Microgrids: Islanded Power Grids and Distributed Generation for Community, Commercial, and Institutional Applications

Microgrids: Islanded Power Grids and Distributed Generation for Community, Commercial, and Institutional Applications published by Pike Research in October, 2009. This report consists of 90 pages and the price starts from US $ 3500.

Introduction

Abstract

A variety of trends are converging to create promising market opportunities for microgrids, particularly in the United States. The fundamental architecture of today' s electrical grid, which is based on the idea of a top-down system predicated on unidirectional energy flows, is growing increasingly obsolete. This outmoded infrastructure poses risks to grid reliability and security, and could hinder the adoption of renewable power generation. Microgrids are being driven in part by the broader push to create a Smart Grid that will add intelligence and automation to the electricity infrastructure while facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources, electric vehicles, and greater customer control over energy consumption. In part, however, the microgrid is an alternative vision to a highly integrated “Super Grid” - microgrid proponents are advocating deployments where a community, corporation, or institutional entity can operate autonomously from the larger grid infrastructure.

Pike Research forecasts that over 3 GW of new microgrid capacity will come on line globally by 2015, representing a cumulative investment of $7.8 billion. North America will be the largest market for microgrids during that period, capturing 74% of total industry capacity. In North America, the largest category will be instutional microgrids, followed by commercial/industrial and community grids. In other regions, however, the story is different and we expect community microgrids to be the largest category in Europe and Asia Pacific.

This Pike Research report analyzes and forecasts five major segments of the emerging microgrid market: Community/Utility Microgrids, Commercial/Industrial, Institutional/Campus, Remote Off-Grid Systems, and Military Microgrids. It assesses key technologies that are integral to microgrid deployments including distributed energy generation (both renewables and fossil fuels), energy storage, and inverters. The report also includes in-depth analysis of key players in the nascent microgrid ecosystem, including identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for key competitors as well as case studies for each category of deployment. Five-year forecasts provide quantification of the market opportunity in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

• What is a “microgrid” and what are its key components and features?
• Why are inverters the key advance enabling microgrids to develop today despite opposition from many electric utilities?
• What are the key market drivers at the policy level - and why does the United States have the best near-term market opportunity?
• Why are microgrids inevitable if investments in a smart grid are accompanied by a paradigm shift from central station to distributed generation supply sources?
• Who are the big players - and new technology vendors - in the microgrid space, and what is their key role in developing this new energy market?

• Microgrid Developers
• Smart Grid Hardware and Software Providers
• Venture Capitalists
• Communities, institutions, and corporations interested in building their own microgrid
• Distribution Utilities worried about worker safety and market share issues
• Policy Makers examining new business models for renewable generation

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Issues

• 2.1 Community and Commercial Microgrids
• 2.2 What is a Microgrid?
  • 2.2.1 Distributed Generation
  • 2.2.2 Micro-Storage Options
  • 2.2.3 Islanding Inverters
  • 2.2.4 Smart Switch Devices
  • 2.2.5 Load and Generation Controls
  • 2.2.6 Other Grid Integration Products
• 2.3 The Business Case for Microgrids
• 2.4 Microgrid Architectures
  • 2.4.1 Community/Utility Microgrids
  • 2.4.2 Commercial/Industrial/Campus Microgrids
  • 2.4.3 Remote “Off-Grid” Microgrids
• 2.5 Current Market Opportunities
  • 2.5.1 Shortcomings of the Status Quo
  • 2.5.2 Premium Power
  • 2.5.3 NIMBY
  • 2.5.4 Terrorist Threats
  • 2.5.5 Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters
  • 2.5.6 Needs of Developing Countries
• 2.6 Implementation Issues
  • 2.6.1 IEEE Standards
  • 2.6.2 Lack of Standard “Plug-and-Play” Offerings
  • 2.6.3 Lack of Comprehensive and Coordinated Incentives/Policies
  • 2.6.4 Eroding Utility Market Share
  • 2.6.5 Security

