries, advanced Lithium-ion
batteries, fow batteries, sodium-metal-halide batteries and
fywheels.
As in the frst RnR Market Research microgrid report
mentioned, the research frm identifed the following companies as important manufacturers in this technology in its
companion report, as well: ABB, EnStorage, NEC, S&C
Electric, GE Digital Energy, Toshiba, Ampard, Greensmith
Energy, Aquion Energy, Green Energy Corp., Raytheon Co.
and Sunverge Energy.

Turning the Corner

The future grid is going to include microgrids installed on
the utilitys grid, supporting industrial loads and providing
power to residential customers. Microgrids and their component costs are dropping. Efforts are being made to standardize microgrids, thereby easing their integration into the

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Microgrid technology can be used for energy management when connected to the utility grid and provide power when
islanded. Courtesy of Siemens.

power-delivery system. Regulatory groups, utilities and the

public have seen the benefts of a strong resilient grid reinforced by microgrid technology. As a result, the industrys
emphasis on microgrids is shifting from demonstration projects to deployment.
Microgrids also are being seen as environmentally friendly, as renewable resources such as PV and wind are added to
their generation capabilities. By adding a CHP component, the
effciency of a microgrid increases to roughly 80%.

Energy storage is improving the demand-response capabilities of a microgrid, thereby helping to reduce system loads
during critical peak conditions. It also improves renewable
dispatchability. With all these benefts, it is easy to see why
the worldwide microgrid market is developing so rapidly. Superstorm Sandy and other extreme weather events have been
hard to endure, but they had a silver lining by putting pressure on the industry to accelerate the use of technologies like
microgrids and all their components.
Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

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Marble Bar, located in Australias outback, has tremendous solar resources that require the stability a microgrid can offer.
Courtesy of ABB.

One Size
Does Not Fit All
Microgrids come in all sizes and shapes; therefore,
ftting individual solutions to each application
can be challenging.
By Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

henever there has been a problem with

power delivery, the response has been to
make the system bigger, to supersize it.
It almost has been a mantra of bigger is
better. These sacred words were chanted
in every part of the grid: There is no substitute for wire in the
air. As a result, the electric grid has become a gigantic maze
of hubs, interconnection points and nodes connecting more

November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

remote centralized power plants to the customer, but this only

has added to the issues.
Despite the continuation of these old-school practices, the
electrical network has not improved. If anything, it has become more fragile and easier to shut down, which has led to a
debate on decentralization of the network. The idea is to place
generation closer to the load centers and enable the load centers to be sectionalized in times of crisis while still providing

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electrical power to the customer.
This sounds pretty complicated, but it is
actually a dialogue about grid reliability and
grid resiliency. The driving force behind this
discussion is the issue of how to deal with
prolonged power outages brought about by
extreme weather conditions and issues such
as grid security. At frst glance, reliability
and resiliency may seem like the same thing.
However, the distinction between these
terms has generated a great deal of attention
in the industry, with microgrid technology
becoming the focus of the reliability-resiliency discussion.

Ross Island is located in Antarctica, where electric power is not taken for
granted. The microgrid used here must be dependable. Courtesy of ABB.

Reliability and Resiliency

Reliability, as related to the power supply, is an electricity
supply that is always available without limitations. Resiliency,
as related to the power supply, is an electricity supply that can
recover from adverse events quickly with minimal impact to
the customer.
Interestingly, the consumer has been demanding appropriate enhancements be added to the network, but defning these
enhancements has been challenging. How has the industry
reacted to the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY)-centered protesters gone global, which is known as build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody (BANANA)? Well, noninvasive
technology would be a good place to start, which is one reason
microgrid technology has been gaining such attention.
A microgrid is unobtrusive and can be concealed in existing facilities. It is adaptable and can be modularized and sized
to meet the needs of the application.

Energy (DOE), which listed severe weather as the No. 1 cause

of power outages.
The DOE predicts, The number of outages caused by severe weather is expected to rise as climate change increases
the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. In
effect, this implies the problem is not going away and the solution must deal with it.
Microgrids have the capability of dynamic energy management along with the ability to protect critical loads, that is,
resiliency. The rapid spread of distributed generation, such as
rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations, also has played a critical role in this decentralization undertaking. Many research
groups say microgrids combined with distributed generation

Dynamic Technology
The versatile microgrid really came to center stage after
Superstorm Sandy. The technology seems to have become
the focus of the reliability-resiliency discussion. Helping
that dialogue is a recent report from the U.S. Department of

The Oncor microgrid uses Tesla batteries. Photo by Rick Bush.

The Capstone fuel cell is an integral part of the Oncor

microgrid. Photo by Rick Bush.
Transmission & Distribution World l November 2015

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A microgrid is a stand-alone power system complete with generation, distribution and loads. The technology integrates all
the components into a reliable system. Courtesy of ABB.

are fundamentally changing the way electricity distribution is

taking place.
The old game-changer expression is constantly being used
to describe the combination of microgrids with renewable generation and energy storage. This emphasis is shifting the grid
concept from a centralized grid toward the development of a
utility grid combined with localized grids microgrids
that are self-sustaining miniature versions of the utility grid.
This has resulted in a slew of new microgrid applications
for consumers ranging from individual facilities to large installations. Microgrid technology allows these facilities to be
separate from the main grid and operate independently (that
is, resilient). It also increases energy effciency, ensures power
stability and improves power quality (that is, reliable) when
attached to the macrogrid.
These microgrids with the ability to interface with the larger grid have captured the attention of consumers, utilities and
regulators alike. The fact a microgrid can operate in parallel to
the utility grid, or can island itself when necessary, checks the
boxes for both reliability and resiliency in the overall plan for
making the grid more robust.

Transformation
Often after a catastrophic event such as Superstorm Sandy,
there is a great deal of talk and no action. As time passes, so
does the attention span, but this has not been the case with
microgrid technology. A great deal of activity has taken place
in the U.S. with programs and projects developed to harden
the grid.
In Connecticut, the governor announced a statewide microgrid program to power public services and some businesses
in the event of widespread outages on the power grid.

10

November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

New York also announced big plans for microgrids in the

state and has since become the leader of Northeastern states in
incorporating microgrids into the utility grid. It currently has
75 installations, both planned and operational, totaling about
200 MW of capacity at last count and more coming.
New Jersey also was hard hit by Sandy. It announced a
$200 million energy resiliency program with microgrids and
distributed generation for the state.
The federal government has been busy, too. The DOE announced a wide range of microgrid activities with both regional and state partnerships to improve the resiliency of cities
and towns during extreme weather events and other potential
electricity disruptions.
Building in grid resiliency has gained greater urgency in
recent years, as demonstrated by the economic and personal
losses from electricity outages due to severe weather, said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Keeping the power on during
extreme weather events and other electric grid disruptions is
essential, particularly so that critical facilities such as hospitals
and water treatment plants can continue operating.

Various Sizes
One of the most successful microgrid adaptations to date
has been the combined heat and power (CHP) technology. It
is one of those new-yet-old categories of technology. Edison
used this feature at his Pearl Street station. He provided heat
from the steam generators to the buildings around the facility.
Today, DOE estimates the U.S. currently has about 4,100
CHP facilities in service. These facilities have a combined
generation capacity of roughly 8 GW. The DOE also pointed
out there are approximately 200 multifamily housing communities in the CHP database, so this technology is versatile.

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Microgrid Projects
Navigant identifed more than 12,000 MW of microgrid capacity throughout the world, up from 4,393 MW last year.
Here are a few of the microgrid projects that are under construction, in service or planned in the coming years.
Type of Project

Country

Description

Parker Ranch Hawaii

Project Name

Geothermal, solar and wind

United States

Integration of renewables to the grid

Planning

Nanyang Technology University

Solar, wind, tidal and diesel

with storage

Singapore

Design, develop and deploy

microgrid system

Under construction

Kodiak Island

Wind and diesel generation

United States

Stabilize island grid and increase

renewables

2015

SP AusNet GESS

Grid energy storage system

Australia

Storage batteries and diesel generation

microgrid system

2014

Renewable generation and conventional

generation with energy storage

Italy

Develop a microgrid
that can be adapted to cities.

