Rwanda is the first country in Africa to embrace the transition to electric vehicles on a large scale. Volkswagen is manufacturing EVs there, and in the capital city of Kigali, Rwanda is implementing a car sharing program that is creating a new transportation paradigm.
Lili Francklyn
HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International Draws Worldwide Audience
Participants from more than 120 countries joined us for the ninth annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International Conference last month. We bring you some of the highlights and information on how to access complimentary recordings of the proceedings:
DC Mesh Grid Microgrid Networks Show Promise in Developing Country Rural Electrification Projects
A DC mesh network in Cambodia brings low-cost electricity to a remote rural village for the first time. Learn how Otteh Edubio from Okra Solar builds these microgrids. Then get the details from his presentation recorded at the HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International.
Design and Feasibility Comparison of On- and Off-Grid Hybrid EV Charging Stations in India
The electrification of India’s transportation sector is critical if the country is to meet its climate goals. Professor Venkatesh Boddapati has been modeling EV charging stations that use renewable energy to find out the most optimal configurations. Don’t miss his presentation at the HOMER Energy by UL’s 9th annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International conference.
HMHI Conference Agenda Preview
Don’t miss the HOMER Energy by UL’s 9th Annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International virtual conference. It’s coming up October 12-14 and registration is complementary. See the complete agenda.
Navigating the Challenges of Grid Interconnection on the Island of Curaçao
Microgrid News spoke with Michael Ginsberg of Bowman Consulting to explore some of the challenges involved in connecting DER-powered facilities to the grid. Michael will discuss his experience with grid integration of renewable energy on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Join us to hear about his findings at HOMER Energy by UL’s 9th Annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International, during the Island Power: Renewables for Diesel-Powered Utilities session on October 14th at 8 am, MDT.
From Conventional Power Plants to Hybrid Power and Microgrids: An Interview with Dino Ablakovic, Siemens Energy
Fossil-based power plants are adding renewable energy resources, storage and hydrogen, and being reconfigured as microgrids or grid-tied hybrid power plants. One company working on that challenge is Siemens Energy. We spoke with Siemens Microgrid Product Manager Dino Ablakovic about his work and upcoming presentation for the 9th Annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International conference held on Oct. 12-14, 2021.
Extreme Weather and Need for Resilience Spur North American Microgrid Growth
Research shows the commercial and industrial use of microgrids in industrialized countries will likely soon surpass remote, rural microgrids. This shift is motivated by the need for resilient power systems in the face of climate change.
Flow Batteries: Technology Synergies Will Provide Grid Stabilization
Flow batteries are considered excellent choice for large-scale energy storage projects for a number of reasons, but primarily because they can cycle for multiple short periods daily, for about 30 years while maintaining an even performance. The Energy Superhub Oxford will install the UK’s first transmission-connected battery, a lithium-ion/vanadium flow battery, sited at National Grid’s Cowley Substation.
Mini-grid Remote Monitoring and Control Delivers Cost-Saving Improvements in O&M
Remote monitoring and control systems can offer cost savings for the operation and maintenance of mini-grids. Equatorial Power is developing a mini-grid that will power a new industrial park in addition to powering the communities on the Ugandan island of Lolwe in Lake Victoria.
Move Over Truck Stops: “Convenience” EV Charging Depots Will Deliver Electricity and Food — Powering Cars and People at the Same Time
Rapid growth of the electric vehicle market means that EV charging infrastructure will have to grow to meet passenger needs. One California company – ChargeNet – is preparing for the future with a new kind of convenience stop that combines charging and restaurants.
60Hertz deploys its mobile O&M software – equipped with new language capabilities – to Africa and Southeast Asia
60Hertz, developer of a mobile app for microgrid maintenance, began its work in collaboration with remote Alaskan villages. Now the company has set its sights on customers overseas, in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America:
Caribbean Renwable Energy Forum (CREF) Virtual – 2020
The Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2020 – a virtual event – will be taking place October 28-30. Watch this space for details on the agenda and how to register.
