1. Microgrids: Future of Power Delivery?
Daniel Zimmerle
Senior Research Associate
Colorado State University

2. What are Microgrids Actually Good For? Thoughts from Past Experience
Expeditionary Military
High-Penetration PV-Diesel
Developing World
Improvement: 25-40%
Over a power island currently loaded with 1 load set per generator

3. What do Microgrids Actually Do?
Technical
Economic
Practical
Deal with issues closer
“to the source”
Localize power management
Examples:
Remote power delivery
Integrate distributed resources
Secondary or independent layer of value accounting
Provide a “premium product” at attractive price
Examples:
Campus energy mgmt.
Local, low-cost, generation
Co-location of generation & loads
Operation under grid failure conditions
Examples:
Island operation
Power quality improvement

4. Three interesting cases
Three Thoughts
Step right up!
Let’s play
“Microgrid … but …”
Three interesting cases

5. The Hurricane Sandy Hypothesis Scenario 1: Power Up when Grid Down
Microgrid!
But …
Island operation = using local generation & control
Local generation available for energy or peak shaving
Scenario for:
Tough locations: Remote power of the line”
Poor systems: Track record of blackouts or quality issues
Is grid down or is local distribution down?
Why are μGrid lines up when surrounding lines down?
Microgrid or undergrounding?
Why not UPS + standby generation?
How much is “how long” worth?
Keeping an unused power control system operational when used 1 time in N years

6. The DG Postulate Scenario 2: μGrids Enable Distributed Generation
Microgrid!
But …
Local control & resources smooth high DG penetration
Aggregate DG dispatch
Manage local power demands
Scenario for:
DG- & RE-heavy locations
RE beats grid price
Is your distribution grid really a limiter to RE connection?
Few utilities know what, when, or where RE will be a problem.
Is multi-source μGrid control necessary to meet customer & utility goals?
Why not just control ramp rates?
Use AMI to do load shedding?
Is it real, or is your tariff structure making it real?

7. The Behind-the-Meter Paradox Scenario 3: Customer Go Micro Without You
Microgrid!
But …
Single-customer “≈μGrid”
Near net zero generation
grid parity energy price
Dropping storage prices
Stay grid connected
Actively control utility power purchases
Scenario for:
RE beats peak grid price
Utility has poor track record
High value customer
Is it real, or is your tariff structure making it real?
Energy sales  Tariff
Asset costs  Op. Costs
What service is customer requesting but not getting?

8. Thank You! Contact Dan Zimmerle dan.zimmerle@colostate.edu
energy.colostate.edu/p/svm
Dan Zimmerle