ETAP, a provider of software solutions for the design, optimization, and on-line operation of mission-critical electrical power infrastructure, recently announced that the company is breaking ground on its own corporate campus microgrid in Irvine, California.
“Because of our leadership role providing power system software technologies for smart grids and microgrids for our customers, we’ve seen first-hand the benefits they can provide for all sorts of organizations, ours included,” said Farrokh Shokooh, founder, president and CEO of ETAP. “We’re making a conscious decision, and a sizable investment of resources, to broaden our knowledge of best practices in the alternative energy arena. In making this investment, we are showing with our actions — not just words — that we are committed to deepening our understanding of the issues our customers face when they commit to a smart grid or microgrid strategy for their organization.”
The completed microgrid is expected to generate 180 kilowatts of electricity. It will save the company an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 per year in annual energy costs, while providing 12 car-charging stations for ETAP employees who drive electric vehicles. The microgrid is scheduled to be deployed before the end of July, when ETAP hosts its annual Global Partner Symposium.
Once operational, the microgrid will be controlled by the company’s Real-Time software platform, which is designed to enable on-line monitoring, simulation and demand side management of smart grids and microgrids. It will also monitor the building’s power consumption throughout the day, providing insights into ETAP’s energy usage patterns to help the company lower energy costs.
Utilizing this knowledge will allow the company to optimize when and how it uses electric power. For example, it is anticipated the system will provide insights about grid performance, including real-time performance monitoring, accurate determination of electrical power consumption, and automatic management of electrical power demand. The system is also designed to allow reproduction of events and verifications tools to diagnose them, as well as the ability to strategically schedule energy usage.
Source: ETAP