HOMER Conference Sponsorships are Available
Join us at the virtual 8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference as a Sponsor! Taking place via online sessions October 12-16 and free to attendees, the HOMER conference will attract a broad range of participants involved in every aspect of the fast-growing microgrid industry. Don’t miss the opportunity to get your brand and your work in front of the world’s foremost microgrid and distributed energy experts:
Ace Natural, New York: Organic Food Wholesaler Builds Microgrid to Boost Resilience and Cut Utility Bills
An organic food distributor in the metro New York area recently installed a microgrid – designed by HOMER Grid – to improve their bottom line along with their resiliency. Ace Natural is saving more than half their utility costs by using renewable energy, while batteries and a generator powered by biodiesel ensure continuous operations if there’s a power outage:
How Distributed Energy Can Help Meet New Infrastructure Demands for Electric Vehicle Charging
The rapid expansion of the electric vehicle market is going to create two challenges for society: first, electrified transportation is going to increase our demand for electricity; second; in order to serve new EV owners, we will have to make rapid upgrades to our EV charging infrastructure. How will the transition to electrified transportation affect consumers, utilities and other stakeholders? We explore that question in light of the new HOMER Grid EV charging station design tool:
Energy Net | Nigeria Focus: Energy for Health Care
Join us for a free digital broadcast this summer from Energy Net, producer of the Africa Energy Forum. HOMER Energy by UL founder Peter Lilienthal will be part of a July 2nd panel discussing health care options in Nigeria:
Grid Integration Week, 3, 5, 11-12 November 2020
RE Grid Integration Week — online live and on-demand. — is coming up this November. This three-conferences-in-one event features eMobility, Solar+Storage and Wind workshops. Register Now.
Meet Speakers for the 2020 Virtual HOMER International Microgrid Conference
The 8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference will be taking place October 12-16 this year as a virtual event. HOMER users from around the world will be joining us, and you are welcome! Learn about some of the speakers who will be presenting:
HOMER Grid Tip: Using the New EV Charging Station Design Tool
HOMER Grid, software for designing distributed renewable energy systems, now includes a tool for modeling EV charging stations. Have a look and find useful links to the HOMER Grid manual that will explain how to integrate EV charging in your designs of grid-tied systems, how to cut your demand charges and calculate payback periods:
Electric Pressure Cookers and Microgrids Provide Hope in Solving the Intractable Global Problem of Biomass Cooking
Indoor air pollution, mostly caused by cooking with wood and charcoal, causes millions of deaths each year in developing countries, mostly to women. Biomass cooking also depletes forests and adds to global warming. Now the combination of high efficiency electric pressure cookers (EPCs) powered by renewable energy mini-grids, are being tested in East Africa. The hope is that electric cooking can save lives as well as ecosystems:
HOMER Grid Software Now Models Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
HOMER Grid, software for pre-feasibility analysis of grid-tied distributed energy projects, now incorporates a tool for designing EV charging stations. The new feature helps users determine how renewable energy and storage systems can reduce utility costs of EV charging:
Xcel Energy Planning Seven Colorado Microgrids
Xcel Energy is proposing to build seven Colorado microgrids as part of a project to boost community resilience and modernize the grid. Still pending is a decision by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that would allow Xcel to recover the cost of the microgrids from its rate base:
HOMER Energy Expands Training, Introduces Online Version of In-Depth, Six-hour “HOMER Foundations” Course
HOMER Energy is expanding its online training offerings. You can take introductory courses or the first online version of the in-depth, six-hour HOMER Foundations course:
8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference, 100% Virtual, October 12-16, 2020
HOMER Energy is pleased to announce we are now accepting speaker proposals for the 8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference 2020. The conference will be 100% virtual and will take place from October 13-16. Join us and
EarthSpark Secures $10 million from the Green Climate Fund to build 22 microgrids in Haiti
EarthSpark International, a nonprofit focused on bringing energy access to Haiti’s rural poor, has just received $10 million dollars from the UN Green Climate Fund. EarthSpark will use the money to continue and expand its efforts to build high-quality microgrids that deliver renewable electricity to over 20 towns without any access to power. Renewable electricity will help consumers save more than 50 percent of what they currently spend on kerosene, charcoal and diesel fuel:
Mountain microgrid: Alternative Power Enterprises designs an off-grid ranch system with HOMER Pro
One of the biggest microgrids on Colorado’s Western Slope powers a remote vacation ranch. Alternative Power Enterprises designed and built the project. Learn about how the design decisions that were made are saving money and increasing resiliency:
Microgrid Knowledge, Virtual Conference, June 1-3
Join HOMER Energy VP of Business Development Andy Kruse and University of Pittsburgh engineering professor Dr. Gregory Reed. What: Microgrid Knowledge Virtual Conference Where: Please visit Microgrid Knowledge […]
Earth Day 2020: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary
Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, when millions of Americans protested air and water pollution, pesticides and waste. That event prompted important actions that improved air and water quality. Now Earth Day is worldwide, and together we face the challenge of global warming. Renewable energy is progressing rapidly. Can we harness this technology to help mitigate climate change?
HOMER Grid Users Can Now Design Custom Microgrid Control Strategies
HOMER Energy by UL recently released two powerful, customizable Controller APIs that give users the ability to create and simulate their own dispatch strategy in HOMER Grid, software for modeling the design of behind-the-meter distributed energy systems.