systems

BOSTON — The state’s largest utilities are pursuing large-scale solar projects as part of an ambitious effort to mitigate the effects of climate change by expanding Massachusetts’ reliance on renewable energy.

A proposal by Eversource calls for a $7.9 million, 1-megawatt solar facility and battery storage system to be built on the site of the company’s former Columbia Gas facility in Lawrence.

The project, pending approval by the state Department of Public Utilities, calls for installing solar canopies over the existing parking lot on Marston Street and using battery storage to store the energy generated and feed it back into the regional power grid. state-run solar program.

Backers of the project say it will produce about 1.1 gigawatt hours of clean energy annually, which will help reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is backed by Lawrence officials, who say it will reduce peak energy demand on the power system while providing bill reductions for about 150 customers in “sensitive neighborhoods” and making improvements to an “underutilized” property.

“This project is an important step toward a just transition to clean energy in our city and together,” Mike Armano, director of the city’s Department of Inspectional Services, said in a letter to DPU regulators.

Another proposed Eversource solar project calls for building a 1.98-megawatt array at the company’s gas operations center in Brockton, which would include a battery storage component. The cost of the project is estimated to be more than 10.7 million dollars.

Eversource said it chose Lawrence and Brockton for the projects because they are “environmental justice” communities that have not traditionally benefited from the state’s solar programs.

But the projects, both of which will be built on Eversource-owned sites, will also benefit the company by providing a backup power source for its operations in those communities.

In filings with the DPU, Eversource officials said both facilities are “critical to the safe and reliable operation of our natural gas systems” and said the solar power and battery storage would offset the use of gas-fired backup generators and allow operations to continue. during a major power outage.

“When operating during an outage, the systems will provide power directly to the facilities, allowing the facility to reduce the workload of the facility’s existing fossil fuel generators,” company officials wrote in a recent filing with state regulators.

Meanwhile, the company’s customers can ultimately foot the bill for both projects at a fraction of the cost.

Eversource says it will seek base rate adjustments to cover the costs of the projects, but they won’t require regulatory approval until after 2028, the company said in filings. The company said part of the costs for both projects would be offset by selling renewable energy back into the grid.

Both projects must be approved by the DPU, which is holding public hearings on the proposals in the next few weeks.

The law, signed by Gov. Charlie Baker, requires the state to reduce carbon emissions to at least 50% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 75% of 1990 levels by 2040.

The legislation requires the state to meet several benchmarks over the next three decades, effectively updating the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008.

Proponents of the changes say the ultimate goal is to bring the state to 100% below 1990 levels, or “net zero,” by 2050.

In addition to expanding solar power, the plan calls for higher efficiency standards for household and commercial appliances, the development of offshore wind and expanded use of solar energy, and new emission limits on electricity, transportation and commercial heating and cooling systems.

Several utilities, including Eversource and National Grid, are testing geothermal systems to determine if a more widely used renewable energy source could help reduce the state’s reliance on natural gas and oil to heat homes in Massachusetts.

Christian M. Wade covers the Boston Media Group’s northern Massachusetts newspapers and websites. Email him at [email protected].

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, winds uprooted trees and destroyed homes, and torrential rains turned streets into rivers. But after the storm passed, the toll continued to rise as residents struggled without power for months. Five years later, power outages remain long and frequent.

Solar panels installed on commercial buildings create self-contained microgrids in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing new technology to control how microgrids work together. Credit: Fabio Andrade via Oak Ridge Laboratories

Read and watch the Spanish version of this story and video.

To provide more affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to underserved communities like these, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are partnering with local organizations, nonprofits, and universities to build sustainable independent microgrids powered by renewable energy. ORNL is developing technology that will manage groups of small microgrids as a cluster and increase their reliability even when damaged.

Microgrids are generally small networks that have their own power supply from nearby renewable sources such as wind and solar. If battery storage is added, microgrids can be isolated and operate independently in “island mode” when the wider utility grid fails.

Spanish version

ORNL engineers Ben Ollis and Max Ferrari lead a team developing a microgrid orchestration to deploy in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. A community microgrid project is already being installed there through a partnership between local nonprofit Casa Pueblo and the Honnold Foundation.

Honnold, which funds solar projects to reduce global energy poverty, is investing $1.7 million to create two microgrids with solar power and battery storage, said Honnold project coordinator Cynthia Arellano. The solar arrays were installed last year and will join the rest of the infrastructure to be added this year.

That’s where ORNL gets to work: Creating a new orchestration tool to manage a cluster of microgrids so they directly support and communicate with each other, making them more resilient during long power outages. For example, if one microgrid loses some of its solar energy, an adjacent microgrid can export energy to its neighbor, minimizing the impact of the loss.

