Because of this capability, microgrids are appealing to communities located in areas where the electric grid does not yet reach, or where the grid is unreliable. For instance, engineers need to obtain detailed building load data and utility rate schedules in order to accurately design a grid interactive solar-plus-storage system that is configured for “peak shaving,” a term used to describe the practice of reducing utility demand charges.Ī salient feature of a microgrid system is its ability to operate in islanded mode when disconnected from the grid. Still, a major challenge in designing a microgrid is collecting all of the data that is necessary to truly optimize the system.
The program is meant to optimize microgrids by allowing users to compare multiple system sizes, configurations and other technical characteristics, giving clients the greatest possible return on investment.
WHAT DOES HOMER ENERGY DO SOFTWARE
Although the training was only for two days, it was clear that the teacher was extremely knowledgeable about hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources (HOMER).ĭesigning a microgrid can be a complex task, but HOMER Energy’s software simplifies the technical design process and offers relatively easy economic evaluation. Zapotec’s lead design engineer, Ella Willard-Schmoe, says that the software’s interface was well designed and intuitive. Similar to an online classroom, the training was conducted in a manner that allowed the engineers to ask questions and guide the training toward their own areas of interest. Zapotec’s design engineers recently worked with HOMER Energy LLC, a leading microgrid modeling software company, to complete an introductory training on microgrid optimization. In fact, the price of energy storage is expected to drop 70 percent over the next 15 years, which will lead to many new opportunities for variable renewable energy sources. The combination of declining prices in energy storage, a shift in utility regulation, and the adoption of progressive state incentives has created a confluence for microgrids, making projects more attractive to investors than ever before. The high cost of energy storage and the success of grid-direct solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have made most projects impractical– until now. The buzz about microgrids has been around for several years, but development has been stuck in a stage of ideation.
A Microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode.” – US Department of Energy Microgrid: “A group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid.
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