Smart Cities Dive
Summary
By 2035, microgrids will be “essential building blocks of the future electricity delivery system to support resilience, decarbonization, and affordability,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Only a smattering of microgrids have been installed to date, however, at federal, state and municipal buildings that serve a public function, according to the department’s microgrid installation database.
San Diego’s municipal microgrids will bring the city closer to its 2035 goal to power all municipal buildings with renewable energy. The city also is working to reduce the facilities’ energy use about 35% compared with 2010.
The buildings selected for microgrid installation will be able to serve communities during grid outages, acting as shelters or supply distribution centers. The city likened installing the microgrids to installing a backup diesel generator, but without the greenhouse gas emissions.
A challenge to widespread deployment of microgrids is that the systems are expensive to install, according to Gridscape, a California-based renewable energy provider involved in San Diego’s microgrids project.
“Microgrid projects often require significant upfront capital investment due to the integration of various components such as renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and advanced control systems,” according to Gridscape. “The high initial costs can deter potential investors and make securing financing challenging.”
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