“I don’t know of a microgrid controller anywhere that can communicate and coordinate with another controller,” Ollis said. “We’re designing an architecture for multi-microgrid management, so any number of microgrids can operate independently, but share information with the orchestrator to predict switching, routing and connectivity.”

Ferrari said preliminary simulations show the microgrids could outlast each other for at least a week. But under ideal conditions, they can continue to work indefinitely.

It’s not just a matter of convenience. “Many people died after the hurricane, and most of the deaths were due to power outages,” said Arturo Massol-Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo, which promotes equitable and sustainable development around Adjuntas. This long-standing community organization installed a solar energy system on its building in 1999. After Hurricane Maria, Casa Pueblo was able to share the electricity it produced with residents using home medical equipment like respirators.

“We saw how many people who were pre-diabetic or had high blood pressure or were exposed to unhealthy living conditions and food — preventable conditions — were getting sick,” Massol-Deya said. “Energy security cuts are related to quality of life and have long-term consequences in society.” The result is grass roots support for solar power that builds sustainably.

Community-wide benefits

Adjuntas’ microgrids include rooftop solar installations at 13 businesses, whose owners agree to provide residents with critical services such as medicine, refrigeration and cell phone charging during power outages. In return, businesses save electricity and avoid using expensive diesel generators during natural disasters, Ferrari said.

“ORNL deploying this kind of watchdog system is going to be a really powerful tool for the community,” Arellano said. He added that it is unusual for so many businesses and owners to be connected to a microgrid, and the infrastructure will support adding more.

On a recent trip to Adjuntas, ORNL researchers met with local business owners to better understand electricity usage patterns. For example, when Ferrari visited a bakery, he learned how many hours the refrigerators had to run for the dough to rise properly. He and Ollis tried to identify the most critical electrical loads so they could design a system that concentrated scarce power where it was needed most.

“I hope this will help not only manage microgrids, but also protect critical components like energy storage,” said Massol-Deya, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, or UPRM.

Revenue from community-owned microgrids will fund their maintenance and expansion, as well as the installation of standalone solar systems for Adjuntas’ most disadvantaged residents, he said.

A sense of urgency

Fabio Andrade is a UPRM professor of engineering and visiting scientist at ORNL collaborating on the Adjuntas project. His students model strategies, tools, and algorithms to share solar energy among microgrid users. UPRM fellow Gerson Beauchamp has students analyze solar equipment and predict how much energy it will produce. Beauchamp said that at current electricity prices, businesses can save up to $78,000 a year by purchasing solar power from microgrids.

Ferrari incorporates input from UPRM colleagues into simulations that are being tested live with actual microgrid equipment at DOE’s Center for Grid Research Integration and Deployment, or GRID-C, at ORNL. The next step is to run the configuration on a brand new networked test bed of the facility for microgrids. In another year, the orchestra will be housed in Adjuntas.

While the ORNL-derived technology could be a real lifesaver in Puerto Rico, it also has broader potential to enable microgrids to play a key role in the global grid of the future. Smart microgrids incorporating renewable energy are poised to improve grid resilience and resilience while supporting vital decarbonisation efforts.

“Orchestrator includes a framework of algorithms that can be extended and deployed across multiple microgrids at any site,” Ollis said. “They can provide more reliable electricity to many off-grid rural communities. I want to see a future where hundreds of micro-grids work together to protect critical infrastructure at local, regional and national levels.”

ORNL’s work on the Adjuntas project is funded through DOE’s Office of Solar Energy Technologies. Much of the design, configuration, and testing of the microgrid orchestration occurs at the COMMANDER (Coordination of Multiple Microgrids and Grid Distributed Energy Resources) microgrid test bed, part of the GRID-C facility funded by DOE’s Office of the Electric Power.

Other members of the ORNL team working on the Adjuntas microgrids project are Quodong Liu, Aditya Sundararajan, Mohammed M. Olama, and Yang Chen. Additional academic partners include the University of Central Florida and the University of Tennessee.

UT-Battelle operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science. As the single largest supporter of fundamental research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to solve some of the most pressing problems of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.

Translation credit: Max Ferrari, ORNL.

Originally published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Do you value CleanTechnica’s originality and clean tech news? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Tech or Ambassador, or a Patron on Patreon.

Don’t want to miss a cleantech story? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica via email. Or follow us on Google News!