2015

Ancillary power systems services

Spain

1.6-MW PowerStore unit

2014

Building microgrid

Canada

5-kW PV, natural gas generator

and battery storage

2014

Community microgrid

United States

0.5-MW PV, fuel cell, battery storage

system

Under construction

Faial Island

Hybrid power system

wind and HFO generators

Azores

Renewable energy integration

2013

Doomadgee

1.26-MW PV and diesel generation

microgrid system

Australia

Renewable energy integration

Planning

University of Genoa
Lanzarote
PowerStream
Blue Lake Rancheria

The addition of PV, distributed wind, fuel cells and natural gas generation has redefned what size microgrid is costeffective. Because of such a wide selection of generation, microgrids can be supplied in a wide variety of sizes, ranging
from a few hundred kilowatts to multi-megawatt applications.
Generally, residential-sized microgrids serving one family or perhaps a neighborhood is usually less than 50 kW
but could go up to 1 MW or 2 MW. Small industrial microgrids are commonly rated more than 200 kW, but less than
5 MW. Utilities have been working on feeder microgrids ranging from 5 MW to 20 MW. The substation microgrid is typically larger than 20 MW. Rural microgrids come in various
sizes defned by what the end user needs.
Marble Bar, Australia, is a good example of a small microgrid helping a remote community to take advantage of a
rich renewable source. Marble Bar has a 300-kW PV-powered
plant that was added to existing diesel generators to form a
microgrid. The intermittent energy provided by 2,000 singleaxis solar modules is stabilized by ABBs PowerStore kinetic
fywheel grid-stabilizing technology, while the microgrid system is controlled by ABBs Microgrid Plus networked control
system. Together, these technologies enable peak penetration
of renewable-generated energy of 85%. On average, 60% of
the energy demand of Marble Bar is being supplied by solar
energy, which displaces about 400,000 liters of fuel a year,
equivalent to 1,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Mix and Match

PowerStream, a community-owned energy frm, has
launched a hybrid microgrid demonstration project at its headquarters in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, with GE. The project
will include a 1.8-kW wind turbine, 17 kW of PV solar panels
and a 35-kW natural-gas-fueled generator with storage. The
storage includes a 23-kW lead-acid battery, a 12-kW lithium-

Completion Date

ion battery and a 6-kW sodium-chloride battery.

GE is providing its Grid IQ Microgrid Control System as
well as all necessary engineering design services. GE also will
include its Durathon battery technology for the microgrid.
The microgrid control system will monitor, track and forecast loads, generation and storage devices. This system will
provide PowerStreams headquarters with lighting, air conditioning and electric vehicle charging while allowing PowerStream to gain valuable microgrid operating experience in a
controlled setting.
A really challenging microgrid confguration came out of
Antarctica at the Ross Island research station a few years ago.
This is a very remote location and it is an extremely environmentally sensitive area. The New Zealand Antarctic Institute
and Meridian Energy Ltd. wanted to reduce the reliance of the
Scott Base and McMurdo station on diesel-generated electricity, so it planned to install three 330-kW wind generators.
The wind generators would feed both research facilities.
Backup diesel generation would still be needed, but it was estimated the wind turbines would reduce the carbon-dioxide
emissions by about 1,242 metric tons per year.
ABB was selected to provide a microgrid solution for this
project. One of the criteria for the microgrid was the ability
of the wind farm to provide electricity to both research facilities. The diesel generation also had to be able to back up each
facility, but there was a catch the power systems of the
two research stations operated at different frequencies. The
New Zealand system operated at 50 Hz (cycles per second)
and the U.S. system operated at 60 Hz. Another critical challenge was to eliminate the intermittency and variability of the
wind generation.
The frst challenge was answered with a frequency converter. ABB built this device into the microgrid system, allowing
the two asynchronous (50-Hz and 60-Hz) power systems to
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AusNet Australia has installed a hybrid grid energy storage system (GESS) 1-MWh battery with a 1-MW diesel generator that
is controlled by ABBs Microgrid Plus control system. Courtesy of ABB.

be coupled together. This enabled the systems to operate in

tandem, passing power in either direction.
The second challenge intermittency and variability
brought about by the wind generation was addressed by
ABBs PowerStore grid-stabilizing fywheel system. This
device is a fywheel rated at 500 kW that manages power fuctuations by power injection or by
absorption.
The entire system is controlled by ABBs Microgrid Plus, which monitors the wind turbines,
diesel generators, loads and fywheel energy storage device. The controller matches the loads with
the most economical confgurations of generator
sets. It also smooths out surges and optimizes fow
control within the isolated networks.

topology. In April 2015, Oncor announced it had installed a

new concept in microgrids on its system. It is a clustered microgrid, actually with four separate microgrids integrated to
work together. The four individual microgrids can perform as
one operating microgrid or individual microgrids operating in

They Think Big in Texas

Utilities are getting involved with microgrids,
too. It is no longer a customer-side-of-the-meter
phenomena, but no utility has taken the plunge
quite like Oncor, based in Dallas, Texas. Oncor has
seen how the emerging energy storage and control
systems can better enable microgrids, so it was only
natural for the utility to construct its own microgrid
application to get some operational experience.
What makes the Oncor microgrid unique is its

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

Even parking can be used for microgrid generation, as shown here for
the Oncor microgrid. Photo by Rick Bush.

