Distributed Generation
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Distributed Power
Upgrading a Campus Energy System as Part of a Carbon-Reduction Effort
Educational institutions increasingly are upgrading their physical utility infrastructure to become more efficient in their use of energy while addressing the reliability of the energy supply on their campus
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Distributed Energy
Distributed Energy Platforms a Key for Sustainable Power
The energy industry has been going through a revolution, and more and more businesses are looking to transition from non-renewable fossil fuel energy sources such as coal and oil to renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric energy. There are a plethora of reasons for this shift, but there are three issues that are […]
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Renewables
SSE Backs Top Power Execs With New UK Renewable Energy Group
A group of energy sector entrepreneurs, supported by a Scottish multi-national energy company, has announced the launch of a business venture focused on rolling out large-scale wind and solar farms across the UK and Europe. Renewco Power on Sept. 22 said it wants to develop more than 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the […]
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Distributed Generation
A Brave New World of Reliability: ELCC, EIMs, and DERs
Market forces and government policy are driving clean energy deployment across the U.S. at a level that could impact reliability if not carefully implemented. State regulators, independent system operators
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Distributed Energy
‘Smart Grid Ready’ Generator Changes Game for Backup Power
Residential applications for smart grid technologies continue to grow as electricity customers take more control of their energy usage and costs. Homeowners with rooftop solar have been selling power back to the grid for years, and more opportunities for power customers are coming as electric vehicle owners tap into the market via energy storage. Homeowners […]
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Solar
Not Always Plug and Play—Challenges Utilities Face Managing DERs on Their Grids
The proliferation of renewable energy is necessary for communities and countries to meet their goals of reducing carbon emissions, but it also presents new challenges for those managing power distribution. Much of the world’s renewable energy is now generated and stored by distributed energy resources (DERs), such as residential solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles […]
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Commentary
Illuminating the Dark Side of the Smart Grid
The benefits of smart grid technologies and data-driven management are well understood. Using open protocols to control energy resources, extract information, and optimize responses can enable enormous productivity and stimulate new services. Similarly, the accumulation of data can inform better planning for a more resilient grid. But, as explained in “The Dark Side of the […]
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News
Communities Benefit from Microgrid Milestones
A remote area in Australia recently recorded an important power generation achievement, as the region received all its electricity from solar power and battery energy storage. The town of Onslow, located in
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IIOT
Enabling IIoT Connectivity for Virtual Power Plants
Declarations of climate emergencies in many countries around the world have created awareness for the need to switch to clean energy sources, which in turn has prompted the power industry and governments to take action or set definite goals. Many governments around the world now provide incentives to individuals, industries, and communities who are interested […]
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Microgrid
‘Smart Microgrid Community’ Takes Shape in Canada
Many areas across the globe are looking at providing non-traditional power to residential neighborhoods, part of a push to make a community’s electricity supply more reliable and resilient. A development in Canada is one model of what is known as a “smart microgrid community.” Elexicon Energy, the fourth largest municipally-owned electricity distributor in Ontario, along […]
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Distributed Power
Road to Success Paved with Innovative Projects
Wärtsilä Energy, known for its experience in energy storage, and Pivot Power—working on ambitious decarbonization projects—have teamed on a multi-application way to serve the future of transportation in
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Distributed Power
Traveling the Electrification Highway
A company that has served U.S. motorists and the trucking industry for decades has updated its business model to support electric vehicle charging—and generate electricity for several of its locations. Power
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Business
Money Makes the Power and Energy Sectors Go ‘Round
If you’ve seen the musical “Cabaret,” you know that “money makes the world go ‘round” in a variety of ways. While it may not indeed make the power and energy sectors “go ‘round,” money does
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Distributed Generation
Why Decentralized Systems Are the Immediate Path Forward for America’s Energy Goals
The extreme freeze in Texas and ensuing power outages in February were the latest reminders that energy is the backbone of our society. From wildfires in the west to hurricanes on the Atlantic seaboard, climate related events are increasing in severity and frequency, illuminating the vulnerability of our power grid across the nation. COMMENTARY Nationwide, […]
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Microgrid
How Commercial and Industrial Facilities Benefit from On-Site Power
Commercial and industrial companies can reap many rewards by taking a more hands-on approach in sourcing power. Incorporating solar, wind, and other forms of on-site generation—including combined heat and
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Connected Plant
In-Person Events and COVID: Are You Ready to Travel?
In my job, I typically do a fair amount of traveling. Of course, that all changed last year due to COVID-19. I didn’t go anywhere for work-related events or meetings. It was kind of nice—at first—but
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Interview
The POWER Interview: Spotlight on the Solar Wave
Growth in the solar power sector is coming from many angles, with utilities building ever-larger solar arrays, and more homeowners and building owners putting panels on their rooftops. Many utilities and other companies also are expanding offerings of community solar, a way for electricity customers to get the benefits of solar power without having to […]
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Distributed Power
Using Distribution-Class STATCOMs to Resolve Distributed Generation Plant Voltage Issues
When distributed generation causes net reverse power flow on a distribution feeder, several voltage-related issues can occur. According to studies published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)