Microgrids

Microgrids typically consist of a number of different power generation technologies and draw upon the benefits of renewable energies, storage technologies and gas and diesel engines. The combination and synchronization of different power generation technology types can be referred to as ‘hybrid power generation’.

Microgrids provide power resilience and can supply both electricity and heat to local users. Drivers to develop microgrids can be many including poor local electricity networks, weather challenges causing network disruption or local incentives to reduce peak demands and generate higher levels of renewable energy.

Microgrids, although not constrained by size, are generally designed and implemented to serve local power needs and therefore tend to be distributed, self contained, power systems that may or may not be connected to a wider microgrid cluster and or the national grid.

Microgrids, depending on specific objectives and availability of local resources, are powered by a variety of power generation types and often combine coordinate and control renewable energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaics (PV); with high efficiency gas engines and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, that can be fuelled by pipeline gas or renewable gas.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are often incorporated to maximize the effectiveness of the renewables, to improve resilience or simply add ‘synthetic inertia’ and stability to a microgrid.

Grid connected microgrids are directly connected to the local electricity distribution network. They have the benefit of potential self-sufficiency for power but can also take electricity from or supply electricity back to the local power network. One potential challenge of grid connected microgrids is that if there is a failure within the wider power network, the local microgrid may also fail.

To negate this risk, additional considerations can be made to the scheme to facilitate automatic change over to island operation and load shedding to ensure connected loads do not exceed the microgrid generating capabilities.

Grid Connected with Island Mode (“Islandable”)

Certain microgrids whilst normally operating in parallel with the local network, can disconnect the grid incoming supply and provide the necessary power infrastructure independent of the network. To do this, you require power generation sources that can operate independently from the grid such as a gas engine capable of running on island mode.

There may be the need to add black start capability which means the engine can start the microgrid without the presence of an external power source such as the electricity grid.

Island Mode

Island mode microgrids are isolated from other power generation networks and may supply a single facility or multiple users. They are self sufficient for power production but cannot supply surplus energy and at times of deficiency cannot take electricity from the grid. These systems may be found in remote areas, in areas where the local electricity network is highly unstable or in places where self-sufficiency of power is essential.

Combining Clarke Energy’s expertise with a microgrid platform gives the potential to use the same technology and algorithms across your project. This provides the added benefits of accurate pricing, supplier accountability, risk transfer, facility resilience and reliability.