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This advanced lead-acid battery with S&Cs grid storage management system has been applied to a PV farm to reduce
the intermittency of the solar power. Photo by Gene Wolf.

parallel, in tandem, or with the Oncor grid. The choice is dependent on the system conditions.
Oncor selected S&C Electric Co. and Schneider Electric to
design and build its microgrid. Other partners included ABB,
Kyocera, Princeton Power Systems, SMA Solar Technology
and Tesla.
The interconnected microgrids have nine different distributed generation resources including 104-kW PV arrays,
a 65-kW gas microturbine, one 200-kW stationary battery, a
25-kW community battery, a 200-kW diesel generator, two
175-kW diesel generators and a 45-kW propane generator
for a total peak capacity of 989 kW upon loss of grid power
in emergencies, plus the Oncor grid for power selection in
non-emergency operations. The microgrid is a combination of S&Cs advanced distribution automation equipment
and Schneider Electrics Microgrid Controller along with its
StruxureWare Demand-Side Operation technology.
The system uses high-speed communications and distributed grid intelligence to determine the most effcient use of
power resources and to guarantee power to critical site operations in the event of an extended grid outage. The energy storage portion of the system can take power from the Oncor grid
or the facilitys generation resources.
Interestingly, one of the batteries is manufactured by Tesla
Motors and the other by S&C. This style of microgrid is located on the customers side of the meter, but Oncor happens to be
the customer. Oncor will explore how similar microgrids and
services could be provided or supported by the utility for other

critical infrastructures such as hospitals, 911 dispatch centers

and computer centers.

Microgrid Variety
Microgrid technology is being adapted in ways never
thought of when developers started deploying pilot projects to
prove the concept. The Ross Island microgrid took grid stabilization to a new level with a fywheel smoothing out the windgenerated power while using a frequency converter to enable
the microgrid to feed two asynchronous power systems.
One innovative application was the combining of one fuelbased generator with one renewable energy generator to form
hybrid microgrids. That has been surpassed with microgrid
projects like Oncors mix of multiple-fueled generators and
energy storage with PV.
These project and others being developed are proving the
concept of public-purpose microgrids. These clustered microgrids can function like building blocks. Under normal conditions, they can operate in parallel to the utility grid. When
an unexpected event takes place such as a feeder problem, they
can be independent of the grid and each other. In the event of
a much larger event such as a storm, they can operate in larger
combinations to meet the needs of the community.
Microgrids are changing the business models for industry
and for utilities. Of course, it could be expensive and, in many
cases, disruptive, but the shift to this old-yet-new technology is
inevitable and a trend the industry cannot afford to sit back and
watch. Besides, the challenge is too much fun to ignore.
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Kodiak Island is isolated from the mainland power grid. Its power system is critical not only to the economy but to life itself.
Courtesy of ABB.

Sustainable Microgrids
Microgrids are being hybridized with renewable
generation and energy storage.
By Gene Wolf, Technical Writer

lobally, one of the fastest-growing powerdelivery technologies is the microgrid, yet

when looking for the word on merriamwebster.com, the search returns: The word
youve entered isnt in the dictionary. That is
remarkable considering how long this technology has been in
use by utilities, industrial facilities, military bases and residential customers worldwide. It seems Merriam-Websters
dictionary needs to play catchup in the technology sector.
Along with providing power-outage protection, these devices have been very successful at supplying black-start power

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

and providing reinforcement of the centralized grid in times

of heavy demand. To be clear, a microgrid is a much smaller
version of the centralized grid. It comes complete with generation, a control system and load. It is capable of operating in
parallel with the utility grid or completely separate from it.
The technology can be found in large metropolitan areas
as well as in remote corners of the world and everywhere in
between. Microgrids have been part of the utility scene for decades, but extreme weather-related outages such as hurricanes
and ice storms, along with weak grids requiring backups, have
put the technology front and center.

