Dear Readers, As this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference — COP27 — comes to a close, it is timely that the discussions coincide with the passage of […]
Peter Lilienthal, Ph.D.
Message from the Founder of HOMER Software – September 2022
Activity continues to move microgrids and hybrid power systems forward. The big news here in the U.S. is the passage of major climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. In our article discussing the law, we focus on the transformational impact of the new policies. We expect it to accelerate the adoption of clean energy in the U.S. and I hope the law encourages other measures around the world.
Attitudes about How to Address Climate Change Slowing Progress
I have categorized attitudes about climate change into four buckets.
1. Magic bullet
2. Throw everything at the wall
3. Our grandchildren will be much more prosperous and will have the resources to deal with it
4. Let’s do the easy stuff first
Message from the Founder of HOMER Software – June 2022
In this newsletter, I am excited to share that on June 27, 2022, UL enterprise revealed new brands for three organizations – UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement and UL Solutions. These brands reflect and clarify the unique roles that each organization plays in carrying forward our shared mission of working for a safer world — a mission that has guided us for 128 years.
Message from the Founder – April 2022
The big news is our new collaboration with the Microgrid Knowledge annual conference. With the surging interest in microgrids, the time is right for the leaders in microgrid education to work together to further the rapid advancement of microgrids. I am honored to have been asked to present the winners of the Microgrid Greater Good Awards at the Microgrid 2022 annual conference on June 1 – 2. We will also be conducting a HOMER Technology Workshop on June 2 at the event. We hope to see you there and please use our discount code, HOMERVIP for a 10% discount.
Message from the Founder – March 2022
Throughout the decades, microgrids keep progressing. We’ve always categorized microgrids into three segments characterized by primary value: energy access, diesel fuel reduction for isolated grids and resilience for grid-connected microgrids. While these aren’t the only benefits a microgrid provides, each segment is identified by the primacy of one of these objectives. This month’s newsletter illustrates a microgrid in each of the categories.
Founder’s Message – January 2022
There are many reasons microgrids are important. Most notably microgrids provide a resilient power supply and enable energy providers to use renewables at high penetrations and bypass some of the problems inherent in a centralized and highly regulated utility sector.
Founder’s Message – October 2021
Our annual conference is the most exciting time of the year for me and the entire HOMER staff. We get to hear from hybrid energy practitioners around the world about the huge variety of applications and challenges associated with pioneering new clean power systems. In this newsletter we feature two of our conference presenters and training opportunities associated with the conference.
Founder’s Message – September 2021
In this month’s newsletter, we demonstrate the progress of the microgrid industry with features on projects completed by two of the largest companies in the power industry.
Founder’s Message — August 2021
What an exciting time for hybrid power. Although we at HOMER Energy by UL have been focusing on hybrid power systems for decades, the industry is now seeing explosive growth, expansion into new markets, and acceptance by mainstream players in the electric power industry.
Message from the Founder
This month’s newsletter features articles that highlight the expanding applications for hybrid power systems. Our article on Kilowatts for Humanities solar kiosks in Zambia is one example of the use of microgrids to provide electricity in remote areas.
Message from the Founder
The June 2021 issue of the Microgrid News newsletter highlights the evolution of the microgrid market. When HOMER Software was created, the focus was primarily on developing country applications like the Nigerian installation described in “Energy Access Brings Improved Quality of Life and Boosts Local Economies.” This is still a critical market, but no longer the only one.
Message from the Founder
Change keeps accelerating in the energy world, especially for microgrids. We are now reviewing dozens of submissions to our annual conference and hoping you all can attend. The conference will be virtual again this year, making it easy to get to from anywhere in the world. Sponsorship packages also are now available, which offers a powerful way to get in front of and be seen as a leader in the global microgrid community.
Message from the Founder
This month’s newsletter reinforces my belief that we really are at an inflection point in the transition to clean energy. The U.S. is making a 180-degree turn toward aggressively promoting clean energy as described in “U.S. Bill to Create a Cleaner Energy Future.“ Though the bill may change through the legislative process, it is clearly a good sign for hybrid power, renewables and microgrids that this effort is taking place at the highest levels.
Message from the Founder: Thoughts on the Texas Energy Crisis
This month’s newsletter features a close look by the founder of HOMER Energy by UL at contributing causes of the Texas Energy Crisis, as well as a news story on the February event, and an article about a promising financial innovation for mini-grids in Africa. And please join us for our upcoming webinar: “Microgrids and Hybrid Power Everywhere: Optimizing the New Energy Wave” on March 25 and the Middle East and Africa Renewables Summit this week where I will moderate a panel discussion on March 10.