Have a tip about CleanTechnica, want to advertise or suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Advertising

Scott Ely, owner and founder of engineering and construction contractors Sunsense Solar, discusses a new 4.5 megawatt solar array at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus during a tour Wednesday.
John Stroud/Glenwod Springs Post Independent

Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting on a new 4.5-megawatt solar array and battery storage complex at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus marked a full circle trip around the sun for local solar installer Scott Ely.

He recalls attending a college solar retrofit program in 1987 before starting his own Carbondale-based company, Sunsense Solar, a few years later.

At the time, CMC was one of the few higher education institutions in the country to pioneer a solar technology program.

Today, a continuation of those early efforts is the college’s bachelor’s degree program in sustainability studies and an overall focus on the environment, including a commitment to become carbon neutral across its 11 campuses by 2050.

“CMC’s vision of 35 years ago is now coming true,” said Ely. According to him, his small company of 30 employees, which has been operating for more than 32 years, is an example of this success.

“This project is definitely one of our biggest accomplishments to date,” he said at CMC-Spring Valley, marking the completion of what will soon be Colorado’s largest solar array and battery storage facility.

Sunsense was selected as the solar engineering and construction contractor through a unique partnership between CMC, local rural electric cooperative Holy Cross Energy, and Framingham, Massachusetts-based solar developer and financing agent Ameresco.

Carbondale nonprofit Clean Energy Economy for the Region facilitated the partnership. Representatives for each of the partners were on hand at Wednesday’s event.

The project consists of more than 13,500 solar modules, including both fixed panels and panels that can track the sun from dawn to dusk, spread across 22 acres of leased CMC land west of the main college campus.

The 4.5 megawatts of generating capacity is enough to offset 100% of the electricity use of 1,000 homes or the three CMC campuses in Spring Valley, Aspen and Edwards in the Holy Cross service area.

The easternmost section of the new Holy Cross Energy/Ameresco solar array on the CMC Spring Valley campus earlier this week.
John Stroud/Glenwod Springs Post Independent

Holy Cross President and CEO Bryan Hannegan said what makes the project particularly unique is its battery energy storage system.

The complex contains 68 battery stacks in four on-site shipping-style containers, allowing five megawatts or 15 megawatt hours of power to be stored for backup during outages and times of peak demand.

“For us, it offers a measure of control and flexibility over solar output that a normal solar array doesn’t have,” Hannegan said. “In a pinch, if there’s a fire nearby or there’s a major system failure, this (storage) system is enough to power the campus and keep people safe and comfortable.”

For at least six months or more, the CMC facility will be the largest of its kind in Colorado. He noted that even larger solar generation and storage projects are moving forward in West Garfield County.

“This is an important part of our collective journey to a clean energy future for both Holy Cross members and CMC and the community college system it supports,” Hannegan said.

In addition to CMC’s goal of carbon neutrality, Holy Cross aims to meet 100% of its members’ energy needs using renewable energy sources by 2030.

“Our goal is to really think more holistically about what it means to provide sustainable energy for the people we serve and work with,” Hannegan said. “It’s not something here, it’s a substance there. It’s actually thinking about how we use things like solar energy and battery storage to power our lives.”

Wednesday’s event included a pre-recorded video message from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.

“Protecting Colorado’s way of life means doing our part to fight climate change and improve air quality,” Polis said. “Projects like the one we’re celebrating today will make that possible.”

CMC President and CEO Carrie Besnette Hauser added, “This collaboration is a shining example of that ethos as we work together to reduce our carbon emissions and protect these stunning mountain landscapes we all love from the very real threat of climate change.”

A close-up of the east section of solar panels at the new Holy Cross Energy/Ameresco solar and battery storage complex on CMC’s Spring Valley campus.
John Stroud/Glenwod Springs Post Independent

CMC sustainability studies student Lily Leyva was given the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

“I believe I can speak for all the students here today when I say that we at CMC and partners are excited to be here as we make history,” he said. “As students, we appreciate the networking opportunities and real-world projects you bring to the table.”

The solar array and storage project has been under construction for three years and is about 95% complete. It is expected to go online by the end of the year.

[email protected]

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator this week served search warrants at several residential and commercial addresses linked to a Perth-based solar PV retail and installation business as part of an investigation into a potential $1.5 million solar panel scam.

September 16, 2022 David Carroll

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) confirmed on Friday that a Western Australian solar PV company is being investigated amid concerns it falsified information in Small Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) for about 500 solar panel installations worth about $1.5 million.

The regulator said the group, which sells and installs solar systems and acts as an agent for the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), is under investigation for allegedly preparing information about responsible installers and designers of around 500 solar panel installations.

Piet Powell, CER’s senior compliance manager, said the search warrants were aimed at uncovering evidence of misrepresentation to the regulator, resulting in STCs not being created correctly.