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The Early Days

When microgrids rst appeared,

cost was the biggest challenge affecting their deployment, but increased
usage has brought down prices and
enhanced features have made them
more cost-effective and justiable.
Another factor encouraging the
installation of more microgrids has
been improved regulatory and utility acceptance,
although there is still a way to go. For example, in the United
States, federal, state and local governmental entities have not
only increased their support of the deployment of microgrids,
but many also are offering incentives with their grid-resiliency
programs to give the technology a boost.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has funded an
$8 million microgrid program. The DOEs National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be working with companies to develop more sophisticated controllers for microgrids.
NRELs energy system integration facility will be used to test
these devices with real-time simulations at full power.
One noteworthy project is located on the National Grids
system in Potsdam, New York. The microgrid will use local renewable resources as much as possible and have underground
components. The proposal calls for a combination of technologies including 3 MW of combined heat and power generators,
2 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV), 2 MW of energy storage and
900 kWh or more of hydroelectric generation.
It also will include underground distribution lines from the
microgrid to its protected loads because of the areas propensity to ice storms. Prior to Superstorm Sandy, this area held the
record for the most damaging weather-related outage caused
by the infamous 1998 ice storm.
Clarkson University is designing the underground distribution system, which will be built in parallel to the existing
grid. GE is developing an enhanced microgrid control system
to integrate these different power resources into a system that
can power Potsdams protected loads and enable National Grid
to use these resources for energy management.
The entire microgrid system will be tested at NRELs

The Leinster Mine needs both the voltage support of the

microgrid and the ability to provide power to its loads.
Courtesy of ABB.

Todays microgrid components have a very small footprint

and can be installed anywhere in the world. Courtesy of ABB.

facilities prior to deployment. The goal of the Potsdam microgrid project is to develop a system that can be adapted to
other towns and communities susceptible to extreme weatherrelated disasters like Potsdams ice storms.

Solar Microgrids

One of the most exciting attributes of todays microgrids is

the role renewables have taken in the technology. Environmental friendliness is becoming an important feature to stakeholders. Back in the day, anyone installing a microgrid was limited
to generation that burned fossil fuels. Although fossil fuels are
used still, the push is on to limit them. Elements like PV solar,
wind and fuel cells are being integrated into microgrids.
Interestingly, at the very time the cost of microgrids is being reduced, the prices of PV panels and inverters also have
been dropping steadily. This has made microgrid technology
very desirable in underdeveloped portions of the world where
there is no electricity. A recent paper from the International
Energy Agency pointed out more than 1.3 billion people do
not have access to electricity. International Energy Agency
said getting fossil fuels to those areas can be challenging and
expensive, but they have solar and wind resources that can be
tapped for electricity.
Not only is this concept popular with remote areas needing electricity, it is becoming important to communities in the
developed and developing countries committed to improving
their carbon footprint by reducing their dependency on fossil
fuels. According to GTM Research, installations of microgrid
technology are experiencing record growth worldwide.
In the U.S. microgrid market, GTM predicts the cumulative
capacity of microgrids will reach approximately 2.8 GW by
2020. More importantly, that 2.8 GW represents a $3.5 billion
investment during that period, which will encourage further
development of the technology.
HIS Technology reported approximated 45 GW of PV was
installed globally in 2014 and estimates 2015 installations will
be in the range of 53 GW to 57 GW.
GTM said, 2014 was a transitional year. It predicts the
Asia-Pacic region will install about half of the projected
global installations of PV in 2015. China will install about
14 GW of the regions projected 30 GW of PV. GTM stated,
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9-MW wind generation with some
diesel backup.
The system also has two 1.5Commercial/industrial
4,500
MW battery systems, so it is truly
Community/utility
4,000
a hybrid system. The city of KoCampus environment
diak decided to upgrade its die3,500
Military stationary base
sel crane to an electrically driven
Remote/off-grid
crane with more capabilities than
3,000
the diesel crane. The electric crane
2,500
was expected to generate power
fuctuations, which could destabi2,000
lize an isolated grid like the one on
1,500
Kodiak Island. Something had to
be done to the cooperatives grid
1,000
to address this issue.
500
Kodiak Electric Association
selected
ABB to provide an enhanced
microgrid.
The system
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
included
two
ABB
1-MW
PowerYear
Store grid-stabilization generators. These devices are based on
Microgrid capacity is projected to continue its growth at substantial levels.
a fast-acting spinning fywheel
Courtesy of Pike Research.
technology with ABB inverters to
store
short-term
energy
to
absorb
and inject both real and reacEurope will begin an upswing and North America, primarily the United States, will continue its year-over-year growth. tive power onto the microgrid. PowerStore also can be outftThe Solar Energy Industries Association points out low PV ted with batteries or whatever the customer specifes, so it is
costs are driving the record PV installation. The association fexible.
The ABB microgrid provides voltage and frequency supalso noted most of the major solar companies now offer some
port to the Kodiak Electric Association grid. The fywheel
form of energy storage with their systems.
component also extends the life of the two battery systems
by reducing the wear and tear during charge-discharge cycles
Microgrids with Storage
Figures from GTM show battery storage technology is cur- caused by the electric crane. Its energy management capabilirently integrated into 44% of the installed microgrids in the ties reduce the intermittencies from the islands 9-MW wind
United States. If renewables are playing such a substantial part farm, which is why this is such an interesting application of
in the generation component, it only makes sense customers hybrid microgrid technology.
are adding storage to mitigate the intermittency of PV systems.
Storage also improves the capability of
a microgrid. Energy storage gives the microgrid an enhanced ability to be used in demand management and energy management
systems, but there are more storage options
available than batteries.
Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments, according to Navigant Research.
One of the more interesting microgrid installations took place on Kodiak Island off
Alaskas southern coast. Kodiak Electric
Association is a rural electric cooperative
serving a population of 15,000 with no interconnection to the mainland. Many years ago,
the cooperative committed to producing 95%
of its electricity using renewable generation
Isolated islands such as Kodiak offer unique opportunities to prove the
by 2020. Today, the majority of its 28 MW value of microgrid technology when integrating renewable energy into the
of power is produced by hydrogenation and islands power grid. Courtesy of ABB.
Capacity (MW)