Message from the Founder
Our February newsletter highlights the broad range of diversity in microgrid applications. On the remote end of the spectrum, we look at microgrids for mining operations. At the other extreme, we feature a very small microgrid at a school on a small island in Indonesia.
Message from the Founder
Happy New Year. We have high hopes for 2021. Although it will take several months, we are optimistic that life will get easier as the vaccine rolls out. […]
Message from the Founder
The 8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference was a great success. In addition to a review of some of the highlights of our conference, this issue of Microgrid News has a fascinating article about a solar microgrid above the Arctic Circle and a story that highlights the role of microgrids in making municipal services more resilient. We are confident that 2021 will be a banner year for renewables and predict that we will see more emphasis on resilience.
Message from the Founder
Beyond serving as an introduction to the 8th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference which starts Monday, October 12, this issue of Microgrid News highlights new developments in the field of distributed energy such as the release of FERC Order 2222, current efforts to boost resiliency in California, and new power solutions for islanded communities.
Message from the Founder – September 2020: Evolution of the Microgrid Industry, HIMC 2020, Remote Monitoring, EV Truck Fleets & Regulations
In this issue of HOMER Microgrid News, we will preview some of the presentations you will hear, including a topic dear to my heart, remote monitoring. We also have an article on a hybrid battery combining the power of lithium with the durability and energy content of a flow battery, and an article on the coming wave of electric truck fleets.
Message from the Founder – August 2020: Regulations, EV Charging, Remote Microgrids, New HOMER Pro Proposal Writer & HIMC 2020
The August 2020 issue of the HOMER Microgrid News features articles on regulatory reforms in California, a company using HOMER to develop green EV charging stations, a solution to microgrid operations and maintenance challenges, and HOMER Pro’s new Proposal Writer tool.
Message from the Founder – July 2020: Resilience, EV Charging, Powering Health & HIMC 2020
The July 2020 issue of the HOMER Microgrid News features an article about a microgrid for a New York food distributor and an analysis of EV charging infrastructure. Will it be enough to enable growth of the EV industry?
Message from the Founder – June 2020: EV charging tool and eCooking
This month the Microgrid News highlights two important developments impacted by renewable electricity: A new EV charging design feature is available in HOMER Grid, and we look at research on electric cooking and mini-grids in East Africa a trend that could save lives and help the environment:
Power Pricing in the Renewable Age
HOMER Energy CEO Dr. Peter Lilienthal discusses changes we might make in the ways we price utility power as renewable energy provides a larger proportion of our electricity. How should energy pricing be used to incentivize the use of clean energy, energy conservation and dispatch of electricity at the most efficient times? What role will microgrids play in the transition?
HOMER Energy is now part of UL
You may have heard that HOMER Energy was recently acquired by UL. That prompted HOMER Energy CEO Dr. Peter Lilienthal to think about the history of the company, its roots in the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its recent evolution into a globally recognized tool for the trusted design of distributed renewable energy systems.
7th Annual HOMER International Microgrid Conference: Thank you!
Each year I feel a tremendous sense of excitement while hosting the HOMER International Microgrid Conference. This year’s event was particularly exhilarating and allowed me to reflect on how grateful I am to be a member of the microgrid community. I’d like to thank the colleagues who traveled from afar to participate and share some highlights of the conference with you:
HOMER training helps move Somaliland to a cleaner energy future
HOMER Energy CEO Dr. Peter Lilienthal recently returned from Somaliland where he was conducting a training on the HOMER software. Since his last visit, the country has been embracing renewable energy:
Demand response programs create new value for distributed generation
As distributed generation continues to grow at rates that outpace predictions, more utilities are turning to demand response programs as a way of managing loads dynamically. Once the realm of large industrial customers and some innovative residential programs, demand response will soon be an option for any owner of distributed generation, particularly if it has energy storage:
HOMER Energy welcomes summer interns from Africa and Haiti
HOMER Energy is delighted to welcome several interns from electrical engineering and computer science departments at the University of Notre Dame this summer. Musodiq Ogunlowo from Lagos, Nigeria, Perfect Mfashijwenimana from Musanze, Rwanda and Henri Francois from Port au Prince Haiti, are all about to enter their senior year of studies at Notre Dame.
What Does It Take To Get To 100% Renewable?
Going “100 percent renewable” is a worthwhile and important goal, but it’s a challenging proposition technically. That’s not stopping cities, states and corporations from adding their names to a list that grows daily. We explore the different meanings of this term, and the challenges of getting there: