November 19, 2024 Microgrids: Maintaining Power in Extreme Weather Events

Microgrids are tackling grid vulnerabilities, enhancing resilience and advancing sustainable urban energy infrastructure. Here’s how.

by Nick Tumilowicz, Director of Product Management for Distributed Energy Management, Itron

According to the Weather Channel, September 10 marks “the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, when conditions are most optimal for tropical storms and hurricanes over the largest area.” It’s also a timely reminder that extreme weather consistently threatens the power grid. A quick search for “extreme weather power outages” reveals a troubling trend: increasing disruption to our power systems. In this context, microgrids emerge as a promising solution. These self-sustaining power systems can operate independently from the grid, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains up and running even during severe weather events.

Understanding Microgrids

Microgrids represent an innovative approach to energy distribution, consisting of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) that function as a unified system. Their defining characteristic is the ability to disconnect from and reconnect to the main power grid, allowing them to operate autonomously when necessary. This self-sufficiency is achieved through reliance on local generation sources, such as solar panels or battery energy storage systems.

In contrast to traditional grids, which are large-scale centralized systems, microgrids are self-contained and can maintain power supply even during outages on the main grid. This design enhances resilience and reliability for connected consumers. Furthermore, microgrids offer utilities improved capabilities in managing peak loads and integrating DERs, which improve control and visibility over these distributed resources. This enhanced flexibility and adaptability makes microgrids a valuable tool in modernizing and optimizing energy distribution systems.

Microgrids function through a sophisticated interplay of DERs and advanced control systems. These localized power networks harness various energy sources, including solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage systems, to generate and distribute electricity within their defined boundaries.

At the core of every microgrid, regardless of its scale or application—whether it is serving military bases, communities or individual residences—lies a critical component: real-time, autonomous control. This is achieved through cutting-edge control systems that leverage distributed intelligence (DI), utilizing data from existing meters, networks and energy resource communications. These systems efficiently manage the generation, distribution and storage of energy within the microgrid, all while providing continuous, real-time visibility to network operations.

Why Microgrids are Becoming Critical Resources

One of the key features of microgrids is their ability to automatically disconnect from the larger power grid when outages are detected. This seamless transition to “island mode” is made possible by intelligent control systems, which constantly monitor both the microgrid and its connection to the main grid. When a disruption is sensed, the microgrid swiftly isolates itself, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to its connected loads by relying on its local energy resources. This capability significantly enhances the resilience and reliability of power delivery within the microgrid’s domain.

Microgrid technology is of paramount importance in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, microgrids play a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted power supply during grid disruptions. This ability to maintain power continuity during outages is not merely a convenience but can be a matter of life and death, particularly for critical infrastructure such as hospitals. In these settings, microgrids keep lifesaving equipment operational when the main grid fails, directly impacting human lives and safety.

Beyond emergency scenarios, microgrids contribute significantly to maintaining overall grid health by providing essential services that support the stability and reliability of the broader power network. This proactive approach to grid management helps prevent outages and enhances the resilience of our energy infrastructure. In fact, at the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) recent Transmission Distribution, Metering & Mutual Assistance (TDM&MA) Conference, island-only microgrids (not grid connected) were characterized as a major missed opportunity, akin to using a computer without a connection to the internet. It works for isolated tasks but is a big miss if not fully leveraged.

Furthermore, microgrids are at the forefront of optimizing energy usage and improving efficiency. As we transition towards a more connected and sustainable energy future, these systems serve as crucial building blocks. They enable smarter, more localized energy management, which is essential for integrating renewable energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint.

In the energy sector, microgrids are becoming increasingly vital tools for utilities. They allow these companies to deliver efficient, reliable and sustainable energy to their customers, meeting growing demands for cleaner energy and improved service quality. As such, microgrids are not just a technological advancement but a key component in the broader shift towards a more resilient, efficient and environmentally friendly energy ecosystem.

Planning for an Uncertain Future

The future of microgrids is inextricably linked to the development of smart cities and the broader push towards sustainable business practices. As cities evolve in the 21st century, microgrids are set to become a fundamental part of modern energy infrastructure. Their capacity to improve grid reliability and resilience tackles critical issues for urban planners and policymakers.

One of the key drivers of microgrid adoption in the coming years will be their seamless integration of renewable energy resources. As businesses and municipalities increasingly prioritize sustainability goals, microgrids offer a practical solution for incorporating clean energy sources into existing power systems. This alignment with sustainability objectives is likely to accelerate the deployment of microgrids across various sectors and geographies.

However, the widespread adoption of microgrids will depend heavily on the development of standardized approaches to their implementation. As these systems begin to proliferate across cities, states and even provinces, a unified framework for design, deployment and operation will be crucial. This standardization will not only streamline the process of integrating microgrids into existing infrastructure but also ensure interoperability and efficiency across different regions and applications.

Interestingly, also at the EEI’s recent TDM&MA, there was notable discussion surrounding the current trend of microgrid deployment by well-capitalized last mile delivery companies in lieu of a utility-approved grid connection. The use case is a Class 8 EV truck charging facility requiring a new 10MW interconnection. Rather than waiting for a substation upgrade, the customer can invest in local infrastructure to provide the power required by charging EV trucks. This market pressure could illustrate customer value and motivate regulators to evaluate costs and this loss of business if these types of customers elect to become their own utility.

Looking ahead, expect microgrids to play an increasingly prominent role in future technology trends and urban modernization efforts. They are likely to become integral components of smart city initiatives, contributing to more efficient energy management, reduced carbon footprints and improved resilience against power disruptions. As technology matures and costs decrease, microgrids may well become standard features in urban and industrial landscapes, fundamentally reshaping our approach to energy distribution and consumption.

About the Author:
Nick Tumilowicz is a thought leader, strategist, and recognized expert in DER management, including solar, storage, and EV technology leveraging decades of unique industry experience to advance global markets toward a clean energy future. In his current capacity as Itron’s Director of Product, Nick leads the Distributed Energy Management business unit, accountable for global product development of Demand Response, DER, EV, and Forecasting solutions enabling access to flexible customer energy resources. Nick holds a variety of positions on advisory councils: Department of Energy (NREL, Building Technologies Office, Solar Energy Technologies Office), Department of Defense (Naval Research Laboratory), General Services Administration, California Energy Commission, Grid Forward Leadership Committee, Incubate Energy Labs, Saudi Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnecting Authority, and regularly informs Public Utility/Service Commissions across the U.S.

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