5,000

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Microgrids come in various sizes that can power buildings or much larger areas. Courtesy of ABB.

New Elements on the Scene

There are solar microgrids, wind microgrids and storage
microgrids, so it makes sense that we are now seeing combined elements like solar-plus-storage and wind-plus-storage
microgrids coming onto the scene. Taking advantage of advancements in microgrid controllers, these new elements can
balance the microgrids loads with the renewable energy resources output.
For example, the solar-plus-storage microgrid offers standalone operation and also can provide dynamic energy management in parallel with the grid. Not only is the customer
side of the meter taking advantage of the solar-plus-storage
microgrid technology, but the utility side of the meter is benefting, too. One of these microgrid projects was installed in
Borrego Springs, California, and recently made history with
an unprecedented accomplishment.
Several years ago, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) received an $8 million grant from the DOE to launch the Borrego
Springs microgrid, which is an unbundled utility microgrid,
according to the utility. SDG&E owns the distribution assets,
but some or all of the distributed energy resources are owned
by the customers. This was followed by a $5 million grant
from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to expand
the Borrego Springs microgrid. The project partners included
Lockheed Martin, IBM, Advanced Energy Storage, Horizon
Energy, Oracle, Motorola, Pacifc Northwest National Labora-

tories and the University of California, San Diego.

The DOE and CEC project is a hybrid microgrid with a
total microgrid installed capacity of about 4 MW, made up of
two 1.8-MW diesel generators, a 500-kWh/1,500-kWh battery
at the substation (which will be instrumental in achieving peak
load reduction), three smaller 50-kWh batteries, six 4-kW/
8-kWh home energy storage units, about 700 kW of rooftop
solar PV and 125 residential home area network systems.
The grants provided funding to increase the size of the microgrid to include all of the Borrego Springs community and
tie NRG Energys nearby 26-MW Borrego solar facility into
the microgrid. The NRG facility provided enough renewable
energy to power the entire community of 2,800 customers.
This expansion makes the Borrego Springs microgrid one of
the largest microgrids in the United States.
In addition to the NRG solar farm, the Borrego Springs
microgrids distributed generation resources include two traditional 1.8-MW diesel generators and several battery systems
that allow the microgrid to fll in the power fuctuations from
the solar facility.
After completion of the DOE- and CEC-funded microgrid
expansion, SDG&E was able to use the microgrid to eliminate
a power outage needed to repair the radial transmission line
feeding Borrego Springs. It had been damaged by lightning
and the utility estimated the outage time to repair the damage
would be about 10 hours.
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The GRID4EU Project

Electricity has been around for
a long time. In fact, so long that we
constantly hear the electrical grid
is old and out of date. There have
even be comments about how
Thomas Edison would be at home in
any substation or generation plant
used today. If you think about it, that
just isnt true. Sure, the basic components are similar to devices used in
those early days, but that appearance is only skin deep.
Todays digital grid is a smart
grid, and its getting more intelligent
all the time. As this technology
unfolds, there is a great deal of talk
about the electrical grid of the future. It is an exciting topic and many
have let their imaginations run wild
with science fctional ideas, but
in the European Union (EU), they
are doing more than talking
about it; they have decided to
take an active approach rather
than the reactive posture many
others in the industry accept.
The European Commission
proposed a large-scale demonstration of distribution networks
with distributed generation and
active customer participation
several years ago. It took form
in 2011 as the GRID4EU project.
Six major European distribution
system operators (DSOs) pooled