3. Technology Issues

• 3.1 RDEG and DEG Technology Overview
  • 3.1.1 Solar Photovoltaic
  • 3.1.2 Small Wind Turbines
  • 3.1.3 Fuel Cells
  • 3.1.4 Fossil DEG Technologies
  • 3.1.5 Commercialization Time Horizon
• 3.2 Energy Storage for Microgrids
  • 3.2.1 Battery Technologies
    • 3.2.1.1 Lead-Acid Batteries
    • 3.2.1.2 Sodium Sulfur Batteries
    • 3.2.1.3 Flow Batteries
    • 3.2.1.4 Lithium-Ion Batteries
  • 3.2.2 Other Micro Storage Microgrid Options
    • 3.2.2.1 Flywheels
    • 3.2.2.2 Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage
    • 3.2.2.3 Supercapacitors
    • 3.2.2.4 Commercialization
• 3.3 Inverter Technologies
  • 3.3.1 History
  • 3.3.2 Basic Principles
  • 3.3.3 Pros and Cons
  • 3.3.4 Types
  • 3.3.5 Commercialization Time Horizon
  • 3.3.6 Cost
  • 3.3.7 Efficiency
  • 3.3.8 Reliability
  • 3.3.9 Scalability
  • 3.3.10 Availability
• 3.4 Microgrids
  • 3.4.1 History
  • 3.4.2 Basic Principles
  • 3.4.3 Pros and Cons
  • 3.4.4 Types
  • 3.4.5 Commercialization Time Horizon
  • 3.4.6 Cost
  • 3.4.7 Efficiency
  • 3.4.8 Reliability
  • 3.4.9 Scalability
  • 3.4.10 Availability

4. Key Industry Players

• 4.1 Electric Utilities
  • 4.1.1 American Electric Power
  • 4.1.2 Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• 4.2 Large Major Brand Players
  • 4.2.1 General Electric
  • 4.2.2 IBM
• 4.3 Inverter Innovations
  • 4.3.1 SMA Solar Technology
  • 4.3.2 Silent Power, Inc.
• 4.4 CHP/Inverter Islanding Systems: CERTS Technology
  • 4.4.1 Tecogen
• 4.5 Non-Utility Microgrid Innovations
  • 4.5.1 Balance Energy
  • 4.5.2 Non-Synchronous Energy Electronics, LLC
• 4.6 Energy Storage Innovators
  • 4.6.1 ZBB Energy Corp
• 4.7 Smart Switches
  • 4.7.1 S&C Electric
• 4.8 Storage Providers
  • 4.8.1 Infotility

5. Market Forecasts

• 5.1 Electricity and Smart Grid Trends
• 5.2 Microgrid Barriers and Incentives
  • 5.2.1 Barriers
  • 5.2.2 Incentives
• 5.3 Microgrid Overview
• 5.4 RDEG Technologies
  • 5.4.1 Solar PV
  • 5.4.2 Small Wind
  • 5.4.3 Fuel Cells
• 5.5 Micro Storage Applicable to Microgrids
  • 5.5.1 Batteries
    • 5.5.1.1 Lead Lead-Acid Batteries
    • 5.5.1.2 Sodium Sulfur Batteries
    • 5.5.1.3 Flow Batteries
      • 5.5.1.3.1 Vanadium Redox Batteries
      • 5.5.1.3.2 Zinc Bromide Batteries
    • 5.5.1.4 Lithium-Ion Batteries
  • 5.5.2 Other Micro Storage Microgrid Options
    • 5.5.2.1 Flywheels
    • 5.5.2.2 SMES
    • 5.5.2.3 Supercapacitors
• 5.6 Inverters
  • 5.6.1 Solar PV Inverters
  • 5.6.2 Small Wind Inverters
  • 5.6.3 Fuel Cell Inverters
    • 5.6.3.1 Global Overview
    • 5.6.3.2 North America
    • 5.6.3.3 Europe
    • 5.6.3.4 Asia Pacific
    • 5.6.3.5 Rest of World
• 5.7 Microgrid Segments
  • 5.7.1 Grid-Tied Community/Utility Microgrids
    • 5.7.1.1 Case Study: FortZED
    • 5.7.1.2 Global Overview
      • 5.7.1.2.1 North America
      • 5.7.1.2.2 Europe
      • 5.7.1.2.3 Asia Pacific
      • 5.7.1.2.4 Rest of World
  • 5.7.2 Commercial/Industrial (Multiple Owners)
    • 5.7.2.1 Case Study: The Aomori Project
    • 5.7.2.2 Global Overview
      • 5.7.2.2.1 North America
      • 5.7.2.2.2 Europe
      • 5.7.2.2.3 Asia Pacific
      • 5.7.2.2.4 Rest of World
  • 5.7.3 Institutional/Campus
    • 5.7.3.1 Case Study: Illinois Institute of Technology
    • 5.7.3.2 Global Overview
      • 5.7.3.2.1 North America
      • 5.7.3.2.2 Europe
      • 5.7.3.2.3 Asia Pacific
      • 5.7.3.2.4 Rest of World
  • 5.7.4 Remote “Off-Grid” Microgrids
    • 5.7.4.1 Case Study: Bella Coola
    • 5.7.4.2 Global Overview
      • 5.7.4.2.1 North America
      • 5.7.4.2.2 Europe
      • 5.7.4.2.3 Asia Pacific
      • 5.7.4.2.4 Rest of World
  • 5.7.5 Military Microgrids
    • 5.7.5.1 Case Study: Twentynine Palms Marine Base
    • 5.7.5.2 Global Overview
    • 5.7.5.2.1 North America
    • 5.7.5.2.2 Europe
    • 5.7.5.2.3 Asia Pacific
    • 5.7.5.2.4 Rest of World

