Page 10 - Microgrid Knowledge Library News Today

Photo by Rocky Grimes/Shutterstock.com On April 9, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced the Alaska Energy Independence Act (SB 123, HB 170) to spur sustainable energy development by issuing loans for qualified clean energy projects. Twenty states have clean energy financing programs, also called green banks. Typically, green banks augment private investments in low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure. The bill creates the Alaska Energy Independence Fund, which would receive an initial $10...

A sweeping climate bill introduced in the US House of Representatives this week includes billions in microgrid funding. By ParabolStudio/Shutterstock.com The CLEAN Future Act authorizes $565 billion in spending to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, with an interim target of reducing carbon pollution by 50% from 2005 levels by the end of this decade. The bill, H.R. 1512, introduced March 2, requires utilities to sell increasing amounts of carbon-free electricity until the power se...

GMP says its Panton microgrid marks the first time a US utility will use an inverter to island a distribution circuit without relying on fossil fuels.

loading... Greener Mining Microgrid from Hitachi ABB … Sony and LF Energy’s New Trading Platform…Emera and Novonix to Develop Battery Pack Greener mining from Hitachi ABB at microgrid in Indonesia  A new Hitachi ABB microgrid system is providing greener mining operations and continuous power for off-grid mining operations at Indo Tambangraya Megah’s (ITM) facility in Bontang, East Kalimantan.  Indonesia microgrid project. Photo courtesy of Hitachi ABB The microgrid is the larg...

Steve Pullins of AlphaStruxure makes the case that utility standby charges and departing load charges are inherently unfair. If the microgrid customer expects a service from the utility and it fails, then the customer should expect a rebate on standby charges, Pullins argues. By now, most people know that microgrids featuring on-site, sustainable energy generation can provide a resilient alternative. The result is that microgrid adoption is surging — both through customers making the capital ...

London-based Winch Energy landed $16 million in funding, through a new financing platform, for solar minigrid projects in 49 villages in Uganda and Sierra Leone. The deal represents the largest ever minigrid financing portfolio, according to Winch, which is owned by Winch Partners, Total Eren, Al Gihaz Holding and ITOCHU Europe. Courtesy of Winch The funding came through a new financing platform, Winch Energy IPP Holdings, which could grow to $100 million over the next two years. The financing ...

President Joe Biden is expected to release an infrastructure plan this month that sounds ready-made for microgrids. His goal, he said, is to make infrastructure “more climate resilient” to achieve “cheaper and cleaner” transport. Although microgrids seem like a perfect match for Biden’s plan, it’s uncertain how much they will play into it. Washington is well aware of solar, wind and energy storage, but microgrids, not so much. The technology, as used today, is still relatively new t...

Lincoln Electric System (LES), the public power utility serving greater Lincoln, Nebraska has set up a microgrid with up to 29 MW of load to serve critical facilities. Lincoln, Nebraska by  Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock.com The cost? Zero. The microgrid in downtown Lincoln is based around an existing duel-fuel, 29-MW generating unit and a substation and its infrastructure, according to Scott Benson, LES manager of resource and transmission planning. The project didn’t require any new equipmen...

A new training and certification program in California equips electricians with the skills needed to work with microgrids and storage, while aiming to ensure minority and disadvantaged residents benefit from the program. Photo courtesy ESAMTAC As part of the effort to train workers for jobs that address climate change, the California Workforce Development Board has provided a $1.25 million grant for training and certification through a new nonprofit, Energy Storage and Microgrid Training and Ce...

The US Congress passed a pandemic relief bill late Monday night that includes funding for microgrids, energy storage and renewable energy. The spending package includes the Energy Act of 2020, which contains consensus provisions from Senate and House energy legislation, Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Dec. 21. Update: President Trump signed the legislation into law on December 27 The Energy Act focuses on research, development, and demonstration of next-generatio...