1. Outage detection in the LV network

1. Secondary substation node

(SSN) or LV and MV control
infrastructure
2. Automatic failure detection
3. Automatic frid recovery
4. Customer engagement

1. Failure management in MV
networks
2. (dec.) grid opeation in MV
networks

1. Islanding
2. Reduction of power demand
3. Manage maximized PV production
on LV network regarding constraints
and exibility programs
4. Encourage resident to adopt smarter
habits according to network state

1. LV grid automation of failure

management
2. MV grid automation of failure
management
3. Management of islanding
operation
1. Voltage control on MV grids
2. Anti-islanding protection on MV grids
3. MV measurement acquisition
4. Demand response for MV customers

GRID4EUs six major European distribution system operators. Courtesy of GRID4EU.

their expertise and answered

the commissions proposal.
These DSOs represent more than
50% of the metered electricity
customers in Europe, and they
have a enormous stake in how
The GRID4EU consortium. Courtesy of GRID4EU.
the grid will develop as more
advanced smart grid technology is deployed.
The DSOs represented in the GRID4EU project are the CEZ Distribuce (Czech Republic), ENEL Distribuzione (Italy), ERDF
(France), Iberdrola Distribucion (Spain), RWE (Germany) and Vattenfall Eldistribution (Sweden). The project is designed
to develop and test new innovative technologies. It will also advance standards for these technologies with real-world
experience.
In addition to the six DSOs, there is a unique partnership of 27 energy suppliers, manufacturers, system integrators,
research centers and universities from the EU taking part in the project. This is the largest smart grid project in the EU. The
GRID4EU project has received 25 million euros in EU funding and 29 million euros in industry funding.
The project consists of six different pilot projects taking place in six different countries that seek to complement and
enhance each other. GRID4EU will test the potential of new technologies in areas such as renewable energy integration,

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resiliency, electric vehicle development, demand side management,

microgrids and energy storage. It will
also work toward improving peak
load management, energy effciency and load reduction, and keeping
the whole system balanced.
What makes the project unique is
its approach. Overall, it is a largescale demonstration project that
has to be scalable and can be replicated over the entire European grid.
Interactions and synergies between demonstrators. Courtesy of GRID4EU.
What makes GRID4EU standout from
the pack is the innovative methodology being used. There are many partners involved with the six pilots and all are working together in an effort to share the
results of each of the pilot projects for their mutual beneft and improvement of their common knowledge.
The utility industry members of the EU have taken seriously the application of this developing smart grid and microgrid technology. The GRID4EU project will take a great step forward defning that grid of the future. It will require an
integrated system of all these developing and developed technologies. We have the tools in the toolbox, but combining
them into one cohesive future grid is the challenge. GRID4EU has taken that challenge and is raising the bar for the rest
of the industry as it moves toward completion.

Early on the morning of May 21, 2015, the microgrid was

seamlessly switched, placing the Borrego Springs community
on the microgrids power. Nine hours later, the maintenance
was completed and the microgrid was switched back to the
SDG&E grid.
The utility believes this is the frst time in the U.S. a solarbased microgrid with energy storage was used to provide electricity for an entire town, avoiding a signifcant outage. The
results were so positive, SDG&E plans to incorporate more
advanced computer software and sensors to continue to enhance the microgrid.

Isolated Microgrids
The ability of the microgrid to island itself from the grid
and supply power to the community is a huge selling point for
the devices. This allows remote populations the ability to be
self-suffcient energy islands, which is not the same thing as
being cut off from the grid.
For example, Native American reservation communities are not always located close to a utility grid and extending distribution lines can be super expensive, which is why
microgrids are considered an attractive alternative to line
extensions. GreenBiz reported, According to the Energy
Information Administration, around 14% of households on
Native American reservations lack access to electricity, 10
times higher than the national average.
The CEC has provided a $5 million grant to help fund the
Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid project, located in northern
California. The microgrid will be powered by a 0.5-MW PV
installation, 950-kWh battery storage system, biomass fuel
cell system and diesel generators.
The Blue Lake Rancheria and Humboldt State Universitys