“The Clean Energy Regulator requires the highest standards of compliance and integrity in the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme for the financial incentives provided,” he said. “Agents, installers and retailers who fail to adequately ensure that they are eligible for the creation of STCs, or who are party to providing false or misleading information, may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative liability.”

Powell said there is no direct evidence that the installations are either unsafe or substandard, but CER is working with state regulators and homeowners will be contacted if concerns are found about the quality of the installation.

The CER said the investigation was unrelated to the search warrants executed in September 2021 and May 2022, while other potential fraudulent activity in the solar industry in WA was being investigated.

The investigation caps an unhappy few days for WA’s solar industry, with the state’s Consumer Protection Watch earlier this week warning homeowners looking to install a rooftop system to be cautious following a surge in complaints about performance claims, shoddy systems and workmanship.

Almost 40% of homes and businesses connected to WA’s main grid have rooftop solar.

Photo: Western Power

Consumer Protection said it received 67 consumer complaints this year about issues such as substandard parts, companies not responding or providing false and misleading information, and installers not using them, up more than 10% from the same period last year. due care and skill.

WA has a thriving rooftop solar industry, with more than 400,000 homes and businesses, or about 36% of customers on the state’s main grid, estimated to have rooftop solar. By 2030, this number is predicted to rise to 50%.

While the number of complaints received was small compared to the number of systems installed in WA this year, Acting Chief Executive of Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe said the issues were an important reminder to consumers to thoroughly research who they plan to do business with.

“Before agreeing to buy a solar system, there are several important checks to make, including getting independent reviews and making sure your preferred supplier is accredited by searching the Clean Energy Council website,” he said.

“If the supplier’s verbal claims influence your decision, make sure they are included in the written contract and that you read all the terms.

“Solar installers are not allowed to use forceful or high-pressure sales tactics to get you to buy anything, and they cannot give you false or misleading information. They must also ensure that their products and services meet consumer guarantees.”

The electrical components of the system must be installed by a licensed electrician working under a licensed electrical contractor.

“You should ask to see these licenses and expect to receive electrical safety certification for the job,” Lipscombe said.

This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].

HOUSTON, Alaska (KTUU) – The Matanuska Electric Association hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning for the site of a new solar farm in Houston.

The project will cover 45 hectares and will be six times larger than the Willow Solar Farm. Gov. Mike Dunleavy stood alongside project leaders to talk about the potential benefits of renewable solar energy for the several dozen people in attendance.

“This is just the beginning of the tremendous, tremendous power we can generate in Alaska,” Dunleavy said.

The farm will be the second of its kind and will become the largest solar array in the Matanuska-Susitna region as well as the state. Located off Hawk Lane near Houston High School, the array will consist of more than 6,000 foundation piles and 14,400 solar panels.

The project is the result of a four-way partnership, with Independent Renewable Energy Producers leasing the land, the Matanuska Electric Association buying the wholesale electricity, and CleanCapital financing and owning the project.

MEA CEO Tony Izzo said the cost of purchasing power is lower than anything they produce themselves, helping to diversify their fuel supply portfolio and making them less dependent on natural gas.

“We plan to continue to do whatever we can to reduce our carbon footprint and increase the diversity of our fuel supply mix, which will lead to increased reliability and lower costs for our consumers,” Izzo said.

This particular project is not expected to lower the price of electricity for MEA customers, but it is competitive with MEA generation, which helps stabilize rates.

Renewable IPP is an Alaska-grown company founded in 2017 by a group of four engineers. CEO Jenn Miller said she and her three partners were working in the oil and gas industry when they realized solar had the potential to bring cheap power to Alaska. . The company built Willow Solar Farm as a pilot project before expanding in 2019.

“We’ve hired all local workers to build this solar farm, and we’re building that practice across the state,” Miller said. “We are diversifying our energy supply for Alaskans. Because we have an isolated grid, we are responsible for buying all that energy, and so by diversifying it, it expands our Cook Inlet gas supply and brings in less carbon energy.

According to Miller, the lifespan of a solar panel is about 40 years, if not more. The double-sided panels are also designed to use light reflected off the snow, which stores energy during the winter months.

“When we get reflective light in the winter, it will bounce off the snow and produce it on the back of the solar panel,” Miller said. “February, March is that super-reflective sun, and when the daylight starts to come back, you know the sun is providing good energy for about 10 months of the year.”

Construction is already underway at the site as crews continue to drive foundation piles into the ground. Miller hopes to have all the stakes up before the season ends, so the panels and wiring can be installed next year. The panels are expected to be released next summer.

Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved.