This technology helps SUNY to better deal with intermittent power production and successfully incorporate the solar energy into its grid. SUNY’s hybrid microgrid will also test a smart technology that manages the complexity of having power being both used and produced locally. Thus, the hybrid solar energy system will act as a reliable back-up energy source for emergency use, keeping the 7,800-student campus safe from weather-induced blackouts or cyber-attacks. The hybrid microgrid’s battery storage system will be in the gym’s basement, and will help mitigate the variability of solar power production. The new system will generate clean energy from 217 kilowatts of solar panels installed on a campus gym and library. The State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz has partnered with state agencies and utilities to build a state-of-the-art hybrid solar panel and battery storage energy system on a microgrid. Universities equipped with meteorological stations, like Santa Clara University, may use weather reports to optimize clean power generation.ĭeploying microgrids allows universities to demonstrate the practicability of high penetrations of variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, while improving overall reliability.Īfter universities like Princeton and Rutgers lost power during Hurricane Sandy, colleges were motivated to secure their campus power supply to be more resilient in the face of central grid power outages. Living Labs: Colleges may also use smart technology at the building level, analyzing sensor data to predict and smooth energy consumption to better meet supply. This resiliency can be an important benefit to colleges concerned about power outages affecting the function of research facilities.Įxpert Knowledge: Schools can benefit from expert faculty knowledge and motivated student bodies to manage both energy supply and demand within a microgrid. Increased Reliability: Microgrids can continue to function even during central grid outages. Islanding: The already self-contained nature of many campuses makes colleges perfect candidates for developing microgrids. Smart technology to match renewable energy supply and demand.įor example, the Illinois Institute of Technology microgrid stores excess power in batteries and uses smart software to avoid blackouts in labs containing important research.Ĭollege campuses are well suited to develop microgrids:.Energy storage to save excess clean energy for periods when production is low, and.To address these issues, colleges can combine microgrids with: Intermittent electricity generation: Wind and solar power generation is variable, depends on weather conditions, and may not be available at the same time as energy is used during the day.ĭistribution protection: The presence of generation within the distribution system means energy flows both ways, which can make it hard to regulate voltage. But microgrids powered by renewable energy come with challenges: This allows a campus to keep the lights on even if there is an outage on the main grid. Microgrids are self-contained electric grids that can operate as an “island” independent of the central power grid.
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