Schatz Energy Research Center have partnered with Pacifc

Gas & Electric Co., Siemens, Idaho National Laboratory and
REC Solar to build this low-carbon microgrid. It will provide
electrical power for the reservation, including tribal government offces, economic enterprises and a Red Cross safety
shelter.
Siemens is implementing its Spectrum Power 7 Microgrid
Management System to dynamically manage and control the
distributed generation resources providing power to the microgrid. The installation of the microgrid will be completed
in 2016 and will enable the Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid
to operate independently from the Pacifc Gas & Electric Co.
grid in the event of an emergency such as an earthquake. The
microgrid project is being used to prove the validity of using
microgrid technology to address limited access to electricity
on tribal lands in more remote locations.
In Africa, the potential of microgrid technology has just

Remote villages are hard to supply with fossil fuels making

microgirds with renewable generation very desirable.
Courtesy of ABB.
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The key to successful microgrid deployment is having the necessary components for the project. Courtesy of ABB.

begun to be realized. Studies report that some areas of Africa have very good conditions for constant wind energy, not
to mention solar resources. That makes microgrid technology
very valuable for renewable energy integration and the most
cost-effective solution to provide electricity to local communities. One of those areas is Marsabit, an oasis at the edge of the
desert in a windy area of northern Kenya with a population of
5,000 that is not connected to any national grid.
Located on top of a windy hill, a diesel generator has been
the only generation source producing electricity. Socabelec
East Africa Ltd. has decided to add wind turbines to the existing installation and to stabilize the resulting microgrid through
ABBs PowerStore. The grid-stabilizing generator will interface with both diesel power station and wind turbines and will
allow for maximum penetration of the clean wind energy so to
reducing reliance on fossil fuel and emissions.
Microgrids are not just for remote locations or isolated networks. Buildings can require microgrids, too, especially when
they need to provide for their own power needs. This condition is very common in countries where the main power grid
is under-dimensioned or cannot keep up with the fast pace of
additional power demand.
In such countries, many buildings, facilities and industrial
sites are forced to install their own generation plants to ensure
uninterrupted power supply when main network faults occur.
ABBs offces in Longmeadow, Johannesburg, South Africa,
meet these requirements. This building will have a microgrid
with a PV energy source, an integrated diesel generator and
storage batteries. It is being used to demonstrate microgrid
technology to the rest of the African continent.

Mainstreaming Microgrids
There has been a great deal of activity in the microgrid
world in the past fve years. The technology has moved from a

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November 2015 l Transmission & Distribution World

specialized niche to being a mainstream utility grid asset. The

cost of distributive generation continues to drop. In many parts
of the world, solar generation costs are equal to or below that
of utility-generated electricity, which has been a great incentive for the adoption of microgrid technology to integrate this
generation into the transmission grid.
Microgrids differ from the centralized grid by providing
closer proximity between generation and the load. Their capabilities have increased in both depth and dimension as the
technology evolves. With the addition of renewable generation
and storage components, microgrids have reached a new level
of complexity.
Customers may have solar, wind, fuel cells, hydro or a combination of these plus other types of generation resources. If
they do, they will want to blend them into a sophisticated mix
of environmentally friendly resources. The customer expects
the manufacturers to develop resource management systems
to control and protect such a mix, which they have.
Storage has played a signifcant part in this process, too.
Like the variety of renewable generation available, energy
storage has many existing technologies to meet the demand.
The principal storage technology used with microgrids has
been the battery, but that has many offshoots such as advanced
lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and lithium. There also are systems coming available with fywheel storage, hydrogen storage and ultracapacitors, to name a few.
Each renewable and energy storage technology has its own
particular pros and cons, which need to be understood, addressed and controlled to attain their fullest potential. Todays
microgrid is defnitely not the microgrid of yore. It may bear
the same name, but that is the only commonality. The mega
grid has its shortcomings and problems, but one of the most
promising solutions to these foibles is the microgrid and the
modularity it can provide with all its bits and pieces.

Sustainable energy for remote industrial operations?

Naturally.

Industrial and mining facilities are moving to increasingly remote

locations while pursuing ever more sustainable operations. ABBs
microgrid solutions allow for a stable independent energy supply with
100 percent peak renewable penetration even in small-scale power
networks. ABB is the pioneer and world-leader in microgrid solutions.
http://new.abb.com/power-generation/microgrids-solutions

Clean and reliable power for isolated communities?

Naturally.

Remote communities often rely solely on fossil fuel for their energy
needs, even if it comes at a high financial and environmental price.
Thanks to ABBs microgrid solutions, stable, high-quality power can
reach the most distant locations with 100 percent peak renewable
penetration. ABB is the pioneer and world-leader in microgrid solutions.
http://new.abb.com/power-generation/microgrids-solutions