M I G H T Y M I C R O G R I D SH O W S M A L L G R I D S C O U L D B E C O M E A B I G D E A L

John Farrell & Matt Grimley March 15, 2016

A Q U E S T I O N

How much do Americans spend on electricity each year?

A ( N ) ( I N E F F I C I E N T ) M A R V E L

P O R T I O N O F E L E C T R I C G E N E R AT I O N L O S T A S

H E AT

67%

Electric outage rate

2005 2015Photo: SULA-CH via Flickr

U N P R E C E D E N T E D O P T I O N S

1 I N S TA L L E V E R Y 6 0 S E C O N D S

P E R S O N A L I Z E D C O N T R O L

Software allows many iterations

A S M A L L S TA R T

0.1%

Microgrid % of total U.S. electricity generation

U P A G A I N S T A M O N O P O LY

P R O B L E M

D I S T R I B U T I O N G R I D I N V E S T M E N T L A G G I N G

American Society of Civil Engineers

“America will see an investment gap in distribution infrastructure of $57 billion by 2020”

S L O W T O I T E R AT E

“ M I G H T Y ” M I C R O G R I D S

M I C R O G R I D

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 and that connects and disconnects from such grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island mode.

M I C R O G R I D

M I C R O G R I D

• Likes to act alone

• Capable of making its own decisions

• May benefit from remaining grid connected

• Lots of possibility

Photo: tifotter via Flickr

A Q U E S T I O N

Where is one of the first 100% renewable microgrids larger than 1 megawatt?

A F E W S A M P L E S

S TA F F O R D H I L L

Photo: Green Mountain Power

A U S T I N

Photo: clickykbd via Flickr

L O N G I S L A N D

Photo: Clean Coalition

M A C R O B A R R I E R S

S M A L L R U L E S F O R B I G R E S U LT S

S TAT E F U N D I N G ?

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

NY Prize provides funding for municipal

feasibility studiesNo microgrid financing

E X E M P T F R O M R E G U L AT I O N ?

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

Exempt if: 1. solely on private

property OR 2. uses cogeneration,

small hydro, or alternative energy

Exempt if: 1. muni or co-op OR 2. only serves tenants of

single building OR 3. serves < 25 persons

A R E M I C R O G R I D S P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S ?

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

New York does not designate monopoly service territories

Only if they serve fewer than 25 persons

E A S Y I N T E R C O N N E C T I O N ?

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

B C

R E TA I L O R W H O L E S A L E M A R K E T C O M P E N S AT I O N ?

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

Wholesale, yes. Retail may be coming with Reforming the Energy Vision process.

Wholesale, no. Retail limited to net metering for 1 MW or smaller.

O T H E R B A R R I E R S

Credit: Microgrid Resources Coalition

New York

Minnesota

Distribution utilities may be limited in ownership of microgrids.

Vertically integrated utilities will likely fight any laws enabling microgrids.

B I G O P P O R T U N I T Y

R O O F T O P S O L A R A N D B AT T E R Y S T O R A G E P R I C E S K E E P FA L L I N G

Bat

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: co

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att-

hour

$0

$450

$900

$1,350

$1,800

Sola

r: C

ost

per

inst

alle

d W

att

$0

$3

$6

$9

$12

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Median solar installed cost

Lithium ion battery cost

www.ilsr.org

D O W N L O A D O U R F U L L R E P O R T

R E A D M O R E

@johnffarrellMighty'Microgrids''Communi'es*all*over*the*country*are*finding*ways*to*break*the*macro*barriers*to*microgrids.*As*we*flip*from*a*top>down*to*bo?om>up*grid*management*structure,*major*policy*barriers*must*be*liBed*in*order*to*expand*energy*democracy*to*customers*and*producers.*!Ma$!Grimley!and!John!Farrell!March!2016!