1. Session: Enabling Technologies for Energy Resiliency
Parkville MicroGrid
Antonio J. Matta
Hartford, CT
August 11, 2016

2. Concept Parkville MicroGrid Goal
Hartford, CT has major power interruptions caused by storms resulting in loss of community services even with emergency generators
Parkville cluster provides essential community services in one on-site and two off-site locations
Services include: school, library, senior center, health center, grocery store and gasoline station
Create a stand-alone MicroGrid that will link all services and through a fuel cell power source provide all of their electrical needs
Goal

3. Interconnected Facilities – on site
Parkville MicroGrid
Interconnected Facilities – on site
School Library
Senior Center Health Center

4. Interconnected Facilities – off site
Parkville MicroGrid
Interconnected Facilities – off site
Grocery Store
Gasoline Station

5. Parkville MicroGrid
Site Plan

6. Automatic Transfer Switch Automatic Transfer Switch
Parkville MicroGrid
Project Overview
Normal Output
Gas Station
Utility Grid (CL&P)
Normal
Disconnect Switch
Supermarket
Automatic Transfer Switch
Emergency
Automatic Transfer Switch
School
Emergency
Grid Islanding Output
Context
City of Hartford looking for a resilient power solution to serve critical community facilities that could act as a refuge for residents during emergencies or bad weather
Results
City of Hartford project consists of 800 kW baseload power with 640 kW of grid islanding capability to provide a community MicroGrid.
Customer Value
Constellation and Bloom Energy were able to provide a PPA to the City of Hartford that had significant cost savings, avoided upfront capital for passive backup equipment, and met sustainability objectives through Bloom’s energy solution

7. Parkville MicroGrid The “Players”
City of Hartford, Department of Public Works – customer
Weston and Sampson – customer’s energy consultant
Bloom Energy – fuel cell design and construction
Constellation – overall design and project management, fuel cell and MicroGrid site design / interconnect and construction / system owner
GI Energy / Van Zelm Engineers / Environmental Systems Design – Constellation’s consultants
Eversource – MicroGrid design, construction and operation
Connecticut Natural Gas – design and construction of high pressure gas line
Community
Parkville School
Senior Center
Library
Regulatory Committees
Parkville Neighborhood Revitalization Zone
Planning and Zoning
Zoning Board of Appeals
CT Siting Council

8. Parkville MicroGrid Financial Components
DEEP MicroGrid Grant - $2,063,000
“Funding provided by a grant from the State of Connecticut administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)”
City Financing (Municipal Bonds) - $1,300,000
Financial Incentives
Low Emission Renewable Energy Credits (LRECs)
Virtual Net Metering (VNM)
Overall energy savings over current utility rates (projected) - $500,000

9. Key Development Activities
Parkville MicroGrid
Schedule
EPC Contract Execution
Permitting Approvals
Detailed Design and Engineering Completed
CT DEEP Grant Program Released
EPC contract negotiation
Initial engagement with local development companies and the City
Development of the Project
Bloom PPA signed
System COO
First 9 grant recipients awarded
Construction
Nov 2012
Jul 2013
Summer 2013
June 2015
Fall 2015
Dec 2015
Fall 2016
Dec 2016
Fall 2013 – June 2015
Key Development Activities
Selection of generator technology: Initially CHP but lack of onsite heat load led to use of a Bloom fuel cell
CT LREC bid submission and award: Bidding strategy required to ensure you are “picked up” while protecting project economics
Virtual Net Metering: Site load under normal 20% of fuel cell output required a structure to export excess energy that is only used by the MicroGrid during grid outages
Securing Eversource engagement and sign-off: New model for all parties requiring a collaborative effort
Ensure adequate pipeline gas pressure: Dedicated high pressure gas line for Bloom fuel cell provides extra reliability but greater upfront cost

10. Parkville MicroGrid Challenges and Results Challenges Results
Economically viable (at or below current cost of electricity)
LREC (Low Renewable Energy Credit) help to solve this problem along with VNM (Virtual Net Metering)
DEEP Grant
Technology selection: Very little thermal load resulted in switch from a traditional engine to a Bloom fuel cell
Technical hurdles – Gas pressure, Bloom MicroGrid, spare UPM, VNM
Many players involved – City, Eversource, CNG, Constellation, Bloom, Bloom/Constellation
Coordination and ability to migrate through varied complexities
A MicroGrid system that will help manage electricity costs and supply emergency power to a portion of the city’s Parkville neighborhood
Connecticut’s first MicroGrid to be developed thorough a public-private effort
One of the first MicroGrids to be developed under Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) MicroGrid Grant Program
Proof that utilities, project developers, manufacturers, state and local government, and project owners CAN work together to make MicroGrids happen …

11. Parkville MicroGrid Construction Photographs
Site clearing Underground Utilities
Fuel Cell Operational

12. Contact Information
Antonio J. Matta
City Architect
Hartford, CT
(860)