6. Company Directory

7. Acronym and Abbreviation List

8. Table of Contents

9. Table of Charts and Figures

10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

List of Charts and Figures

• Microgrid Capacity, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Annual RDEG Technologies Capacity Additions, World Markets: 2007-2013
• Microgrid Capacity, World Markets: 2010-1015
• Microgrid Capacity by Deployment Type, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Market Sector Revenue Breakdown, North America: 2015
• Market Sector Revenue Breakdown, Europe: 2015
• Market Sector Revenue Breakdown, Asia Pacific: 2015
• Market Sector Revenue Breakdown, Rest of World: 2015
• Transmission Capacity Lags Behind Demand Growth
• Super Grids versus Microgrids
• PQR Hierarchy
• Microgrid Architectures
• Distributed Energy Resources Lower Reliability Costs
• Conventional and Microgrid Paradigms
• Inverter Conversion Wave Forms
• Microgrid Energy Flows from Fuels to End Uses
• Remote Microgrid Market Opportunity
• Microgrid Payback Periods and Market Penetration
• NSEE Stamford, Connecticut Microgrid Architecture
• Total Energy Use by 2050
• Capacity Growth Through 2050
• Global Smart Grid Growth Spending Trends
• States with Utility Revenue Decoupling
• States with Net Metering Policies
• States with Real-Time Pricing or Time-of-Use Rates
• Navigant Microgrid Scenarios
• Fisher-Pry S Curve for Microgrids
• Microgrid Portion of U.S. CHP Market
• Inverter Revenue Forecast, World Market: 2009-2015
• Aomori Project Architecture
• ITT Perfect Power Prototype
• Bella Coola Off-Grid Architecture
• GE' s Military Microgrid Architecture
• Microgrids SWOT Analysis
• Cost Projections for Energy Storage Technologies ($/kW)
• Revenue Forecasts for Energy Storage Technologies ($ Millions)
• Inverter Price per Watt Projections
• American Electric Power SWOT Analysis
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District SWOT Analysis
• General Electric SWOT Analysis
• IBM SWOT Analysis
• SMA Solar Technology SWOT Analysis
• Silent Power SWOT Analysis
• Tecogen SWOT Analysis
• Balance Energy SWOT Analysis
• Non-Synchronous Energy Electronics SWOT Analysis
• ZBB Energy SWOT Analysis
• S&C Electric SWOT Analysis
• Infotility SWOT Analysis
• Feed-In Tariff Rates, Europe and Asia
• List of Tables
• Microgrid Global Capacity, World Markets: 2009-2015
• Annual Growth of Microgrid Capacity, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Microgrid Segmentation by Deployment Type, World Markets: 2009-2015
• Annual Growth of Microgrid Markets, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Microgrid System Revenue, World Markets, 2010-2015
• Microgrid System Prices, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Inverter Capacity, World Markets: 2009-2015
• Annual Growth of Inverter Capacity, World Markets: 2010-2015
• Inverter Installed Price, World Markets: 2009-2015

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