The U.S. electrical grid has been in place for decades and, by and large, has been a dependable electricity distribution network. But with aging equipment, lack of maintenance and infrastructure investment, the proliferation of newer energy-hungry devices and increasing costs, it's showing signs of wear and an inability to keep up with demand.
With grid dependability waning, more municipalities, advanced research centers, secure government campuses, large-scale utilities and urban and rural residential communities are turning to microgrids: stand-alone electrical systems that consist of multiple generation sources and defined loads that can operate independently from the primary utility grid.
Microgrids use electricity with greater efficiency. At the heart of a microgrid lay a series of interconnected IoT devices that rely on embedded software and sensors to collect and exchange data. These devices are installed at key areas, like inverters, battery storage units and power generators, to measure and record multiple power usage and other data points in fractions of a second. Eaton technologies link these connected devices via a suite of platform-agnostic tools.
Acting as the intelligence – the very thinking that makes data actionable – Eaton's product and platform-agnostic power controllers, sub-station connectivity devices and monitoring tools help organizations achieve their highest power efficiency potential by optimizing where, when and how electricity is consumed.
A microgrid is a group of power generation assets that can either work with a utility provider or work independently to feed critical loads. Connected to a utility and traditional fossil fuel generators, as well as renewable sources such as wind and solar, microgrids work to collect, store and optimize energy to provide reliable, efficient electricity solutions in the event of power loss.
Here's a typical microgrid scenario that demonstrates how Eaton reduces dependency on a utility by using data to determine the source of power:
A microgrid is as unique as the business, community or government institution that deploys one. The solution is never "one-size-fits-all"; by understanding an organization's needs and wants, microgrid developers can identify the applications and assets needed to custom engineer an appropriate solution.
Organizations typically fall within the spectrum of three goals: reliability, affordability and sustainability. Of course, every customer would like to build a microgrid that "does it all." However, while benefits sometimes overlap, building a solution that entirely satisfies all three objectives could be cost prohibitive.
The need for consistent, always-on power is a huge concern for many companies and residential communities. After Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and most recently Hurricanes Irma and Maria, many states, such as New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, awarded grants and passed disaster-response legislation to reduce or eliminate power loss. Frequency regulation is also a factor. As more coal and oil plants decommission and their inverters come offline, many U.S. states experience frequency and voltage control fluctuations.
Additionally, remote and island communities and developing African nations are exploring microgrids for resilient energy to lessen dependency on fossil fuels, especially oil and diesel.
Many governments, large corporations and institutions look to microgrids for financial benefits. As natural gas prices continue to drop, companies want to capture the gas-generator heat they already produce via combined heat and power: the on-site capture of heat that would otherwise be wasted to produce steam or hot water used for space heating, cooling and other industrial processes.
In some cases, larger organizations generate the same output as a utility and even create power surpluses they can sell to their utility provider. This return-on-investment approach is especially attractive to larger organizations with multiple generators.
Microgrid clients have one thing in common: the need for reliable power. But reliability means different things to different customers. Eaton helps customers understand the ins and outs of power alternatives via its 5MW microgrid at the Eaton Experience Center, a premier demonstration and testing facility. Here, clients explore ways to access renewable energy, profit from excess supply, and even operate off 100 percent internal power… with no grid support whatsoever.
When cost is a factor, Eaton supports a staged build out. For instance, if an organization wants to add a generator one year, a battery in year two and a wind turbine in the third year, components can be added without a major rewrite of code logic. That's because MES is 75% pre-engineered, with the remaining code and application configuration custom built to customer-specific environments and key performance indicators. This includes customized solutions and full simulation testing. And because all controllers are gateway components, cyber security is inherent thanks to features already built in.
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