The US Dept. Whether Energy’s (Do) Office of Electricity (OE) announced more than $ 8 million in selections for financing on projects Accelerating Microgrid innovation via the Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP) program community. This program will finance 14 projects that reach 35 cities and villages and 20 partners, including business and non -profit organizations, Alaska Native Corporations, a trade union and power providers such as utilities and energy cooperatives.
In addition to $ 5.5 million in direct financing to communities supported by Microgrid Energy System, C-MAP offers more than $ 2.6 million for technical expertise that is provided through Doet’s National Laboratories and local partners, such as the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska.
“Financing for the C-MAP projects covers costs related to the design, engineering and maintenance of Microgrid systems that bring the reality of America’s energy-survey to rural houses, companies and industries,” said Gil Bindewald, principle deputy-assistant secretary in the office of electricity. “We want to see Microgrid designs that not only work on paper, but also in the real world.”
Americans who live in remote series of the country pay some of the highest prices for electricity, but their service is often among modern standards. The electrical infrastructure is insufficient or outdated, vulnerable to weather -related disruptions and depending on long supply chains for expensive diesel fuel, the most common energy source. Operational efficiency made possible by Microgrids have enormous benefits in energy reliability and affordability in areas with a weak grid connection or in the independent microgrids used in external industries, tribes and island communities and national defense.
With support of C-maps, selections:
- Implement advanced operating elements and monitoring software to improve system performance,
- Build up the workforce for long -term activities and maintenance,
- Modernize power systems to tackle poor energy quality and malfunctions,
- Give priority to local energy equipment chains to stabilize and lower the costs, and
- Develop construction-ready engineering plans for infrastructure improvements.
A position of the President’s National Energy Dominance Council is to consult with officials of state, local and tribal governments and people from the private sector to ask for feedback on how all forms of energy production can best be expanded. C-MAP is a model to bring these entities together to tackle gaps in the field of critical energy security with practical solutions.
“Microgrids come in many forms, and we have more technologies for generating and managing electricity than ever before. However, acceptance is limited by Microgrid system complexity, capital costs and commissioning times,” said Ton, C-map lead for the Office of Electricity. “I believe that the United States can lead the world in standardized, modular and scalable microgrids, but this requires demonstrations supported by research that can be replicated nationally.”
Read about the proposals that have been competing for award -negotiation here.
News item from Doe
