Ameren’s next-generation project is tied into the traditional grid
An advanced microgrid is delivering reliable and renewable electricity through a distribution feeder in a project developed by Ameren Corp. in Illinois.
In recent years, microgrids have popped up to serve the load of individual commercial businesses, but Ameren’s facility is billed as “the only known microgrid in the nation capable of seamlessly transitioning the power source for an entire distribution circuit from exclusively distributed generation sources to the traditional grid,” according to an Ameren news release.
The $5 million microgrid is located at Ameren’s Technology Applications Center near the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.
“We built this distributed energy facility as part of our commitment to increase reliability and reduce costs for our customers,” Ron Pate told American Gas. Pate, senior vice president of operations and technical services for Ameren Illinois, explained that the microgrid produces 1,475 kilowatts using four leased sources: two natural gas units with a capacity of 500 kW each; a solar array on 2.7 acres supplying up to 125 kW; a 160-foot wind turbine for up to 100 kW; and battery storage of 250 kW that can supply about two hours of energy.
According to Pate, Illinois’ progressive energy policy has enabled the company to develop resources including the microgrid to test ways to economically manage demand and control of both customer-owned and utility-owned energy sources. “With this pilot, we’re learning how we can provide our customers with reliable, resilient and redundant power,” he said, adding that the microgrid is “transparent” to the 192 residential and small commercial customers on the distribution feeder.
He explained that, on any given day, an electric utility might start out relying on coal-fired generation and then switch to natural gas units or wind turbines to generate and transmit electricity. Customers aren’t necessarily aware of the fuel sources used each day, but they benefit from the reliability, Pate said.
Ameren’s microgrid offers additional flexibility thanks to its mix of fuel sources. “Complex software is allowing us to analyze and balance the load and determine how to best dispatch seamlessly, manually or automatically,” he said.
As the technology matures, future project phases will involve educating customers about recognizing price signals to use energy at the most economical times.