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Container Microgrids: Lowering Costs Through Modular Design and Streamlined Engineering

In the ongoing effort to lower the cost of microgrid deployment, one concept that continues to evolve is that of the modular microgrid, best expressed in a system that can fit inside a single shipping container. It’s not a new idea. What is relatively new is a complete, stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system, such as the ones designed by BoxPower and Arizona State University:

Demand response – coming soon to HOMER Grid

Demand response programs are evolving to meet new kinds of load management challenges that utilities are facing. The evolution of distributed renewable energy resources is prompting more utilities to implement demand response programs. As a result, HOMER Energy is upgrading HOMER Grid, our primary tool for designing behind-the-meter distributed energy systems, to include financial modeling of demand response:

Falling Renewable Power Costs Open Door to Greater Climate Ambition

Over three-quarters of the onshore wind and four-fifths of the solar PV capacity that is due to be commissioned next year will produce power at lower prices than the cheapest new coal, oil or natural gas options, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). That makes renewable energy the least-cost climate solution, IRENA says, and prices will continue to fall into the next decade:

California Utilities Plan Shutoffs to Forestall 2019 Fire Disasters

Reeling from several years of catastrophic wildfires and the financial losses that are looming in their wake, California utilities have a new strategy for dealing with fire risk: shutting off the electricity. The plan targets populations in high-risk fire zones – which include much of the state – and creates worrisome risk for vulnerable populations. MIcrogrids would improve resilience and soften the blow of power cuts.

Learning from Western Australia: A geography made for microgrids

With its massive land area, thinly scattered population and resource-based economy, Western Australia has always been challenged to maintain an electric grid that covers long distances under harsh environmental conditions. Utilities are discovering that hybrid renewable microgrids can be cheaper than the upkeep on such a sprawling electrical empire, and the state’s government is listening:

Locating Pittsburgh Microgrids for Climate Resilience and Calculating their Value

A University of Pittsburgh economist who specializes in analyzing the financial risk of climate impacts is working on calculating the value of microgrids to help provide greater resilience in cities. She’s using spacial techniques to determine where microgrids should be located to provide maximum service, and she’s using HOMER Pro calculate a cost-benefit analysis:

2019 Community Power Scorecard

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has released its “Community Power Scorecard,” an assessment of state policies that encourage clean local energy development. The top ranking states, in order, are Massachusetts, California, New York and Illinois. Not surprisingly, these same states are also moving ahead rapidly with other renewable energy initiatives including storage incentives and policies that facilitate the development of microgrids.

India’s Microgrid Market: Ready for Takeoff

India is a leader in renewable energy among developing countries and recently completed the world’s largest solar park. But beyond utility-scale installations, India is also working on a plan to build 10,000 microgrids to deliver energy access to the millions of people who still don’t have it. It’s no surprise that – of over 190 countries – India is also HOMER Energy’s second largest user base:

Energy Future: Diverse, Decentralized, Distributed, Decarbonized, Democratized, and Digitized.

We are in the midst of a critical paradigm shift as our energy system evolves from a centralized power plant model to a complex array of smaller, distributed energy networks that incorporate multiple – primarily renewable – technologies. Driven by the new cost advantages of renewable energy, as well as an urgent need to reduce our carbon emissions, these changes are upending century-old beliefs about how energy should be produced and distributed. HOMER Energy CEO and co-founder Dr. Peter Lilienthal explains the new principles that should guide our energy decisions:

Navigant Report: Blockchain Establishes Secure Foundation for Distributed Energy

A new Navigant report concludes that blockchain technology will play an important role in the management and improved security of distributed energy. Characterized by decentralization, a growing number of diverse, interconnected resources, and the increasing use of digital technologies, distributed energy needs a framework for improved cyber security at both the network and device level, says Navigant Research.

Improving Energy Access in Rural Africa Depends on Renewable Energy Microgrids

African countries are making rapid progress in adopting renewable energy and in fact, it is developing countries that are now leading the global transition to clean energy. However, energy access in Africa is still a huge problem for two thirds of the population, mostly for people who live in rural areas. The good news is that renewable energy microgrids are the fastest, most cost-effective path to electrification. That’s why several African countries have ambitious plans to expand microgrid investment

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Learn about microgrid and distributed energy design and technology, finance and policy initiatives all over the world. Microgrid technology is exploding in popularity as our energy systems make the transformation to clean distributed power. Read about successful hybrid renewable energy and microgrid projects, how they were built, how they operate and who benefits.

Solar and Nuclear: What’s Wrong with Putting All Options on the Table?

In general, putting all options on the table seems like good policy advice and normally it is. With respect to energy and climate policy it is a way to avoid antagonizing proponents of conventional energy sources. In the context of phasing out fossil fuels, it really boils down to the two carbon-free sources with the greatest potential: solar and nuclear. We explore the choices: