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Eaton’s Power Xpert microgrid solutions help companies facilitate electrical energy savings, resiliency and independence from a utility. By integrating generation sources on a common grid structure, users gain a reliable, scalable and efficient solution to unexpected power loss while enhancing cybersecurity. Eaton works with customers offering turnkey services on the concept, design, cost, implementation and maintenance of the entire system.
View this update on our Puerto Rico microgrid with Enel X project.
The reliability of the U.S. power grid has been significantly compromised by factors such as aging equipment, lack of maintenance, insufficient infrastructure and the proliferation of energy-hungry devices. With the ability to isolate from the primary grid, microgrids have emerged as an ideal solution to assure energy resiliency, independence from utilities, islanding, load control and optimized energy usage.
A DER system, or microgrid, is never a “one-size-fits-all” solution. By understanding the needs and wants of a customer, microgrid developers can identify the applications and assets needed to engineer the right solution. To help get you started, we’re pleased to offer you the Eaton DER and Microgrid design guide.
There are numerous benefits from a microgrid yet because requirements and specifications are highly unique to every organization, developing a microgrid requires a careful analysis. From understanding optimal configuration and components to determining the most economical way to power your microgrid while keeping it resilient, Eaton’s team of experienced engineers can provide a cost-effective microgrid feasibility study for building a system that maximizes uptime and reliability, while also addressing financial factors.
Microgrids are stand-alone electrical power systems that integrate electrical loads and two or more generating assets that can operate autonomously or “islanded” from the utility grid. Microgrids are a reliable solution to unexpected power loss by balancing variations in energy demand and usage that can also help lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Visit Eaton’s Power Systems Experience Center to experience a full-scale operational microgrid, powering much of its lighting, HVAC and house loads. You’ll also see Eaton’s Power Xpert microgrid controller provide power continuity for the building’s short- and long-term utility interruptions. Experience peak shaving, black start from generator or energy storage, demand management and response, and more.
Learn how Eaton helps AEP Ohio enhance the resilience and sustainability of critical water infrastructure for the city of Columbus.
Check out the recording of our Energy Transition and Grid Transformation, microgrid and energy storage systems informative webinar. It’s part of our electrical industry applications on-demand webinar library.
Challenge: Located in California, a hospital was looking to maximize the value of their current distributed energy resources (DERs). Already existing on campus were two natural gas fuel cells providing on-bill energy savings through peak shaving and kWh consumption reduction as well as one standby generator providing backup power for critical loads. These separate systems each performed their dedicated function well, but further flexibility benefits could be unlocked by combining them into a microgrid.
Solution: Utilizing Eaton’s Pow-R-Line Xpert microgrid switchboard, all DERs and supported loads were connected to a centralized power distribution structure. The switchboard also provided connection for a third fuel cell as well as future provisions for additional solar or battery energy storage. The Power Xpert microgrid controller manages each DER as well as the connected loads. While grid-connected, the fuel cells follow the utility grid voltage and frequency. When the utility grid is absent the microgrid controller disconnects the system from the utility and non-critical loads, starts the backup generator to form a grid, and brings the fuel cells back online to follow the generator, increasing the amount of energy available within the microgrid.
Results: The hospital will realize maximum benefit from all their DER assets. Allowing them to support more critical loads during a grid outage and increasing system resilience. In addition, the hospital will reduce energy consumption and demand charges when grid-connected.
Challenge: Climate change is already impacting quality of life in central Ohio, and the challenges stemming from its very existence will only continue to grow more frequent and more common in the years ahead. Eaton was awarded a contract to help AEP Ohio enhance the resilience and sustainability of critical water infrastructure in Columbus at the Tussing Water Booster Station. The project will establish the city’s first renewable energy microgrid and extend Columbus’ ability to deliver safe and clean water during extended electric grid outages.
Solution: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as much as 40% of operating costs for drinking water systems can be for energy. The new microgrid at the Tussing Water Booster Station incorporates 100-kilowatts (kW) of onsite solar generation, 440-kilowatt hours (kWh) battery energy storage and Eaton’s intelligent microgrid controls to help offset energy costs and ensure residents receive safe drinking water. The microgrid system enables the city’s water tower to continue to operate in “island” mode during a grid outage to keep the water flowing. It will also help AEP Ohio support sustainable demand response and balance the grid through intelligent voltage regulation.
Results: Partially funded through AEP Ohio’s Smart City program, the project shows how microgrids can deliver more affordable, sustainable and resilient energy for critical infrastructure. The microgrid also supports the City of Columbus Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions by 45% and implement five microgrid pilot projects by 2030 to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Challenge: The electrification of buildings and transportation are changing when, where and how we use power. These trends are expected to accelerate in the years ahead making planning the electrical infrastructure of new commercial buildings more important than ever. A newly retrofitted multi-use facility being constructed in a major northeast city took this challenge head on.
Solution: The building was designed to be microgrid-ready with all protection and controls required for future solar and battery energy sources in place during initial construction. The Power Xpert microgrid controller will manage the solar, battery and loads as they are added. To ensure intended operation as the microgrid is built out HIL (hardware in the loop) testing was used to model microgrid operation and future state loads. This makes certain that as the needs of the building change, the microgrid will perform as designed.
Results: As the facility grows, tenants move in, and vehicles need change, the infrastructure will already be in place to support these needs. Further, the inclusion of renewable sources provides a hedge against rising utility rates – giving the building owner peace of mind that they are ready to meet facility energy needs efficiently and sustainably now and well into the future.
