Microgrids – Solar

Empowering rural areas: Microgrid initiatives in developing countries

As global humanitarian incidents, natural disasters, and an impending climate crisis continue to throw a wrench in the works of centralized governments, microgrids are a way for the community to see their own needs met, writes Amanda Winstead.

PNNL warns wind & solar ‘energy droughts’ may last a week, but storage can help

12.15.2023

PNNL researchers warn wind and solar energy droughts could last a week, but battery storage may help mitigate losses when demand is high.

NYC adjusts rooftop solar, EV zoning to ease installation

12.14.2023

The initiative updates regulations that NYC officials say created roadblocks for New Yorkers who hoped to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency or resiliency, install heat pumps or solar panels, or switch to EVs.

Reclamation announces $6 million for solar installation over canals in Arizona

12.12.2023

The Bureau of Reclamation will work with the Gila River Indian Community to cover 2,782 linear feet of the Casa Blanca canal with around 2,556 solar panels.

Coal-producing West Virginia is converting an entire school system to solar power

12.01.2023

up to 10,000 solar panels are expected to deliver as much as 5.33 MW of power to Wayne County Schools each year. Solar Holler estimates the first schools to be solarized in early 2024 and the others to go online on a rolling basis in the following 12 to 18 months.

Microgrid model spreads in Massachusetts as cities look to lessen costs, outages

11.23.2023

The city of Chelsea and Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood are each moving forward with microgrid projects that supporters hope will be powerful case studies for other communities to follow.

DER interconnection: 5 takeaways from the IREC Vision Summit 2023

11.15.2023

Over the course of several moderated sessions and fireside chats, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council Vision 2023 Summit presented ideas and practices that will shape the future of DER interconnection.

New DOE tool connects multiple microgrids for resilience

The DOE-funded software is designed to manage the exchange of power between multiple microgrids within a network. …

How to make the most of investment tax credits: Applying for bonus credits

The Investment Tax Credit and its Bonus Credits are a game changer for improving the economics of solar and solar+storage projects. …

PG&E to launch $79M microgrid incentive program

The program will provide funding, expertise, and guidance for building community, local, and tribal government-proposed multi-customer microgrids….

DOE grant to accelerate CA children’s hospital microgrid

This microgrid at Valley Children’s is one of just 15 projects chosen as part of the DOE’s $325 million commitment to fund similar projects nationwide that pr…

Rural cooperatives seek $93B for IRA clean energy projects

Together, the 157 rural cooperatives’ clean energy plans represent an investment of over $93 billion in more than 750 clean energy projects….

State, federal funding fuels expansion of Minnesota microgrid research center

The University of St. Thomas’ Center for Microgrid Research recently won a $7.5 million state legislative appropriation and $11 million in federal defense bil…

If Xcel won’t fund resilience hubs, Minnesota has other options

Minnesota PUC has an opportunity to show that it can stand up to a monopoly like Xcel Energy by enabling aggregators and third-party developers….

Solar+storage microgrids replacing diesel at remote California water project

The microgrids will feature a 1,120 kW ground-mount solar PV system, 693 kW/2664 kWh battery energy storage system, and 380 kW of ultra-low emission generation….

Local residents in Puerto Rico built the island’s first community-owned solar microgrid

The microgrid project is the latest effort in a grassroots movement to build energy security in the form of solar power….