Live support chatIntroduction to Microgrids
In Introduction to Microgrids, you'll learn ...
- Various microgrid designs
- Why microgrids have been increasing in popularity
- Operating in parallel vs. island mode
- Key technical and regulatory challenges that are impeding the further adoption of microgrids
Overview
Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.
Credit: 2 PDH
Length: 41 pages
Microgrids have been gaining popularity post superstorm Sandy which caused major damage and customer disruption on the East Coast in 2012. There is a strong correlation between microgrids and system resiliency. The lower the utility’s reliability scores, the more lucrative microgrids will be.
There are various definitions for microgrids. However, a microgrid is simply small or multiple customers that have local power resources to supply their partial or full load locally during utility interruptions. Most microgrids typically consisted of a small-scale gas-fired generator, i.e., fuel-cell or combined heat & power (CHP). However, many states have recently adopted an opposing view of natural gas resources, thus many microgrids have replaced natural gas resources with distributed energy resources (DERs), i.e., solar and energy storage.
Microgrids are very complex and expensive, and the cost and complexity increase significantly if the microgrid will supply remote buildings, i.e., safety precautions, O&M, communication, protection, control, failure to operate as desired during an actual event, controller to balance generation, and load, etc.
Being that microgrids are expensive to build, operate, and maintain, many microgrids now operate in parallel with the grid on a 24/7 basis instead of during major utility disturbances.
This course addresses key technical and regulatory challenges that are impeding the further adoption of microgrids. The Department of Energy has been focusing on microgrids and providing the necessary financial support to further advance their designs and address all the known challenges. Operating a microgrid that relies on DERs whose generation varies with the weather is more complex and requires advanced tools to match load and intermittent generation.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Role of natural gas resources
- Challenges associated with replacing natural gas resources with distributed energy resources
- Challenges of operating a microgrid
- Regulatory & technical challenges
- Required ongoing maintenance
- Developer vs. utility operation
- Pre, during, and post-storm operation modes
- Top microgrid controller vendors
- Post-storm Sandy challenges
Certificate of Completion
You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 10 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.
| This course is applicable to professional engineers in: | ||
| Alabama (P.E.) | Alaska (P.E.) | Arkansas (P.E.) |
| Delaware (P.E.) | District of Columbia (P.E.) | Florida (P.E. Area of Practice) |
| Georgia (P.E.) | Idaho (P.E.) | Illinois (P.E.) |
| Illinois (S.E.) | Indiana (P.E.) | Iowa (P.E.) |
| Kansas (P.E.) | Kentucky (P.E.) | Louisiana (P.E.) |
| Maine (P.E.) | Maryland (P.E.) | Michigan (P.E.) |
| Minnesota (P.E.) | Mississippi (P.E.) | Missouri (P.E.) |
| Montana (P.E.) | Nebraska (P.E.) | Nevada (P.E.) |
| New Hampshire (P.E.) | New Jersey (P.E.) | New Mexico (P.E.) |
| New York (P.E.) | North Carolina (P.E.) | North Dakota (P.E.) |
| Ohio (P.E. Self-Paced) | Oklahoma (P.E.) | Oregon (P.E.) |
| Pennsylvania (P.E.) | South Carolina (P.E.) | South Dakota (P.E.) |
| Tennessee (P.E.) | Texas (P.E.) | Utah (P.E.) |
| Vermont (P.E.) | Virginia (P.E.) | West Virginia (P.E.) |
| Wisconsin (P.E.) | Wyoming (P.E.) | |
Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.
Credit: 2 PDH
Length: 41 pages
